Esplanade Presents

Music

Morning Star: The Christmas Spirit

The Gesualdo Six (UK)

6 Dec 2024, Fri, 7.30pm

1hr 35mins

(Intermission: 1 x 20mins)

Singtel Waterfront Theatre at Esplanade

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Synopsis

“Their style of singing – perfectly blended vocal harmony, exquisite tuning, inventive phrasing, delicately poised textural clarity – provides a magical accompaniment to the warmth of the Christmas season.“
– BBC Music Magazine’s Recording of the Month

 

“Ingeniously programmed and impeccably delivered, with that undefinable excitement that comes from a group of musicians working absolutely as one"
– Gramophone

 

The Gesualdo Six is an award-winning British vocal ensemble comprising some of the UK’s finest consort singers, directed by Owain Park.

 

For centuries, Christmas and the surrounding seasons have inspired composers to new heights of invention. Centuries-old carols tell the timeless story, with some works presented here in their inherited form and others reimagined by skilled arrangers.

 

This programme for Voices 2024 – A Festival of Song spans the ages, from the eternal beauty of the Tudor church right up to the 21st century, with each piece chosen to evoke a sense of mystery and joy.

This concert showcases a collaboration between The Gesualdo Six and the Voices Festival Choir. They will perform a motet by Renaissance composer William Byrd, along with a new arrangement of Away in a Manger by Owain Park.

 

Enhance your singing, technique, and ensemble skills with expert, award-winning guidance from The Gesualdo Six. Enjoy up to 20% savings on The Gesualdo Six Choral Workshop when you purchase a ticket to this concert.

 

Programme:

Arr. Philip Lawson (b.1957) Veni, veni Emmanuel
Michael Praetorius (1571 – 1621) Nun Komm, der Heiden Heiland
Sally Beamish (b. 1956) In the Stillness
Arr. J.S. Bach (1685 – 1750) In dulci jubilo
Gustav Holst (1874 – 1934) In the bleak midwinter
Anon. Angelus ad virginem
arr. Brian Kay (b. 1944) Gaudete

 

Featuring the Voices Festival Choir:

William Byrd (1540 – 1623) Hodie Christus natus est
arr. Owain Park (b. 1993) Away in a manger
arr. Michael Praetorius (1571 – 1621) Es ist ein Ros entsprungen

 

Arvo Part (b. 1935) Morning Star
Owain Park O send out they light
arr. Philip Lawson Maria durch ein dornwald ging
Bob Chilcott (b.1955) The Shepherd’s Carol

Accessibility

Assistive Listening

Admission Age:
6 and above.
Language: English
Things to Note:
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Artist Information

The Gesualdo Six

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The Gesualdo Six is an award-winning British vocal ensemble comprising some of the UK’s finest consort singers, directed by Owain Park. Praised for their imaginative programming and impeccable blend, the group was formed in 2014 for a performance of Gesualdo’s Tenebrae Responsories in Cambridge and since performed at numerous major festivals around the world.

 

Notable highlights include a concert in the distinguished Deutschlandradio Debut Series, performances at renowned venues including Wigmore Hall (London), Miller Theatre (New York), the Sydney Opera House, and their debut at the BBC Proms in 2023. This season, The Gesualdo Six made their South American debut in Colombia, and will appear in Japan, China and Singapore for the first time. The ensemble has collaborated with Fretwork, the Brodsky Quartet, and Matilda Lloyd, and is currently touring a concert-theatre titled Secret Byrd with director, Bill Barclay.

 

The Gesualdo Six is committed to music education, regularly hosting workshops for young musicians and composers. The ensemble has curated two Composition Competitions, with the most recent edition drawing entries from over 300 composers worldwide. The group recently commissioned new works from Shruthi Rajasekar and Joanna Marsh, as well as Coronasolfège for 6 by Héloïse Werner.

 

Harnessing the power of social media, the ensemble has made classical music accessible to millions worldwide, creating captivating videos from beautiful locations during their tour. They released their debut recording, English Motets on Hyperion Records in early 2018 to critical acclaim, followed by six additional albums—Christmas, Fading, Josquin’s Legacy, Gesualdo’s Tenebrae Responsories, Lux Aeterna and William Byrd’s Mass for five voices. Their most recent album, Queen of Hearts, was released in June 2024.

Owain Park

Owain Park was born in Bristol in 1993. In addition to directing The Gesualdo Six, he maintains a busy schedule of conducting projects with ensembles including the London Mozart Players, Southbank Sinfonia, the BBC Concert Orchestra, the Academy of Ancient Music and Cappella Cracoviensis. Owain is the Principal Guest Conductor of the BBC Singers and was formerly the Musical Director of Cambridge Chorale.

 

Owain’s compositions are published by Novello and have been performed internationally by ensembles including the Tallis Scholars and the Aurora Orchestra. While at Cambridge University, he studied orchestration with John Rutter before undertaking a Master's degree in composition. He is the composer-in-residence for the London Choral Sinfonia and was named one of BBC Radio 3’s 31 under 31 Young Stars 2020. The Choir of Trinity College Cambridge recorded an album of his compositions which was nominated for the BBC Music Magazine Awards. In 2023, Battle Cry, a collaborative album featuring Helen Charlston (mezzo-soprano) and Toby Carr (theorbo) with Owain’s composition as the title track, won the Gramophone Award for Best Concept Album.

 

Owain is a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists (FRCO) and was awarded the Dixon Prize for improvisation. He has been the Senior Organ Scholar at both Wells Cathedral and Trinity College Cambridge. He was a Tenebrae Associate Artist for two seasons and has collaborated \with ensembles including The Sixteen, Gabrieli Consort and Polyphony. Outside of his musical career, Owain is an avid gardener and can be found raking, pruning or picking cherry tomatoes.

Assistive Listening

Assistive listening system is available for this venue. Hearing aid users with a Telecoil-enabled programme can benefit from the system provided. Please arrive at the venue 30 min before the performance so we can assist with the setup.

Date & Time

Assistive Listening

6 Dec 2024, Fri

7.30pm

Singtel Waterfront Theatre at Esplanade
Tickets & Prices
Standard

Students, NSFs, Seniors & PWDs
(Limited)

Price $55 $44

Esplanade&Me Specials

Early Bird (18 Sep – 2 Oct 2024)
Black: 20% savings
White: 15% savings
Discover: 15% savings (Min. of 2 tickets) 

 

From 3 Oct 2024
Black: 15% savings  
White: 10% savings
Discover: 10% savings (Min. of 2 tickets)

 

Applicable to Standard tickets only. Terms and Conditions apply.

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Concert & Workshop Package

Morning Star: The Christmas Spirit ticket holders can enjoy 20% savings to The Gesualdo Six Choral Workshop.

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Open Call for Voices Festival Choir

An open call to form the Voices Festival Choir who will have the opportunity to learn from and perform with some of the best the choral scene has to offer.

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