THE GESUALDO SIX | Hoylake Chamber Concert Society

About THE GESUALDO SIX | Hoylake Chamber Concert Society

FADING

“Evoking a contemplative atmosphere with music inspired by the ancient service of compline. . .”

Since the fourth century, the service of Compline has marked the end of the day, ushering in the darkness of the night. Much of the music here is inspired by this ancient service, evoking a contemplative atmosphere, including renaissance polyphony by Lobo, Sheppard and Palestrina that contains startling harmonic shifts and expressive word painting. Then there is a turning point; the light returns, birds sing, and flowers bloom once more, with contemporary reflections by Veljo Tormis, Joanna Marsh, and Sarah Rimkus.

“Their sound seemed to float in mid-air before reaching the ears of the rapt audience… every line, every gorgeous texture was radiantly clear.” - The Times

PROGRAMME

Thomas Tallis – Te lucis ante terminum

John Sheppard – In pace, in idipsum

Alonso Lobo – Versa est in luctum

Donna McKevitt – Lumen (Nunc Dimittis)

Jonathan Seers – Look down, O Lord

Hildegard von Bingen – O Ecclesia, oculi tui

Owain Park – Phos hilaron

Clemens non Papa – O Maria vernans rosa

Josef Rheinberger – Abendlied

Interval

Luca Marenzio – Potrò viver io più se senza luce

Carlo Gesualdo – Asciugate i begli occhi

Joanna Marsh – Fading

Veljo Tormis – Marjal aega magada

Gerda Blok-Wilson – O Little Rose

Sarah Rimkus – My heart is like a singing bird

Richard Rodney Bennett – A Good-Night

The concert will be followed by a drinks reception.

Guy James, Countertenor

Alasdair Austin, Countertenor

Joseph Wicks, Tenor

Josh Cooter, Tenor

Michael Craddock, Baritone

Owain Park, Director and Bass

“Ingeniously programmed and impeccably delivered, with that undefinable excitement that comes from a group of musicians working absolutely as one.” Gramophone.

The Gesualdo Six is an award-winning British vocal ensemble comprising some of the UK’s finest consort singers, directed by Owain Park. Praised for their imaginative programming and impeccable blend, the group formed in 2014 for a performance of Gesualdo’s Tenebrae Responsories in Cambridge and has gone on to perform at numerous major festivals around the world.

Notable highlights include a concert in the distinguished Deutschlandradio Debut Series, performances at renowned venues including Wigmore Hall (London), Miller Theatre (New York), the Sydney Opera House, and their debut at the BBC Proms in 2023. This season, The Gesualdo Six made their South American debut in Colombia, and will appear in Japan, China and Singapore for the first time. The ensemble have collaborated with Fretwork, the Brodsky Quartet, and Matilda Lloyd, and tour a work of concert-theatre titled Secret Byrd with Director, Bill Barclay.

The Gesualdo Six is committed to music education, regularly hosting workshops for young musicians and composers. The ensemble have curated two Composition Competitions, with the most recent edition drawing entries from over three hundred composers worldwide. The group recently commissioned new works from Shruthi Rajasekar and Joanna Marsh, alongside coronasolfège for 6 by Héloïse Werner.

The ensemble have harnessed the power of social media to make classical music accessible to millions worldwide, creating captivating videos from beautiful locations while on tour. The group released their debut recording English Motets on Hyperion Records in early 2018 to critical acclaim, followed by six further albums (Christmas, Fading, Josquin’s Legacy, Gesualdo’s Tenebrae Responsories, Lux Aeterna, William Byrd’s Mass for five voices), and most recently Morning Star. Their latest album, Queen of Hearts was released in June 2024.

The Venue

OUR CONCERTS ARE HELD IN ST HILDEBURGH’S CHURCH, HOYLAKE, CH47 1HL

The venue is five minutes’ walk from Hoylake railway station on the Wirral Line and fifteen minutes from the motorway network.

TO HOYLAKE BY RAIL FROM LIVERPOOL

1. Arriving at Liverpool Lime Street mainline station, cross the concourse and descend to the Merseyrail Underground station. Trains are bound for several termini which are shown on the front of each train, and on electronic displays on the platform. Take the train for West Kirby.

2. Alight at Hoylake station (the penultimate stop on the line).

3. Cross the footbridge and continue straight ahead to a roundabout with a bird sculpture in its centre.

4. Cross the road and continue in the same direction along The King’s Gap.

5. After 200 metres at a crossroads, The Green Lodge Hotel is opposite you and St Hildeburgh’s church is on your left.

TO HOYLAKE BY ROAD

Corner of Stanley Road and King’s Gap, Hoylake CH47 1HL

1. Leave the M53 motorway at Junction 2

2. Continue to the end of the spur road, then take the second exit off the roundabout and follow the signs for Moreton & Hoylake.

3. At the end of the road take the first exit off the roundabout for Hoylake A553.

4. Stay on the A553 through Moreton, Meols and then into Hoylake.

5. In Hoylake you will reach a roundabout with a bird sculpture in its centre. Turn right on the roundabout.

6. After 200 metres you reach a crossroads with St Hildeburgh’s church on your left. Turn left here.

7. There is disabled parking available in the church car park and plenty of on road parking.

Our Annual Membership

Annual Membership is £85 per person.

Your membership gives you entrance to all six concerts, September – November 2024 and February – April 2025, and entitles you to attend AGMs. Tickets will be transferable.

To become a member of Hoylake Chamber Concert Society please go to: https://chamberconcert.co.uk/become-a-member/

Your ticket can be upgraded to annual membership for £67.00 at the concert. Please see our Membership Secretary in the interval or after the concert.

Next concert

Our next concert will be on Monday 28th October 2024 at 7.30pm