Monteverdi’s Vespers is an iconic work in more ways than one. For
the composer, who published it 400 years ago in 1610, it was a
calculated summation of his skill as a writer of sacred music at a
time when he most needed to advertise it. Aged 43, and largely known
as a madrigalist, he wanted to escape the frustrations of working at
the court of the Gonzaga dukes in Mantua and find a new job, ideally
at the Papal chapel. In the event, the publication almost certainly
helped him gain a prestigious alternative, the post of maestro di
cappella at St Mark’s in Venice (where the Northampton Bach Choir
will be singing at a Mass on the transferred Feast of the Ascension
in May 2017), which he would keep until his death in 1643.
For us today, however, the work has become one of the great pillars
of the Baroque vocal-and-orchestral repertoire, a staple of the
living canon like Handel’s Messiah or Bach’s Mass in B
minor. And this is in spite of the fact that its performance
history is relatively short; the first full public performances were
in the 1930s and the first recordings in the 1950s, making the
Vespers an essentially modern presence. Indeed, its growing
familiarity and reputation can be seen as iconic of something that
Monteverdi himself would have had difficulty comprehending. For the
story of the rise of the Monteverdi Vespers is the story of the
post-war early music movement. This performance comes in 450th
anniversary year of the birth of Monteverdi.
We are delighted to be joined once again by Dr Kah-Ming Ng and his
period orchestra Charivari Agréable, and our experienced soloists
(no fewer than six of them!) include members of both the Monteverdi
Choir and The Sixteen. Together with the Northampton Bach Choir,
under the inspired direction of our Musical Director, this is one
concert not to miss, especially as it will utilise the various
spatial possibilities of St Matthew’s Church, including the rarely
used Minstrel’s Gallery, as well as the West Gallery, which featured
so memorably in our recent performance of Verdi’s Requiem.Programme:
Northampton Bach Choir
Charivari Agréable
Soprano - Kirsty Hopkins
Soprano - Charlotte Mobbs
Tenor - Gwilym Bowen
Tenor - Robert Anthony Gardiner
Bass - James Birchall
Bass - Robert Rice
The Chapel Choir of Malcolm Arnold Academy
Conductor - Lee Dunleavy
Monteverdi - Vespers of 1610
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Kirsty
Hopkins
Soprano |
| Kirsty Hopkins read Music
at Manchester University and then continued her
post-graduate vocal training under Linda Hirst at Trinity
College of Music in London (now Trinity Laban Conservatoire
of Music and Dance) where she won the Elizabeth Schumann
Lieder Prize. She now enjoys a versatile career performing
all over the world with some of today’s most exciting and
renowned conductors and ensembles. Kirsty is a member of The
Sixteen and features on a recording of Monteverdi Vespers
with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. |
 |
Charlotte Mobbs
Soprano |
| Charlotte Mobbs enjoys a
career as a soloist and ensemble singer performing with many
of the UKs finest conductors all over the world. Charlotte
graduated from the Welsh College of Music and Drama in 1997
and continued her studies at the Royal Scottish Academy of
Music and Drama. She now enjoys a career as a soloist and
ensemble singer performing with many of the UK’s finest
conductors all over the world. Charlotte recently sang solos
in Monteverdi Vespers for both The Sixteen and the
Monteverdi Choir. |
 |
Robert Anthony
Gardiner
Tenor |
British tenor Robert
Anthony Gardiner was born and educated in Birmingham. After
gaining a BSc Honours in astrophysics at Durham University
and a Certificate of Education at Manchester University, he
studied at the Royal Northern College of Music, Frankfurt
Opera School and the National Opera Studio and made his
Royal Opera House debut as Egoldo Mathilde di Shabran.
Recent engagements include Eurimaco in Il Ritorno
D’Ulisse for English Touring Opera, Don Ottavio for Diva
Opera, a concert performance of Ywain Gawain with the
BBC Symphony Orchestra, Polidoro La Finta Semplice for
Bampton Classical Opera, Lensky Onegin for Grange
Park Opera, Siebel in Faust for Opera North/Tallinn
Birgita Festival, Max Fantasio for Opera Rara,
Belmonte in Die Entfürung aus dem Serail for Iford
Festival, and Strážnik in Hubička by Smetana for
Wexford Festival Opera.
He has given many solo recitals and has sung with choirs and
choral societies all over the UK. Recent performances
include Stravinsky’s Mavra with the City of
Birmingham Symphony Orchestra under Sakari Oramo, Messiah
in Gloucester Cathedral, St Matthew Passion with the
Leicester Bach Choir, Britten’s Serenade for tenor, horn
and strings with the Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini, and
Britten’s Michelangelo Songs in Lugo.
Outside of singing, Robert is a keen cyclist, mountaineer,
furniture restorer and enjoys tending to his allotment. |
 |
Gwilym Bowen
Tenor |
| Gwilym Bowen was born in
Hereford and held a choral scholarship at Trinity College,
Cambridge, where he graduated with double-First class
honours in Music, subsequently studying at the Royal Academy
of Music. He regularly works with Masaaki Suzuki and Bach
Collegium Japan, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment,
the Holst Singers, Die Kölner Akademie and Orkiestra
Historyczna. He most recently sang Montevedi Vespers with
the Chelmsford Singers and Canzona. |
 |
James Birchall
Bass |
| James Birchall began his
musical education as a chorister at St George’s Chapel,
Windsor Castle and later studied at St John’s College,
Cambridge, the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal Scottish
Academy of Music and Drama. He has sung many of the major
oratorio roles, including performances with the CBSO and at
the Three Choirs Festival. He is experienced on the opera
stage, and has performed Monteverdi Vespers on
numerous occasions. |
 |
Robert Rice
Bass |
| Robert Rice held a choral
scholarship at King’s College, Cambridge, and later studied
at the Royal Academy of Music. His repertoire is extensive
and covers everything from Bach’s Passions, to modern works
by Birtwistle and Maxwell Davies, right through to his own
vocal arrangements, many for the King’s Singers and
published by Novello & Co. Ltd. He teaches members of the
National Youth Choir, Eton Choral Courses, and at both
Oxford and Cambridge Universities. He most recently sang
Monteverdi Vespers with the Royal Choral Society. |
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