Throughout this month (August 2022), central London-based professional vocal ensemble St Martin’s Voices will present three digital Summer Sessions concerts available to watch online and on demand.
Each concert is programmed and introduced by a member of the ensemble, with the first curated by soprano Maisie Hulbert. In this first event today (Tuesday 9 August), Maisie shares music on the themes of isolation and nature, drawing on repertoire she has found meaningful in her experience of conducting singing workshops in prisons.
Entitled Isolation and Nature – in conversation with Maisie Hulbert, the first concert includes, among other works, The Evening Primrose by Benjamin Britten, Orlando Gibbon’s The Silver Swan, an arrangement of John Lennon & Paul McCartney’s song ‘Blackbird’ and Gustav Holst’s arrangement of the traditional Cornish folk song ‘I Love My Love’.
Tuesday 16 August sees soprano Susannah Hill explore folksongs of the British Isles, with works including arrangements of traditional folksongs such as ‘Loch Lomond’, ‘Dashing Away with a Smoothing Iron’, ‘Cockles and Mussels’ and ‘Danny Boy’.
Finally, on 23 August, bass George Cook presents a selection of choral jazz and close-harmony arrangements inspired by some of his favourite artists and arrangers, offering the perfect tunes for a balmy summer evening. Works include:’ Crossing the Bar’ by Rani Arbo, arranged by Peter Armidon; ‘Words’ by Anders Edenroth; and ‘Lullabye’ by Billy Joel, arranged by Philip Lawson. A trailer for this event can be found here.
Andrew Earis, Director of Music at St Martin-in-the-Fields said: ‘St Martin’s Voices continues to go from strength to strength and this season we are particularly proud to be able to champion our individual singers through the digital concerts programmed and led by members of the ensemble. Our singers are at the heart of what we do, and this is a wonderful opportunity for them to let their personalities shine through into our music-making.’
St Martin’s Voices performs concerts on the international stage as well as giving regular BBC broadcasts and special services at London’s iconic St Martin-in-the-Fields church, situated just by Trafalgar Square. The ensemble performs regularly alongside the Academy of St Martin in the Fields and London Mozart Players.
The Summer Sessions concerts will be available online and on demand until Friday 30 September. Tickets are £5 or buy all three concerts for £12 (saving 20%) here.
