An introduction to this evening s concert from our Musical Director, Christopher Finch Rachmaninov s All-night vigil (or Vespers as it is more

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2 An introduction to this evening s concert from our Musical Director, Christopher Finch Rachmaninov s All-night vigil (or Vespers as it is more commonly known) has become a real favourite of Bristol Bach Choir members and audiences during the choir s 50 year history. I am certainly hugely excited about performing one of the undisputed masterpieces of choral liturgy in this beautifully candle-lit ancient priory church. Above all, this work is influenced by the centuries-old tradition of ancient Znamenny Chant, and is considered by many to be the gleaming musical jewel of the Orthodox Church. In the Orthodox tradition, God and beauty are interrelated. The chants of the ancient church are thought to be divinely inspired; they are viewed as celestial creations that serve as the foundation for all creativity. The fourth century Archbishop of Constantinople, St. John Chrysostom, wrote: Above, the hosts of angels sing praise; below men form choirs in the churches and imitate them by singing the same doxology. Above, the seraphim cry out in the thrice-holy hymn; below, the human throng sends up the same cry. The inhabitants of heaven and earth are brought together in a common assembly; there is one thanksgiving, one shout of delight, one joyful chorus. It was the establishment of the 'Moscow Synodal School' in the latter part of the nineteenth century, which provided the catalyst for the liberation of Russian liturgical music from foreign influence. The Directors of the School encouraged a return to the indigenous Russian chants and their use as the inspiration for the composition of new church music. Despite Rachmaninov s own tempestuous relationship with the Orthodox Church, he was deeply moved and inspired by the Church's music. He was to comment, I took less interest in God and religious worship than in the singing, which was of unrivalled beauty. In crafting the All-night-vigil with both an intrinsic understanding of the ancient heritage of Orthodox Church, and a mastery of Romantic style and aesthetic, Rachmaninov produced a timeless masterpiece that resonates profoundly with modern audiences and offers an insight into a vision of perfect, divinely inspired, celestial beauty.

3 Sergei Rachmaninov ( ) All-Night Vigil op. 37 Rachmaninov s opus 37, the All-Night Vigil, was (and is) a service or set of services celebrated in the Russian Orthodox Church throughout the night before major festivals, particularly Christmas, Epiphany and Easter. Rachmaninov set to music fifteen sections from the words for these services. Only the first six pieces have words from Vespers; 7-14 come from Matins, and the final movement from Prime (or First Hour). The order of the sections is that in which they would appear in the All-Night Vigil. The work was written in two weeks in Jan-Feb 1915, and premiered to great success in March that year. At the time Rachmaninov held a position as Inspector of Music at a prestigious Girls School in Moscow which exempted him from military service in the First World War. The composer did not have a good relationship with the Russian Orthodox Church, whose services he did not attend, and which had tried to prevent his marriage to a first cousin, but he had been interested in the church s musical tradition for some twenty years before writing the All-Night Vigil. This piece is the high point of that interest, and was the last religious music he would compose. Two years later, after the 1917 revolution, he left Russia, never to return. The language used is Old Church Slavonic, which is closely related to Russian. As the Orthodox Church forbids the use of instruments the music is for unaccompanied choir, nominally in four parts, but sometimes subdividing into up to twelve. There is an Alto solo in movement 2, and Tenor solos in 4, 5 and 9. Nine of the fifteen sections use the appropriate chants from the Orthodox tradition. The other six use melodies made up by Rachmaninov, but very much in the same style. It s hard to work out which melodies derive from chant, as one of Rachmaninov s compositional ploys is to accompany the chant with melodies derived from it these can be below it, above it or (frequently) both. It has been pointed out that throughout his life Rachmaninov wrote melodies with the characteristics of Orthodox chant mostly stepwise, with repeated notes, simple rhythms and asymmetric phrase lengths. It seems clear that the piece was intended to be performed sequentially in a concert, as this evening (and at the first performance), as much as during the night-long vigil. The All-Night Vigil is a masterpiece. By turns serene, exuberant, reflective, fervent and volatile, it has a pure beauty and a subtlety of structure, texture and harmony that should carry a listener effortlessly through its hour-or-so length.

