Upcoming Performances

Saturday 7 December

10.00am – midday

Ashtead Peace Memorial Hall, KT21 2BE

Sing Carols for Charity

Refreshments, Raffle, Christmas Crafts & Produce

Christmas starts in Ashtead with our annual charity carol event.

This year we are delighted to be supporting two local charities:

  • LeatherHEAD START – which provides emergency, direct access, short-term accommodation for homeless men and women over the age of 18.
  • Crossroads Care – which helps unpaid carers of other people with support, information and advice.

You will have the chance to meet (and donate to!) both charities on the day as well as enjoying festive carols and refreshments.

No need to book, just turn up (£2 entry fee).

 

Saturday 8 March

7.30pm

St Martin’s Church, Church Street, Epsom KT17 4PX

African Sanctus

by David Fanshawe

African Sanctus is an unorthodox setting of the Latin Mass, blending beautiful choral writing with unique and rare recordings of traditional African music, collected by the composer himself on journeys taken on the River Nile between 1969 and 1973. This recorded music is woven into the live performance, which also includes the choir, soprano soloist, percussion ensemble and instrumentalists. David Fanshawe described his African Sanctus as a celebratory work expressing unity between peoples, their faiths and, above all, their music. Its message is ‘One Music – One God.’

You can read more about African Sanctus on its dedicated website: African Sanctus, composed by Dr David Fanshawe | Fanshawe One World Music (fanshawemusic.com).

Tickets & Practicalities

  • Full ticket price £18 , under 18s free entry. (Adult tickets on door £20). No booking Fee.
  • Price includes a Programme and an interval glass of wine.
  • Wheelchair users please call 07835 115716 to arrange available space.
  • Seating is in the pews, please bring a cushion if you wish.

We are grateful for the financial support of The Humphrey Richardson Taylor Charitable Trust for their support again this season.

 

Saturday 24 May

7.30pm

St Martin’s Church, Church Street, Epsom KT17 4PX

Dvořák

Stabat Mater

& Romance for Violin and Orchestra

with Kent Sinfonia

Among all Stabat Maters set to music over the centuries, this one by Dvořák holds a special place as the most symphonic. Based on a Latin poem that meditates on the Virgin Mary’s grief at the death of her son, Jesus, Dvorák wrote the piece six months after losing his own son.

Dvořák had a close and productive relationship both with God and England. His Stabat Mater premiered in Prague on December 23rd, 1880 and soon after in England. He went on to compose several significant works for English ensembles, such as the 7th Symphony for the Philharmonic Society (1885), St Ludmilla for Leeds (1886), Requiem Mass for Birmingham (1890). Faith in God was for Dvorák the cornerstone on which he built his own life and work. His son, Otakar noted that this father’s “God was not the God of Vengeance but the Creator, who sanctifies the journey through the ‘valley of death’ through his infinite love.” And this is fully reflected in this heart-tuggingly powerful music.

Dvořák‘s Romance for Violin and Orchestra is a rich and rewarding single-movement work, which was premiered in 1877, three years before his Stabat Mater. It will be performed in this concert by the violinist, Chrisian Halstead.

Tickets & Practicalities

  • Full ticket price £18 , under 18s free entry. (Adult tickets on door £20). No booking Fee.
  • Price includes a Programme and an interval glass of wine.
  • Wheelchair users please call 07835 115716 to arrange available space.
  • Seating is in the pews, please bring a cushion if you wish.

We are grateful for the financial support of The Humphrey Richardson Taylor Charitable Trust for their support again this season.