Past Performances
We have performed a wide variety of works during our nearly 50 years. These span works from the 16th to 21st centuries and include serious music in the styles of renaissance, classical, roman, and modern together with extracts from operas, musicals and popular music.
Every year (weather allowing!) we have a Christmas Concert in aid of the League of Friends of the Royal Berkshire Hospital. In 2019 we also performed a Christmas Concert at Douai Abbey for charity as sponsored by the Rotary Club. Below we have provided information on our other concerts by date.
Brahms: Denn alles Fleisch (German Requiem 2nd movement)
Arthur Sullivan, All this night
Stanford, Magnificat and Nunc in C
Vaughan Williams: English Folk Song Suite
Muriel Herbert: Three songs
Howells, Te Deum Collegium Regale
Charles Wood, Hail Gladdening Light
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor , Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast
George Dyson, To Music,
James MacMillan, O Radiant Dawn
Gerald Finzi, God is gone up
9th March 2024
Sara Benbow, Conductor
Southern Sinfonia
James Gilchrist, Tenor
Anna Tilbrook piano
An opportunity to learn more about Gilbert & Sullivan operettas plus hear 21 songs from 7 operettas:
Trial by Jury
The Sorcerer
Pirates of Penzance
Iolanthe
The Mikado
Yeomen of the Guard
The Gondoliers
Accompanied by pianists: Liz Collins & Chris McDade
Narrator: Andrew Peach
Conducted by: Chris McDade
- Salted Snow by Simon Chalk (a composition for three trombones, tubular bell and strings, written in memory of the principal horn of the Slovak Sinfonietta who sadly died just over a year ago)
- Divertimento in D K136 by Mozart
- Mozart’s Requiem
With the Southern Sinfonia. Professional soloist singers: Soprano: Sarah Helsby Hughes, Mezzo: Serenna Wagner, Tenor: Ben Thapa, and Bass: René Bloice-Sanders.
Chris McDade conducted the Requiem and Simon Chalk the orchestral pieces.
Date: Saturday, 11th March 2023, Falklands Chapel, Pangbourne College at 7.30pm
Organist: David Pether
Pianist Liz Collins
Conductor: Chris McDade
Various pieces and readings with all donations for Brookfields Specialist SEN School, Tilehurst
Fauré’s Cantique de Jean Racine
Fauré’s Requiem
Vaughan Williams’ Songs of Travel (The Vagabond & Bright is the Ring of Words)
Vaughan Williams’ O Taste and See
Parry’s I Was Glad
Handel’s Zadok the Priest
Ian Hockley, organist
Sara Benbow, conductor (replacement for Chris)
Rebecca Bell, Soprano Soloist
Tom Asher, Baritone Soloist
14th March 2020
Planned Brahms Requiem Concert Cancelled due to Covid-19
22nd June 2019
A programme of spirituals, featuring Tippett’s Five Spirituals and songs of life and hope, old and new
With Jonathan Stirland, baritone, and Arthur Bell, piano
Ellie Calver, conductor
16th March 2019
Puccini: Messa di Gloria
Poulenc: Gloria
Wagner: Siegfried Idyll
Danae Eleni, soprano
Adam Tunnicliffe, tenor
Robert Garland, baritone
Southern Sinfonia
Ellie Calver, conductor
23rd June 2018
Songs from the Shows
Featuring songs from musicals such as Wicked, Call Me Madam, West Side Story, Phantom of the Opera, Company, Evita, Matilda and Les Miserables, and with songs for the audience from The Sound of Music.
Ellie Calver, conductor and soloist
Jonathan Stirland, baritone
with Arthur Bell, piano and conductor
and Andrej Ivanovic, organ and piano
17th March 2018
Mozart Requiem
Mozart Solemn Vespers k339
Mozart piano concerto #21, second movement
Mozart Alleluia from Exsultate, Jubilate
Southern Sinfonia
Andrej Ivanovic, piano
Vanessa Bowers soprano
Daniel Collins countertenor
Arthur Bell, piano.
24th June 2017
Songs from the great American songbook
Featuring songs by George & Ira Gershwin, Rodgers & Hart, Cole Porter and Burt Bacharach, and Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue for solo piano.
Ellie Calver, conductor and soloist
Arthur Bell, piano.
