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Concerts & Events

Saturday 4th July at 7.00 pm.

All Saints Church, Grange Road, Eastbourne. weblink

Eastbourne Choral Society and Phoenix Choir present

Rossini Petite Messe Solennelle

Faure Cantique de Jean Racine

Tickets £20 (students half price and children U16 free) available from Visitor Centre Towner Gallery Eastbourne or www.wegottickets.com or at the door.

  • Musical Director – John Hancorn web

  • Andrew Davies – Baritone web

  • Andrew Mackensie Wicks Tenor web

  • Angharad Rowlands – Mezzo web

  • Sofia Ticciati – Soprano

  • Accompanist  Piano – Gavin Stevens web

  • Accompanist Keyboard – Colin Hughes  web​

 

Eastbourne Choral Society with Phoenix Choir: Summer concert

Eastbourne Choral Society is very pleased to announce its summer concert, to be held at All Saints’ Church, Grange Road, on Saturday 4th July at 7pm. Under its Musical Director John Hancorn, on this occasion Eastbourne Choral Society will be joined by Phoenix Choir in a combined performance of Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle. The concert will also feature Fauré’s much-loved Cantique de Jean Racine.

Petite Messe Solennelle is widely considered to be one of Rossini’s finest achievements. It was written during the retirement stage of his life, more than thirty years after he had written his last opera, William Tell. Composed in 1863 and first performed in 1864, this Mass was originally written for twelve solo voices, two pianos and harmonium, but subsequently re-arranged into the version now in use, for four soloists and a choir which divides at some points into eight parts. It was well-received by contemporary critics and audiences, and remains a popular choral work.

Also in 1863-4, the then nineteen-year-old Gabriel Fauré composed his Cantique de Jean Racine (Chant by Jean Racine), setting the French translation of a Latin hymn as a canticle for mixed choir and piano or organ. The flowing melody and harmonic structure of this piece continue to make it a firm favourite with choirs and audiences alike.

The members of Eastbourne Choral Society and Phoenix Choir have thoroughly enjoyed their joint rehearsals of these significant and lyrical works. The combined choir will be ably supported by two outstanding local accompanists who have previously worked with both choirs: Gavin Stevens (piano) and Colin Hughes (harmonium). The choir will also welcome a quartet of locally-based soloists to sing the four solo parts in Rossini’s Mass.

Everyone is invited to come along and enjoy this musical collaboration between two local choirs. Tickets are priced at £20 (under 16s free, students half price), and are available from the Eastbourne Visitor Centre at the Towner Gallery, at www.wegottickets.com, or at the door. There will also be a retiring collection in aid of local charity Family Support Work. More details can be found at www.eastbournechoralsociety.org.uk.

 

Alison Sprigg       Press Officer, Eastbourne Choral Society

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"The choir of almost a hundred voices will have studied and practised for weeks and months to achieve this performance, and achieve it they did. There was splendid clarity despite the sometimes cloudy texture of the music, there was excellent balance and tuning, and above all there was a oneness with the spirit of the music, its ebb and flow, and its lyrical and emotional range. A memorable night!"

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Vaughan Williams' Sea Symphony Reviewed by Kevin Anderson 24th March 2018

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2025 Eastbourne Choral Society

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