Concert hits the right note with composer and conductor Bob Chilcott

“Come and Sing events are so important”, says composer and conductor Bob Chilcott.

“Singing together has all sorts of benefits including improving both mental health and the immune system, releasing endorphins and developing a sense of community. How great that there’s the opportunity to come to a performance of Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle in the small village of Kintbury. It’s a wonderful demonstration of a community being brought together in music!”

On Saturday (March 23), local chamber choir Opus2 will be joined by another 35 singers from the local community to rehearse and perform this amazing piece in a joint project with the Friends of St Mary’s Church, Kintbury.

They’ll be supplemented with an impressive line-up of professional soloists including singers Jacqueline Pischorn, Serenna Wagner, Gordon Fry and Peter Lidbetter along with Ben Giddens on organ and the pianist Susan Norman.

The conductor on the day will be pianist and percussionist Chris Lambert, who is no stranger to this work, having performed it twice before – once as a singer and once as the pianist. Chris has been involved in choral music for more than 45 years and has worked as a Musical Director and accompanist in choral music and Music Theatre extensively. He has experience as a composer and presenter for BBC Radio and was the voice of the Classic FM Travel Centre for a number of years, as well as a contributing presenter for the BBC News Channel.

“There’s nothing ‘petite’ about this work – and it’s far from ‘solemn’” says Lambert.

“There are jokes, musical references to Rossini’s predecessors and a couple of occasions where Rossini even puts in a couple of ‘jump scares’.

“It’s also extremely tricky and although conducting this work is not easy, I’m glad not to be playing the piano part on this occasion!”

The performance starts at 7:30pm.

Tickets are £15 and are available at the Kintbury Corner Stores, ticketsource.co.uk and on the door.