11th March 2017
Sacred Music: Renaissance to Romantic
Victoria O Quam Gloriosum
Tallis Hear the Voice and Prayer
Purcell O God Thou art my God and Hear my Prayer
Mozart Divertimento in D
Mozart Missa Brevis in D
Bruckner Locus Iste, Virga Jesse and Os Justi
Southern Sinfonia
Vanessa Bowers soprano
Daniel Collins countertenor
Ronan Busfield tenor
Jonathan Stirland bass
Ellie Calver, conductor
(See video for Locus Iste)
25th June 2016
All Shall be Well (Roy Raby)
And I saw a New Heaven (Bainton)
Gloria (Rutter)
The Spirit of the Lord (Elgar)
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace (Wesley)
I was Glad (Parry)
Jerusalem (Parry)
With the Wantage Silver Band
12th March 2016
JS Bach: Mass in B Minor
Hannah Davey Soprano
William Purefoy Counter Tenor
Nicholas Smith Tenor
Henry Neill Bass
Canzona Orchestra on period instruments
Conducted by Roy Raby
20th June 2015
Purcell: Dido and Aeneas
Popular choruses from Prince Igor, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Tannhäuser and Nabucco
Helen Parker, Dido
Emma Brain-Gabbott, Belinda
William Townend, Aeneas
Choir soloists: John Burton, Beatrice Earland, Sandie Harwood, Judi Hodgkin, Rosie Jones, Elizabeth Lawrance, Helen Legg, Maureen Richardson
Theresa Caudle and Karen Raby, violin
Heather Birt, viola
Rachel Watson, cello
Roy Raby, harpsichord
14th February 2015
Handel: Messiah
Southern Sinfonia Orchestra on period instruments
Hannah Nye (soprano)
David Allsopp (countertenor)
Nicholas Smith (tenor)
Alex Otterburn (baritone)
Conducted by Roy Raby
21st June 2014
40th Anniversary Concert
Beethoven Symphony No. 7, 2nd movement
Brahms Geistliches Lied
Fauré Cantique de Jean Racine
Goodall Love Divine
Handel Worthy is the Lamb / Amen from Messiah
Haydn Insanae et Vanae Curae
Haydn The Heavens are Telling from The Creation
Parry Blest Pair of Sirens
Mozart Ave Verum Corpus
Vaughan Williams Toward the Unknown Region
Conducted by Jonathan Brown with former Musical Directors Ralph Allwood, Bob Barsby and Darren Everhart
Southern Sinfonia Orchestra
15th February 2014
Mendelssohn: Elijah
Claire Seaton (soprano)
Claire Williams (mezzo soprano)
Richard Coxon (tenor)
Quentin Hayes (bass)
Southern Sinfonia Orchestra
Conducted by Jonathan Brown
Part of the Society’s 40th Anniversary Season.
22nd June 2013
Haydn: Missa in Augustiis (Nelson Mass)
Mozart: Divertimento in D, K136; Voyagers’ Chorus from Idomeneo; Im Mohrenland gefangen war from Die Entführung aus dem Serail; Madamina from Don Giovanni
Handel: Svegliatevi nel core from Giulio Cesare
Donizetti: Chorus of Wedding Guests from Lucia de Lammermoor
Claire Seaton (soprano)
Claire Williams (mezzo-soprano)
Lynton Atkinson (tenor)
Giles Underwood (bass)
Southern Sinfonia on period instruments
Conducted by Jonathan Brown
9th March 2013
‘From Darkness to Light’
Verdi: Stabat Mater
Tippett: Five Spirituals
Goodall: Eternal Light
Hannah Grove Atherton (soprano)
Claire Williams (mezzo-soprano)
James Atherton (tenor)
Henry Neill (bass)
Chameleon Arts Orchestra
Conducted by Jonathan Brown
23rd June 2012 ‘Come & Sing’ Fauré’s Requiem and Vivaldi’s Gloria
Kezia Bienek (soprano)
Claire Williams (mezzo-soprano)
Tristan Hambleton (bass)
George Bevan (organ)
Conducted by Jonathan Brown
4th February 2012
ROYAL CELEBRATION MUSIC
Handel: Four Coronation Anthems
Mozart: Coronation Mass
Walton: Coronation Te Deum
Parry: I Was Glad
Hannah Grove Atherton (soprano)
Stephen Taylor (countertenor)
James Atherton (tenor)
Giles Underwood (bass)
Chameleon Arts Orchestra
Conducted by Jonathan Brown
18th June 2011
Brahms: German Requiem
Moeran: Songs of Springtime
Bizet: Toreador Song
Mascagni: Easter Hymn
Stephen Gadd (baritone)
Claire Rutter (soprano)
Conducted by Jonathan Brown
11th December 2010
Bach: Magnificat
Finzi: In Terra Pax
Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on Christmas Carols
