Arthur Honegger Pastorale d’été, H31
Tomaso Albinoni Oboe Concerto in D minor, Op 9 No 2
John Ireland A Downland Suite: Elegy and Minuet
Joseph Haydn Symphony No 85 in B flat ‘La Reine’
Helen Pye, oboe
George Vass, conductor
Luke Styles & Benjamin Britten: Awakening Shadow
semi-staged performance
Awakening Shadow is a fusion of newly composed scenes by Luke Styles and Britten's Canticles, for five singers and four instrumentalists
Nova Music Opera
Donna Lennard, soprano
Ralph Thomas Williams, countertenor
Christopher Bowen and Bradley Smith, tenor
Felix Kemp, baritone
Nova Music Ensemble
Richard Williams, director
George Vass, conductor
Part of the 2021 Presteigne Festival
Luke Styles & Benjamin Britten: Awakening Shadow
semi-staged performance
Awakening Shadow is a fusion of newly composed scenes by Luke Styles and Britten's Canticles, for five singers and four instrumentalists
Nova Music Opera
Donna Lennard, soprano
Ralph Thomas Williams, countertenor
Christopher Bowen and Bradley Smith, tenor
Felix Kemp, baritone
Nova Music Ensemble
Richard Williams, director
George Vass, conductor
Part of the 2021 Presteigne Festival
Jessie Montgomery: Starburst
Cecilia McDowall: Off the Ground
Malcolm Arnold: Concerto for two violins and string orchestra, Op 77
Huw Watkins: Three Welsh Songs
Gary Carpenter: as dreams are made on
Presteigne Festival co-commission ∙ World premiere
Michael Tippett: Little Music
Presteigne Festival Orchestra
Fenella Humphreys & Francesca Barritt, violin
George Vass, conductor
Part of the 2021 Presteigne Festival
Jessie Montgomery: Starburst
Cecilia McDowall: Off the Ground
Malcolm Arnold: Concerto for two violins and string orchestra, Op 77
Huw Watkins: Three Welsh Songs
Gary Carpenter: as dreams are made on
Presteigne Festival co-commission
Michael Tippett: Little Music
Presteigne Festival Orchestra
Fenella Humphreys & Francesca Barritt, violin
George Vass, conductor
Part of the 2021 Presteigne Festival
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Symphony No 13 in F, K112
Cecilia McDowall: Ave maris stella
Matthew Taylor: Oboe Concerto
World premiere
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Ave verum corpus, K618
Malcolm Arnold: Sinfonietta No 1, Op 48
Cecilia McDowall: Shipping Forecast
Choir of Royal Holloway, University of London
Presteigne Festival Orchestra
James Turnbull, oboe
Christopher Good, narrator
George Vass, conductor
Part of the 2021 Presteigne Festival
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Symphony No 13 in F, K112
Cecilia McDowall: Ave maris stella
Matthew Taylor: Oboe Concerto
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Ave verum corpus, K618
Malcolm Arnold: Sinfonietta No 1, Op 48
Cecilia McDowall: Shipping Forecast
Choir of Royal Holloway, University of London
Presteigne Festival Orchestra
James Turnbull, oboe
Christopher Good, narrator
George Vass, conductor
Part of the 2021 Presteigne Festival
Felix Mendelssohn: Overture 'The Hebrides'
Max Bruch: Concerto for clarinet and viola in E minor, Op 88
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No 3 in E flat, Op 55 'Eroica'
Bushey Symphony Orchestra
Sarah Jenkins, clarinet
Rosalind Ventris, viola
George Vass, conductor
Gioachino Rossini: Petite Messe Solennelle
St Albans Choral Society
Elinor Rolfe Johnson, soprano
Samantha Price, mezzo-soprano
Liam Bonthrone, tenor
Alexander Ashworth, baritone
Timothy End, piano
Richard Harvey, harmonium
George Vass, conductor
A Christmas Celebration