4 What to listen for in each section: 1 Fantastic start on Priiditsye (Come); sounds comparatively simple, but has a surprisingly complex structure. 2 The six lines of the chant, sung by an Alto solo, are separated by a varied refrain. Serene. Note the bass descent at the end. 3 Contains eight of the most beautiful Alleluias ever written. 4 Tonally the most wide-ranging of the set, with a very lovely coda. 5 This setting of the Nunc Dimittis was Rachmaninov s favourite of the set, which he wanted to be sung at his funeral. It is a gently rocking piece, which ends, famously, with the basses descending to a bottom B. 6 The best-known section, frequently sung as a separate piece. The beginning of the middle section Blagosloven is, in the humble opinion of your note-writer, one of the most magical moments in all choral music. 7 Follow the structure of this shortish piece. The main theme builds up, with interjections of Slava (Glory) up to a loud climax; there follows a contrasting quiet coda. The extraordinary choral textures in this piece have been likened to the sound of bells. 8 As close as we get to a fast movement, with joyful Alleluias peppering the music throughout. 9 This one is longer and more complex, with frequent changes of mood and texture. As often, the volatility of most of the movement is transformed by the ending: here gradually descending and softening Alleluias. 10 A good example of Rachmaninov creating a serene atmosphere by placing the accompanied chant-like melodies against a held note or chord. The balance between these and the louder interjections creates the ambience of this smallish masterpiece. 11 This long movement is a setting of the Magnificat. In the Orthodox tradition each of the five sections of words is followed by a refrain, which starts Chestneyshuyu Heruvim More glorious than the Cherubim. See if you can spot the last refrain, which starts in the major mode before subsiding back to the minor at the very end. 12 Also long, and structurally the most complex of the set, with a simple chant, sung at the beginning (and often thereafter) by the altos, which is never very

5 far away from the surface of the texture. In a liturgical context, this would be sung just as dawn is breaking on the new feast-day. 13 By contrast this one is quite short and fairly simple: all voices sing all the time and the chant melody stays in the top part. Tonally interesting in that each of the two sections approaches its final C major chord from anywhere but C major. 14 Magical opening. Also a magical ending: it s hard to predict the last chord, but it sounds absolutely right when we get there. 15 Not long, but a very appropriate ending to the work with an exuberance only slightly tempered by the final more relaxed cadence. Tim Warren, Priiditye, poklonimsya Priiditye, poklonimsya Tsarevi nashemu Bogu. Priiditye, poklonimsya i pripadyom Khristu Tsarevi nashe Bogu. Priiditye, poklonimsya i priadym samomu Khristu Tsarevi i Bogu nashemu. Priiditye, poklonimsya i pripadyom Yemu. The call to prayer O come, let us worship the Lord our maker. O come, let us worship and fall down before the Lord Christ our God and maker. O come, let us worship and fall down and kneel before Christ, our God and maker. Come let us worship and fall down before Him. 2. Blagoslovi, dushe Blagoslovi, dushe moya, Gospoda. Blagosloven yesi, Gospodi. Gospodi Bozhe moy, vozvelichilsya yesi zelo. Blagosloven yesi, Gospodi. Vo ispovedaniye i v velelepotu obleklsya yesi. Blagosloven yesi, Gospodi. Na gorakh stanut vody. Divna dela Tvoya, Gospodi. Posrede gor proydut vodi. Divna dela Tvoya, Gospodi Vsya premudrostiyu sotvoril yesi. Slava ti, Gospodi, sotvorivshemu vsya. 3. Blazhen muzh Blazhen muzh, izhe ne ide na sovet nechestivykh. Alliluyia, Alliluyia, Alliluyia. Yako vest' Gospod' put' pravednykh, i put' nechestivykh pogibnet. Alliluyia. From Psalm 104 Bless the Lord, O my soul, blessed art Thou, O Lord. O Lord my God, Thou art very great. Blessed art Thou, O Lord Thou art clothed with honour and majesty. Blessed art Thou, O Lord. The waters stand upon the mountains. Marvellous are Thy works, O Lord. The waters flow between the hills. Marvellous are Thy works, O Lord. In wisdom hast Thou made all things. Glory to Thee, O Lord, who hast created all! From Psalm 1 Blessed is the man, who walks not in the counsel of the wicked. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. For the Lord knows the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. Alleluia.

