Following the dynamic and exciting debut of the Guildhall Singers at the King’s Lynn Festival in July, the choir returns this November with Rhythms of Life, a vibrant celebration of rhythm, music, faith, nature, love, lust, regret and the magic of theatre, song and dance.
From the joyful, dance like praise of Monteverdi’s Cantate Domino to the vibrant contemporary anthem of Mark Hayes, this concert takes you on a colourful journey through music across the centuries.
Enjoy a cheeky romp through the early music of Italy, with comedy, gossip, love and lust brought to life through the music of Passereau, Vecchi, Lassus, Hassler, Schubert and Gastoldi.
The second half opens with Like a Bell, commissioned by Kate Parker for the 75th anniversary of the King’s Lynn Festival and written especially for the Guildhall Singers by celebrated Norfolk composer James McConnel, with librettist Rachel Goodman. Energetic, dynamic and rhythmic, it captures the anticipation and joy of performance and promises to resonate long after the final note.
The contemporary mood continues with Finnish composer Jaakko Mäntyjärvi, whose atmospheric settings of Shakespeare’s Macbeth and A Midsummer Night’s Dream bring witches and fairies to life.
Then it’s time for some golden age jazz, with American Songbook favourites from Mercer, Berlin and the Gershwin brothers, followed by a final salsa with Jay Althouse’s Cantar.
And if you can manage one last smooth Swingle style slide into a classic from one of the greatest composers in Western music, you’ll be tapping your feet and clapping your hands all the way home!
Described by many as “the best chamber choir in Norfolk”, the Guildhall Singers are generously accompanied by James McConnel and directed with style and sophistication by Andrés Hernández-Salazar