Words by Mick Rumens

Rehearsals began on Monday 6th September for our fi rst concert of the season, to be staged in Ely Cathedral, on Saturday 13th November. We will be celebrating the 400th anniversary of the Monteverdi Vespers of 1610, performing this work in this exceptionally beautiful venue. The last time we staged a concert here we had an audience of over 1000. The Baroque ensemble, Charivari Agreable, (it translates as ‘Pleasant Tumult’) will provide instrumental accompaniment. For any supporters wishing to travel from Harlow we will be providing coach transport and full details of this event will be provided in next month’s edition.

Our season will continue with a concert in Thaxted Church, Carols By Candlelight, on Saturday 18th December at 7.30pm followed, in the New Year, by a concert at St. John’s, Epping, Visions of Eternity, on Saturday 12th March. Our ‘lighter’ concert will be staged at All Saints, Hockerill, Bishops Stortford on Saturday 14th May with a programme entitled ‘All That Jazz’. It will include compositions by Paul Mottram, Johnny Dankworth, Duke Ellington and George Shearing, among others. In early June we have our six day Tour of Estonia to look forward to, and our season will conclude with a major concert in Chelmsford Cathedral on Saturday 9th July. Here the East London Chorus and the Solomon Orchestra will join us in a performance of Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius.

Alongside these scheduled concerts we expect to provide smaller groups for events such as weddings and, occasionally, funerals, or corporate events for which we advertise our services to raise funds for Harlow Chorus.

Please go to our website, www.harlowchorus.org.uk, for more information concerning Harlow Chorus activities, how to join our mailing list, how to become a Friend of Harlow Chorus, and for information about joining the chorus or Harlow Chorus Academy.