6 Rabotayte Gospodevi so strakhom, i raduytesya Yemu strepetom. Alliluyia. Blazheni vsi nadeyus chiisya nan'. Alliluyia. Voskresni Gospodi, spa si mya, Bozhe may. Alliluyia. Gospodne yest spaseniye, i na Iyudekh Tvoikh blagosloveniye Tvoye. Alliluyia. Slava Otsu, i Synu, i Svyatomu Dukhu, i nyne i prisno i vo veki vekov, amin'. Alliluyia. Slava Tebe, Bozhe. 4. Svete tikhi Svete tikhi Svyatyya slavy, bessmertnago, Otsa nebesnago, svyatago blazhennago, Iisuse Khriste! Prishedshe na zapad sontsa, videvshe svet vecherni, Poyem otsa, Syna, i svyatago Dukha, Boga. Dostoin yesi vo vsya vremena pet byti glasy prepodobnymi, Syne Bozhi, zhivot dayay: Temzhe mir Tya slavit. 5. Nyne otpushchayeshi Nyne otpushchayeshi raba Tvoyego Vladyko, po glagolu Tvoyemu s mirom; Yako videsta ochi moi spaseniye Tvoye, yezhe yesi ugotoval pred litsem vsekh Iydey, Svet vo otkroveniye yazykov, I slavu Iyudey Tvoikh Izrailya 6. Bogoroditse Devo Bogoroditse Devo, raduysya, blagodatnaya Mariye, Gospod's toboyu: Blagoslovenna Ty v zhenakh, i blagosloven plod chreva Tvoyego, Yako Spasa rodila yesi dush nashikh. Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice in Him with trembling. Alleluia. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him. Alleluia. Arise, O Lord! Save me, O my God! Alleluia. Salvation is of the Lord; and Thy blessing is upon Thy people. Alleluia. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever. Amen. Alleluia. Glory to Thee, O God! The Evening Hymn of Light Gladsome Light of the holy glory of the Immortal One-the Heavenly Father, holy and blessed Jesus Christ! Now that we have come to the setting of the sun, and behold the light of evening, we praise the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Thou art worthy at every moment to be praised in hymns by reverent voices. O Son of God. Thou art the Giver of Life; therefore all the world glorifies Thee. Nunc Dimittis Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word, for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people. A light to enlighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel. Hymn to the Mother of God Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos, Mary full of grace, the Lord is with Thee. Blessed art Thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb, Thou hast borne the Saviour of our souls.

7 7. Shestopsalmiye Slava v vyshnikh Bogu, i na zemli mir, v chelovetsekh blagovoleniye. Gospodi, ustne moi otverzeshi, i usta moya vozvestyat khvalu Tvoyu. 8. Khvalite imya, Gospodne Khvalite imya, Gospodne. Alliluyia. Khvalite, rabi, Gospoda. Alliluyia. Blagosloven Gospod' ot Siona, zhivy vo Ierusalime. Alliluyia. Ispovedaytesya Gospodevi yako blag; yako v vek milost' Yego. Alliluyia. Ispovedaytesya Bogu nebesnomu, yako v vek milost' Yego. Alliluyia. 9. Blagosloven yesi Blagosloven yesi, Gospodi, nauchi my a opravdaniyem Tvoim. Angel' ski sober udivisya, zrya Tebe v mertvykh vmenivshasya; smertnuyu zhe, Spase, krepost' razorivsha, i s Soboyu Adama vozdvigsha, i ot ada vsya svobozhdsha. Blagosloven yesi, Gospodi, nauchi my a opravdaniyem Tvoim. "Pochto mira s milostivnymi slezami, "0 uchenitsy, rastvoryayete?" blistayasya vo grobe Angel mironositsam veshhashe: "Vidite vy grob, i urazumeyte, "Spas bo voskrese ot groba." Blagosloven yesi, Gospodi, nauchi mya opravdaniyem Tvoim. Zelo rano mironositsy techakhu ko grobu Tvoyemu rydayushchyya, no predsta k nim Angel i reche: "Rydaniya vremya presta, ne plachite, voskreseniye zhe Apostolom rtsyte." The six psalms Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace. Goodwill among men. O Lord, open Thou my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim Your praise. Much Mercy : words from Psalm 135 Praise the name of the Lord. Alleluia. Praise the Lord, you His servants. Alleluia, Blessed be the Lord from Zion, He who dwells in Jerusalem. Alleluia. O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good. For His mercy endures forever. Alleluia. O give thanks unto the God of Heaven. For His mercy endures forever. Alleluia. Hymn in Praise of the Resurrection Blessed art Thou, O Lord, teach me Thy statutes. The angelic host was filled with awe, when it saw Thee among the dead. Destroying the power of death, 0 Saviour, Thou didst raise Adam, and save all men from hell! Blessed art Thou, O Lord, teach me Thy statutes. "Why do you mingle myrrh with your tears of compassion, 0 ye women disciples?" cried the radiant angel in the tomb to the myrrhbearers. ''Behold the tomb and understand: the Saviour is risen from the dead!" Blessed art Thou, O Lord, teach me Thy statutes. Very early in the morning the myrrh bearers ran with sorrow to Thy tomb, but an Angel came to them and said: "The time for sorrow has come to an end! Do not weep, but announce the resurrection to the apostles!"

