Chorus at the Barbican (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

Chorus at the Barbican

11:38am Thursday 11th May 2006 in

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THE Hertfordshire Chorus will be bringing a flavour of the US to their concert at London's Barbican.

The concert at 7.30pm on Wednesday, May 24, features music by American Songbook composers George Gershwin, Leonard Bernstein and Michael Tippett.

In Porgy and Bess, Gershwin tells the story of the black community in the southern states and this concert version includes all the famous solos and choruses including Summertime and It Ain't Necessarily So.

Bernstein composed his Chichester Psalms for the opening of Chichester Cathedral in 1965 and it rapidly became one of the most popular pieces in any repertoire.

Tippet's spirituals from A Child of our Time were included in his oratorio when the composer heard Bessie Smith singing on the radio and realized that this was the music he wanted so that the piece did not sound like a church service.

The chorus will be joined by the Aurelian Symphony Orchestra with whom they have performed many times. Soloists are Maureen Braithwaite, Hyacinth Nicholls, Wills Morgan, Rodney Clarke and Daniel Max, with musical director David Temple.

Tickets costing from £9 to £22.50 are available from the box office on 020 7638 8891 or for a reduced fee on line at www.barbican.org.uk