Samuel Hudson introduces the 2021 Three Choirs Festival in conversation with John Quinn

Samuel Hudson discusses his 2021 Three Choirs Festival with John Quinn

Samuel Hudson (c) Michael Whitefoot

When Samuel Hudson took up his post as Director of Music at Worcester Cathedral in autumn 2019, he must have been very excited. Not only was he to be in charge of the music at one of England’s leading cathedrals, but also the post carried with it the artistic directorship of the Three Choirs Festival one year in every three – and it was to be Worcester’s turn to host the festival in the summer of 2020. He moved to Worcester from Blackburn Cathedral, where he had been Director of Music since 2011, and his musical pedigree is strong. He was organ scholar successively at Girton College, Cambridge and Wells Cathedral, after which he held posts at two significant churches, St Sepulchre-without-Newgate, London and All Saints’ Church, Hertford, prior to his move to Blackburn.

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An important premiere at the Three Choirs Festival – Gabriel Jackson introduces The World Imagined

Gabriel Jackson’s new The World Imagined

When Covid restrictions caused the cancellation of the 2020 Three Choirs Festival I regretted that decision on many levels. One of my main disappointments was that the cancellation deprived us of the opportunity to hear the world premiere of a major new work by Gabriel Jackson, The World Imagined. Happily, it has been possible to reschedule the premiere and include it in the plans for the 2021 Three Choirs Festival. I have been an admirer of this composer’s music, especially his choral works, for many years now so the prospect of such a significant new score is enticing. Consequently, I seized the chance to discuss the new work with Gabriel, albeit in a socially distanced way.

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The ESO plays David Matthews’s conspicuously successful arrangement of Elgar’s String Quartet

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Elgar reimagined, Elgar (arr. David Matthews): English Symphony Orchestra / Kenneth Woods (conductor). Wyastone Concert Hall, Monmouth. Relayed via the ESO’s YouTube channel, 14.5.2021. (JQ)

Kenneth Woods conducting the English Symphony Orchestra

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The Three Choirs Festival announces its Bold Adventure for 2021

THREE CHOIRS FESTIVAL 2021

It was a bitter disappointment when the Covid pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 Three Choirs Festival in Worcester; this was the first time in its 300-year history that the Festival had been cancelled other than during war time. Since then, the outlook for live music-making in the UK has been very uncertain, but the highly successful vaccination programme and a very welcome significant reduction in case numbers has brought optimism and the Three Choirs has announced a programme for the 2021 Festival. The city of Worcester has again been given the opportunity to act as host and the Festival will run from 24 July to 1 August.

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An impressive ‘New Beginning’ as the Royal Northern Sinfonia welcome Dinis Sousa

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Elgar, Haydn, Berlioz, Boulanger, Prokofiev: Dame Sarah Connolly (mezzo-soprano), Royal Northern Sinfonia / Dinis Sousa (conductor). Streamed live from Sage, Gateshead, 16.4.2021. (JQ)

Dinis Sousa conducts the Royal Northern Sinfonia

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The English Symphony Orchestra’s fine commemoration of International Holocaust Memorial Day

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Inspired by Mahler – Mahler, Weinberg, Schulhoff, Ullmann: April Fredrick (soprano), Zoë Beyers (violin), English Symphony Orchestra / Kenneth Woods (conductor). Wyastone Concert Hall, Monmouth, relayed via the ESO’s YouTube channel, 27.1.2021. (JQ)

English Symphony Orchestra conducted by Kenneth Woods
at Wyastone Concert Hall, Monmouth

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Ex Cathedra’s ideal and thoughtful celebration of Christmas 2020

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Christmas Music by Candlelight: Rupert Jeffcoat (organ), Ex Cathedra / Jeffrey Skidmore (conductor). Recorded in Symphony Hall, Birmingham, 21 & 22.12.2020. Streamed via the IDAGIO Global Concert Hall from 23.12.2020. (JQ)

Ex Cathedra’s Christmas Music by Candlelight

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Roderick Williams shines new, different light on George Butterworth’s songs with the Hallé

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Britten, Pärt, Butterworth, Strauss. Episode 2 – Roderick Williams sings Butterworth: Roderick Williams (baritone), Hallé / Sir Mark Elder (conductor). Performance recorded in Hallé St. Peter’s, Manchester and streamed on 10.12.2020. (JQ)

Roderick Williams and members of the Hallé

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