Rutter: Gabriel’s Message
Mathias: Sir Christèmas
Stephen Gadd (baritone)
Claire Rutter (soprano)
Louise Wayman (soprano)
Barnaby Smith (countertenor)
James Atherton (tenor)
Southern Sinfonia – leader Marcus Barcham Stevens
Conducted by Jonathan Brown
22nd May 2010
Haydn: The Heavens are Telling; Kleine Orgelmesse and Insanae et Vanae Curae
Parry: Blest Pair of Sirens
Bernstein: Chichester Psalms
Conducted by Jonathan Brown
7th November 2009 (Douai Abbey) and 14th November 2009 (Pangbourne)
Mozart: Requiem
Handel: Zadok the Priest and The King shall Rejoice
Purcell: Music for the Funeral of Queen Mary
JS Bach: Air from Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major
Carys Lane (soprano)
Sarah Fryer (mezzo soprano) – Douai Abbey performance
Flora McIntosh (mezzo soprano) – The Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel performance
Lynton Atkinson (tenor)
Giles Underwood (bass)
Southern Sinfonia – leader Alexander Hohenthal
Conducted by Jonathan Brown
6th June 2009
‘Come & Sing’ Handel’s Messiah
Rachel Major (soprano)
Flora McIntosh (alto)
James Atherton (tenor)
Simon Whiteley (bass)
Albero String Quartet
Conducted by Jonathan Brown
28th February 2009
Duruflé: Requiem
Vaughan Williams: Toward the Unknown Region
Janáček: Otče náš (Our Father)
Fauré: Cantique de Jean Racine
Mahler: Adagietto from the 5th Symphony
Janet Shell (mezzo soprano)
Lynton Atkinson (tenor)
Chameleon Arts Orchestra – leader Simon Baggs
Conducted by Jonathan Brown
21st June 2008
Summer concert: ‘Music – the Food of Love …’
Brahms’ Liebeslieder Waltzes and other romantic music for summer, including Charles Stanford, Arthur Sullivan, Cole Porter and George Gershwin
24th February 2008
Bach: St John Passion
Jimmy Holliday (Christus); Christopher Watson (Evangelist)
James Atherton (tenor); Carys Lane (soprano)
Stewart Conley-Harper (alto); Giles Underwood (bass)
Chameleon Arts Baroque Orchestra – leader Maggie Faultless
Conducted by Jonathan Brown
23rd June 2007 at the Concert Hall, Reading Town Hall
Verdi: Requiem
Berlioz: Le Corsaire (overture)
Naomi Harvey (soprano)
Joke de Vin (mezzo soprano)
David Barrell (tenor)
Stephen Foulkes (bass)
Pangbourne Choral Society – musical director Jonathan Brown
Reading Symphony Orchestra – leader Liz Greeley
with members of the Orchester der Landesregierung Düsseldorf eV
Conducted by Stefan Hofkes
14th May 2006
SEA BREEZES
Carter: Horizons
Grainger: Sea Chanties
Stanford: Songs of the Fleet
Vaughan Williams: 5 Mystical Songs
Overture – The Wasps
Elinor Carter (mezzo-soprano)
Julian Hubbard (baritone)
Philomel Orchestra – leader Jonathan Burnett
Conducted by Darren Everhart
5th February 2006
Orff: Carmina Burana
Mozart: Don Giovanni (excerpts)
Naomi Watson (soprano)
William Bulteel (tenor)
Julian Hubbard (baritone)
Peter Willcock (bass)
Pangbourne College Junior School Choir
Conducted by Darren Everhart
25th June 2005 at the Concert Hall, Reading Town Hall
Mahler: Second Symphony
Reading Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Stefan Hofkes
Mozart: Ave Verum Corpus
Conducted by Darren Everhart
21st May 2005
AN AMERICAN SUMMER’S EVENING
comprising excerpts from
Porgy & Bess and West Side Story and
American Folksongs & Spirituals
Naomi Watson (soprano)
Conducted by Darren Everhart
5th-6th March 2005 Britten: War Requiem (semi-staged)
Elizabeth Collier (soprano)
Young-Hoon Heo (tenor)
Julian Hubbard (baritone)
Conducted by Darren Everhart
22nd May 2004
Rossini: Petite Messe Solennelle
Overture – La Gazza Ladra (The Thieving Magpie)
Naomi Watson (soprano)
Elinor Carter (mezzo-soprano)
Matthew Vine (tenor)
Julian Hubbard (baritone)
Conducted by Darren Everhart
8th February 2004
30TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT
Fauré: Requiem
Conducted by Ralph Allwood
Barsby: Cantata 2000
Conducted by Robert Barsby
Rutter: Feel the Spirit
Conducted by Darren Everhart