From first light to Underneath the Stars Songs and music for a summer day. Saturday 3rd June 2023 at 7 pm

Underneath the Stars.  Athenaeum Singers Concert 3rd June 2023

Imagine the dawn breaking on a beautiful summer day with a freshness in the air which dissipates as the temperature rises and nature is displayed in all its glory. Follow the day through to dusk until night falls and we are ‘Underneath the Stars’.  This is the picture the Athenaeum Singers’ Director of Music, Thomas Mottershead, is presenting through song and music in the concert on 3rd May.

Thomas has been working with the Athenaeum Singers since November last year but this will be the first concert that he has conceived and executed with them completely.  In addition to his skills in direction, Thomas is a pianist and tenor soloist, and sings with the choir of Llandaff Cathedral. He is adept at passing on his singing skills and the choir have enjoyed the type and variety of songs they have been rehearsing.

Thomas will perform a solo piano piece by John Ireland, taken from The Downland Suite.  This tranquil piece depicts the composers affinity with the Sussex Downs and his love of the countryside and country life.

The singers are delighted to be supported on stage by their rehearsal accompanist, Dr Douglas Stevens, an experienced accompanist, recitalist and composer whose skills are an invaluable asset to the choir.  Douglas will perform a solo item, a piece by Debussy written in 1903, Garden sous la pluie. It depicts a garden in France being subjected to an extremely violent rainstorm – watch out for strong winds, thunder and a drenching.

The Alauda String Quartet, an international ensemble formed from past and present students at The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in South Wales will perform movements from two Haydn string quartets which support  the theme of a passing day.  The first has become known as Sunrise, reflecting a passage in which a solo violin slowly traces the rising sun and the second is known as The Lark.

The programme of songs to be presented by the singers is selected from composers writing from the 19th Century to the present day.  Camille Saint-Saëns and Gabriel Fauré add a French flavour with English 19th-20th century composers represented by Elgar, Ireland, Stainer, Sullivan and Parry.  Such favourites as My soul there is a Country and The Long Day Closes are included. Contemporary works include Paul Mealor’s  Now sleeps the crimson petal and Kate Rusby’s Underneath the Stars.

The concert will take place at The Minster Church of St Denys at 7pm.  Tickets are £15 and full details are on The Athenaeum Singers website .www.athenaeumsingers.com

Drinks will be available in the interval and we hope for a lovely summer evening when we can enjoy them ‘Underneath the Stars’.

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