8 Blagosloven yesi, Gospodi, nauchi my a opravdaniyem Tvoim. Mironositsy zheny, s miry prishedshiya ko grobu Tvoyemu, Spase, rydakhu, Angel zhe k nim reche, glagolya: "Shto s mertvymi zhivago pomyshlyayete? "Yako Bog bo voskrese ot groba." Slava Otsu i Synu i Svyatomu Dukhu, Poklonimsya Otsu, i Yego Synove, i Svyatomy Dukhu, Svyatey Troitse vo yedinom sushchestve, s serafimi zovushche: Svyat, svyat, svyat, yesi Gospodi. I nyne, i priso, i vo veki vekov, Amin'. Zhiznodavtsa rozhdshi, greka, Devo, Adama, izbavila yesi,radost' zhe Yeve v pechali mesto podala yesi: Padshiya zhe ot zhizni, k sei napravi, iz Tebe voplotivyisya Bog i chelovek. Alliluyia! Slava Tebe, Bozhe. 10. Voskreseniye Khristovo videvshe Voskreseniye Khristovo videvshe, Poklonimsya Svyatomu Gospodu Iisusu, Yedinornu bezgreshnomu. Krestu Tvoyemu poklanyayemsya Khriste, i svyatoye voskreseniye Tvoye poyem i slavim. Ty bo yesi Bog nash, razve Tebe inogo ne znayem Imya Tvoye imenuyem, Priidite, vsi vernii, poklonimsya Svyatomu Khristovu voskreseniyu: Se bo priide Krestom radost vsemu miru. Vsegda blagoslovyashche Gospoda, Poyem voskreseniye Yego: raspyatie bo preterpev, smertiyu smert' razrushi. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, teach me Thy statutes. The myrrh bearers were sorrowful as they neared Thy tomb, but the Angel said to them: "Why do you number the Iiving among the dead? Since He is God, He is risen from the tomb!" Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit We worship the Father, and His Son, and the Holy Spirit: the Holy Trinity, one in essence! We cry with the Seraphim: ''Holy, Holy, Holy art Thou, O Lord!" Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Since Thou didst give birth to the Giver of Life, O Virgin, Thou didst deliver Adam from his sin! Thou gavest joy to Eve instead of sadness! The God-man who was born of Thee has restored to life those who had fallen from it! Alleluia, Glory to Thee, 0 God! After the Gospel reading We have seen Thy resurrection, O Christ, and adore Thee O Holy Lord Jesus, for Thou only art sinless. We venerate Thy Cross, O Lord Christ, and we praise and glorify Thy holy resurrection. For Thou art our God; none other beside Thee; therefore we call upon Thy Name. O come hither, all ye faithful, let us magnify Christ's holy resurrection: For behold, through the Tree joy hath come to all the world; wherefore we bless the Lord evermore and we sing His resurrection with joy who suffered the shame of the cross, conquering death by His death.

9 11. Velichit dusha moya Gospoda Velichit dusha moya Gospoda, i vozradovasya dukh moy o Boze Spase moyem. Chestneyshuyu kheruvim i slavneyshuyu bez sravneniya serafim, bez istleniya Boga Slova rozhdshuyu, sushchuyu Bogoroditsu Tya velichayem. Yako prizre na smireniye raby Svoyeya, se bo ot nyne ublazhat my a vsi rodi. Yako sotvori mne velichiye Sil'ny, i svyato imya Yego; I milost' Yego v rody rodov boyashchymsya Yego. Nizlozhi sil'nyya so prestol, i vosnese smirennyya; Alchushchiya ispolni blag, i bogatyashchiyasya otpusti tshchi. