Guildford Philharmonic Choir 1991-92
Maxwell New
Our 1991-92 Season should prove to be as equally challenging and worthwhile as our last
season. We will again be joined in Guildford by our friends from Freiburg in October 1992
for a joint performance with the “Bachchoir” singing Brahms’ Requiem. We hope to go back
to Freiburg the following April to perform Israel in Egypt, although details are not as yet
finalised.
Our main works this year will be:
9 November - Handel, Israel in Egypt, under Neville Creed
7 March - Blake’ s Benedictus under Sir Charles Groves
2 May - Vaughan Williams’s Sea Symphony under Sir Charles Groves. We will be holding
our second “choral workshop” at Guildford University in February. Details are not as yet
finalised, but may be influenced by our recent ‘Opera Greats’ Festival at Petworth House on
30 June with the Royal Philharmonic Opera Orchestra which we all enjoyed very much in
spite of the weather. This did not however prevent an Audience of 6000 attending. The
Concert ended with fireworks!
The Choir and Committee are very aware of the obligation on the G.P. Choir to reach a
standard in our singing which is worthy of our fine Orchestra and in view of the amount of
music to be rehearsed for the coming season we have continued our rehearsals through to
the end of July this year rather than ending our season after the Petworth Concert. As a
result we have broken the back of “Egypt in Israel” and I would like to thank such a large
proportion of the choir who have made this extra effort. I am sure it will prove to have been
worthwhile.
Finally, may I thank my committee for all its hard work, particularly Geoff Forster who in
spite of being on sick leave after a very serious illness still managed to organise our Barbeque
party at Merrist Wood College on 8 July much enjoyed by a large number of members and
families.
LETTER FROM GUILDFORD PHILHARMONIC CHOIR'S CHAIRMAN - MAXWELL NEW
Fleet House
Hookheath Road
Woking
Surrey GU22 OOD
August 1991
Dear Member
We start another season's music making on a high sure
I
am not alone
in having
received
from most
audience thoroughly enjoyed the evening,
excellent guidance and our own
"A Petworth high".
unexpected quarters
even more than we did,
"Pavarotti".
Who knows,
I am
that
the
thanks to Neville's
we may be asked again
if we are lucky.
Following the hard work needed to prepare for Petworth,
I was very happy to see
that such a large proportion agreed to continue rehearsals for three more weeks
to break the back of Israel
in Egypt.
This will result.
in our starting what
will be a very packed 1991/92 season with a little less of a rush to prepare
for the 9th November.
We then have our Carol Concert on 8th December and Blake's Benedictus on 7th
March.
This will be a challenge,
so try to obtain a tape or record.
The Sea Symphony by Vaughan Williams follows on 2nd May and our choral workshop
slips
in between these concerts on 8th February at the University.
that more of you will
find time to attend this year.
It
I do hope
is a wonderful opportunity
to improve one's choral understanding and production of sound.
We may also be singing Faure's Requiem for our summer concert as part of the
Guildford Festival.
Our 1992/93 season will begin with the return visit of our friends from Freiburg's
'"Bachchor'
on 3lst October 1992 to sing Brahms'
Requiem,
so it might be a good
idea to contact your friends from the last visit for a personal
but if you do,
please let me know so that the
invitations you have agreed.
dates are yet fixed,
'dormy'
invitation,
list can include any such
We will go back to Freiburg in 1993 - no final
but probably in April to sing
Israel
in Egypt.
This full programme will need every ounce of effort you can give if we are to
keep up our standards.
is vital.
Indeed,
we must try to improve them,
I know many of you lead very busy lives,
to attend all,
not
just
the minimum number,
so regular attendance
but do make a real effort
of rehearsals so that we can all
enjoy our singing with out last moment panics.
Have a good break and see you on
Yours
2nd September
for our
first
evening.