James Frances Brown: The Hertfordshire Carols (world premiere)
Gustav Holst: Christmas Day – a choral fantasy on old carols
Mykola Leontovych: Carol of the Bells
Christmas readings and carols for choir and audience
St Albans Choral Society
Richard Harvey, organ
George Vass, conductor
A Christmas Celebration
James Frances Brown: The Hertfordshire Carols (world premiere)
Gustav Holst: Christmas Day – a choral fantasy on old carols
Mykola Leontovych: Carol of the Bells
Christmas readings and carols for choir and audience
St Albans Choral Society
Richard Harvey, organ
George Vass, conductor
Antonin Dvorak: Czech Suite, Op 39
Felix Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E minor, Op 64
Niels Wilhelm Gade: Symphony No 4 in B flat, Op 20
Eleanor Corr, violin
Bushey Symphony Orchestra
George Vass, conductor
Engelbert Humperdinck: Overture 'Hansel und Gretel'
Antonin Dvorak: Cello Concerto in B minor, Op 104
Franz Berwald: Symphony No 3 in C 'Singuliere'
Gemma Rosefield, cello
Bushey Symphony Orchestra
George Vass, conductor
Richard Blackford: Pietà
Commissioned jointly with the Bournemouth Symphony Chorus
Joseph Haydn: Nelson Mass
Rebecca Bottone, soprano
Rebecca Afonwy-Jones, mezzo-soprano
Bradley Smith, tenor
Felix Kemp, baritone
Amy Dickson, saxophone
Orchestra Nova
George Vass, conductor
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Overture 'Cosi fan Tutte', K588
Ralph Vaughan Williams: The Lark Ascending
Gabriel Faure: Suite 'Masques et bergamasques', Op 112
Arthur Honegger: Pastoral d'ete
Joseph Haydn: Symphony No 99 in E flat
Martin Smith, violin
Bushey Symphony Orchestra
George Vass, conductor
Vaughan Williams 150th Anniversary Concert
Ralph Vaughan Williams: Te Deum in G
John Ireland: Greater love hath no Man
Ralph Vaughan Williams: Prelude on ‘Hyfrydol’
Herbert Howells: Like as the hart desireth the Waterbrooks
Ralph Vaughan Williams: Prelude on ‘Rhosymedre’
Edward Elgar: Great is the Lord, Op 67
Ralph Vaughan Williams: O taste and see
Gerald Finzi: Lo, the full final Sacrifice, Op 26
Ralph Vaughan Williams: Five Mystical Songs
St Albans Choral Society
Richard Harvey, organ
George Vass, conductor
Felix Mendelssohn: Overture: 'The Hebrides', Op 26
Felix Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E minor, Op 64
Franz Schubert/Gustav Mahler: String Quartet in D minor, D810 'Death and the Maiden' – Andante con moto
Franz Schubert: Symphony No 3 in D, D200
Benjamin Nabarro, violin
Orchestra Nova
George Vass, conductor
Haydn: Symphony No 43 in E flat 'Mercury'
Mozart: Piano Concerto in A, K488
Ignas Macnickas, piano
Blaze Ensemble
George Vass, conductor
Julian Philips: Looking West (World premiere)
Rebecca Bottone, soprano
Rebecca Afonwy-Jones, mezzo
Alexander Knox, actor
Nova Music Opera Ensemble
George Vass, conductor
Julian Philips: Looking West (Welsh premiere)
Rebecca Bottone, soprano
Rebecca Afonwy-Jones, mezzo
Alexander Knox, actor
Nova Music Opera Ensemble
George Vass, conductor
Dani Howard: Silver Falls
Ralph Vaughan Williams: Oboe Concerto in A minor
Igor Stravinsky: Concerto in D
Gabriel Jackson: Doonies Hill Antiphon
John Ireland: Concertino Pastorale
Nicholas Daniel, oboe
Presteigne Festival Orchestra
George Vass, conductor
Edward Elgar: Serenade in E minor, Op 20
Tarik O’Regan: Chaâbi
Gabriel Jackson: Countless and wonderful are the ways to praise God
Ralph Vaughan Williams: Five Variants on Dives and Lazarus
James Francis Brown: The Heavens and the Heart
Olivia Jageurs, harp
Bath Camerata
Presteigne Festival Orchestra
George Vass, conductor
Sarah Frances Jenkins: Trallali, Trallaley, Trallalera
Gerald Finzi: Three Soliloquies from ‘Love’s Labour’s Lost’
Tarik O’Regan: ‘Machine’, concerto for soprano saxophone and string orchestra (World premiere)
Ralph Vaughan Williams: Violin Concerto in D minor
Julian Philips: Divertissement
Amy Dickson, saxophone
Benjamin Nabarro, violin
Presteigne Festival Orchestra
George Vass, conductor
Elgar: Serenade in E minor, Op 20
Albinoni: Oboe Concerto D Minor, Op 9 No 2
Mozart: Symphony No 25 in G minor, K183
Nicholas Ridley, oboe
The Blaze Ensemble
George Vass, conductor
Julian Philips: Looking West (London premiere)
Rebecca Bottone, soprano
Rebecca Afonwy-Jones, mezzo
Alexander Knox, actor
Nova Music Ensemble
George Vass, conductor
Vaughan Williams: Serenade to Music (orchestral version)
Philip Le Bas: Yuki-Onna (World Premiere)
Coates: Suite – The Three Elizabeths
Vaughan Williams: Symphony No 5 in D
Royal Tunbridge Wells Symphony Orchestra
George Vass, conductor
Vaughan Williams 150th Anniversary Concert
Vaughan Williams: Overture 'The Wasps'
George Butterworth: The Banks of Green Willow
Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on 'Greensleeves'
Vaughan Williams: Toward the Unknown Region
Vaughan Williams: Serenade to Music
Frederick Delius: Prelude to 'Irmelin'
Vaughan Williams: Cantata 'In Windsor Forest'
Elizabeth Green, soprano ꞏ Angharad Rowlands, mezzo-soprano
Rhys Jones, tenor ꞏ William Pate, baritone
St Albans Choral Society
Bushey Symphony Orchestra
George Vass, conductor
A Christmas Celebration
Carols for choir, audience and organ including:
William Mathias: Ave Rex, Op 45
Sarah Frances Jenkins: A babe is born (world premiere)
St Albans Choral Society
Richard Harvey, organ
George Vass, conductor
Brahms: Three Hungarian Dances
Verdi: Prelude to ‘La Traviata’ Act I
Bruch: Violin Concerto No 1 in G minor, Op 26
Handel/Harty: Water Music Suite
Brahms: Variations on the St Anthony Chorale, Op 56b
Mathilde Milwidsky, violin
Bushey Symphony Orchestra
George Vass, conductor
Schubert: Symphony No 5 in B flat, D485
Dvorak: Romance for violin and orchestra in F minor, Op 11
Mozart: Symphony No 40 in G minor, K550
Martin Smith, violin
Bushey Symphony Orchestra
George Vass, conductor
W A Mozart: Misericordias Domini, K222
Elgar: Serenade in E minor, Op 20
Adrian Williams: The Innocent Fields (world premiere)
W A Mozart: Requiem in D minor, K626
Daisy Brown, soprano
Bradley Smith, tenor
Julien Van Mellaerts, baritone
Orchestra Nova
George Vass, conductor
Edward Longstaff: Just one thing (World premiere)
Mozart: Oboe Concerto in C, K314
Sibelius: Three pieces from ‘Kuolema’
Beethoven: Symphony No 1 in C, Op 21
James Turnbull, oboe
Bushey Symphony Orchestra
George Vass, conductor
Cecilia McDowall: Ad lucem – A Canticle of Light
Bob Chilcott: Canticles of Light
John Rutter: Requiem
Orchestra Nova Ensemble
Richard Harvey, organ
George Vass, conductor
Ninfea Cruttwell-Reade: Reginald, The Musings of an Edwardian Gentleman
David Matthews: The Sleeping Lord, Op 58
Zoe Drummond, soprano
Christopher Good, narrator
Presteigne Festival Ensemble
George Vass, conductor
Joseph Haydn: Symphony No 42 in D
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Symphony No 33 in B flat, K319
Blaze Ensemble
George Vass, conductor
Ottorino Respighi: The Birds
Richard Strauss: Oboe Concerto
Johannes Brahms: Symphony No 2 in D, Op 73
Nicholas Daniel, oboe
Royal Tunbridge Wells Symphony Orchestra
George Vass, conductor
George Frederick Handel: Messiah
Elinor Rolfe Johnson, soprano | Rebecca Afonwy-Jones, mezzo-soprano
Christopher Bowen, tenor | Alexander Ashworth, baritone
Orchestra Nova
George Vass, conductor
E J Moeran: Sinfonietta (1944)
Joseph Haydn: Trumpet Concerto in E flat
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Symphony No 39 in E flat, K543
Imogen Whitehead, trumpet
Bushey Symphony Orchestra
George Vass, conductor
Christmas Concert
The programme includes carols for choir and audience with Christmas readings and:
James MacMillan: O Radiant Dawn
James Francis Brown: Hertfordshire Carols
St Albans Choral Society
Richard Harvey, organ
George Vass, conductor
Dvořák: Legends, Op 59 Nos 1–4
Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D, Op 35
Rachmaninov: Vocalise, Op 34 No 14
Bizet: Symphony in C
Emma Roijackers, violin
Bushey Symphony Orchestra
George Vass, conductor
Kodály: Summer Evening
Sarah Frances Jenkins: new work (World premiere)
Stenhammar: Two Romances for violin and orchestra, Op 28
Rodrigo: Tres viejos aires de danza
Haydn: Symphony No 89 in F
Martin Smith, violin
Bushey Symphony Orchestra
George Vass, conductor
Gerald Finzi: In terra pax, Op 39
James Francis Brown: The Heavens and the Heart
Cecilia McDowall: Bird of Time
Antonio Vivaldi: Gloria in D, RV589
Danni O’Neill, soprano
Angharad Rowlands, mezzo soprano
Thomas Butler, baritone
St Albans Choral Society
Orchestra Nova
George Vass, conductor
Mozart: Don Giovanni overture, K527
Fauré: Pavane, Op 50
Malcolm Arnold: Viola Concerto, Op 108
Mendelssohn: Symphony No 4 in A, Op 90 ‘Italian’
Sarah-Jane Bradley, viola
Bushey Symphony Orchestra
George Vass, conductor
Julian Philips: Melodys of Earth and Sky – suite for actor and chamber ensemble (World premiere)
Walton: Façade - an entertainment
Anton Lesser, actor
Sarah Gabriel & Alexander Knox, reciters
Presteigne Festival Ensemble
George Vass. conductor
William Mathias: Prelude, Aria and Finale, Op 25
Britten: Young Apollo, Op 16
Joseph Phibbs: Flame and Shadow
Richard Blackford: Mirror of Perfection
Rebecca Bottone, soprano
Nicholas Mogg, baritone
Huw Watkins, piano
Choir of Royal Holloway
Presteigne Festival Orchestra
George Vass, conductor
Sarah Frances Jenkins: Dancing with Playford (World premiere)
Tayla-Leigh Payne: Blodeuo (World premiere)
Richard Blackford: Songs of Nadia Anjuman
Adrian Sutton: Sap and Sinews
Lynne Plowman: Harp Concerto (World premiere)
Britten: Sinfonietta, Op 1
Rebecca Afonwy-Jones, mezzo-soprano
Anne Denholm, harp
Presteigne Festival Orchestra
George Vass, conductor
Georg Philipp Telemann: Concerto in D for 3 trumpets, 2 oboes and timpani, TWV 54:D2
Edward Elgar: Serenade in E minor, Op 20
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Symphony No 36 in C, K425 'Linz'
James Nash, Tom Thornton and Reuben Anelay, trumpets
Blaze Ensemble
George Vass, conductor
Bushey Symphony Orchestra opens its 50th anniversary season
Camille Saint-Saëns Suite in D, Op 49
Pyotr Tchaikovsky Variations on a Rococo theme, Op 33
Edward Elgar Serenade for string orchestra in E minor, Op 20
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Symphony No 35 in D, K385 ‘Haffner’
Ariana Kashefi, cello
Bushey Symphony Orchestra
George Vass, conductor
St Albans Choral Society open their 80th anniversary season with a return to the Cathedral with a concert of masterpieces - maestro George Vass's final appearance with the SACS at the Cathedral, before retiring after 30 years dedicated service.
Johann Sebastian Bach Magnificat in D, BWV243
Francis Poulenc Organ Concerto in G minor, FP93
Maurice Duruflé Requiem, Op 9
Elinor Rolfe Johnson, soprano
Helen Charleston, mezzo-soprano
Bradley Smith, tenor
Alexander Ashworth, bass-baritone
Tom Winpenny, organ
St Albans Choral Society
Orchestra Nova
George Vass, conductor
CHRISTMAS CONCERT
Morten Lauridsen O Magnum Mysterium
Richard James Harvey Chanticleer
Gustav Holst Christmas Day
with Christmas hymns, carols and readings
St Albans Choral Society
Edward Kemp-Luck, organ
George Vass, conductor
Gioachino Rossini Overture: L’italiana in Algeri
Ludwig van Beethoven Violin Concerto in D, Op 61
Franz Schubert Symphony No 6 in C, D589
Madeleine Pickering, violin
Bushey Symphony Orchestra
George Vass, conductor
Claude Debussy/Ravel Danse (1890)
Christopher Gunning Flute Concertino
Claude Debussy Petite Suite
Armas Järnefelt Praeludium; Berceuse in G minor
Frank Bridge Summer
Joseph Haydn Symphony No 100 in G ‘Military’
Sarah Bennington, flute
Bushey Symphony Orchestra
George Vass, conductor
Bushey Symphony Orchestra 50th Anniversary Concert
with Xiaowen Shang (piano)
James Francis Brown: A Flourish for Bushey (World Premiere)
Antonin Dvořák: In Nature's Realm, op. 91
Edvard Grieg: Piano Concerto in A minor
Robert Schumann: Symphony No 3 in E flat major, op. 97, ‘Rhenish’
Joseph Haydn: The Creation
Sophia Jin, soprano
Matthew Sotillo-Cooke, tenor
Robert Rice, baritone
St Albans Choral Society
The Blaze Ensemble
George Vass, conductor
Ninfea Cruttwell-Reade: Scenes from Under Milk Wood (world premiere)
Nova Music Opera
Nova Music Ensemble
George Vass, conductor
Harvey Evans, director
Rebecca Afonwy-Jones, mezzo-soprano
Thomas Humphreys, baritone
Osian Clarke, actor
Madeleine Morgan, actor
David Prince, narrator
Ninfea Cruttwell-Reade: Scenes from Under Milk Wood
Nova Music Opera
Nova Music Ensemble
George Vass, conductor
Harvey Evans, director
Rebecca Afonwy-Jones, mezzo-soprano
Thomas Humphreys, baritone
Osian Clarke, actor
Madeleine Morgan, actor
David Prince, narrator
Cheryl Frances-Hoad: With What Sudden Joy
Eleanor Alberga: Violin Concerto No 2 'Narcissus'
Aaron Copland: Quiet City
Cecilia McDowall: Da Vinci Requiem
Benjamin Nabarro, violin
Elinor Rolfe-Johnson, soprano
Thomas Humphreys, baritone
Kate Bennington, cor anglais
Katie Lodge, trumpet
Bath Camerata
Presteigne Festival Orchestra
George Vass, conductor
Benjamin Britten: Prelude and Fugue for 18 solo strings, Op 29
Huw Watkins: Clarinet Concertino (world premiere)
Edward Gregson: Aubade (World premiere)
Steve Reich: Duet for two violins and string orchestra
Dmitri Shostakovich/Barshai: Chamber Symphony in C minor, Op 110a
Robert Plane, clarinet
Emma Roijackers & Laura Rickard, violin
Presteigne Festival Orchestra
George Vass, conductor
Ninfea Cruttwell-Reade: Scenes from Under Milk Wood
Nova Music Opera
Nova Music Ensemble
George Vass, conductor
Harvey Evans, director
Rebecca Afonwy-Jones, mezzo-soprano
Thomas Humphreys, baritone
Osian Clarke, actor
Madeleine Morgan, actor
David Prince, narrator
W A Mozart Violin Concerto No 2 in D, K211
W A Mozart Symphony No 29 in A, K201
Mathilde Milwidsky, violin
The Blaze Ensemble
George Vass, conductor
Nicolai Overture: The Merry Wives of Windsor
Beethoven Piano Concerto No 5 in E-flat major, Op 73 ‘Emperor’
Nielsen Symphony No 4, Op 29 ‘The Inextinguishable’
Tom Poster, piano
Royal Tunbrdige Wells Symphony Orchestra
George Vass, conductor
Bizet Suite 'Jeux d'enfants', Op 22
Shostakovich Piano Concerto No 2 in F, Op 102
Mendelssohn Symphony No 3 in A minor, Op 56
Annie Yim, piano
Bushey Symphony Orchestra
George Vass, conductor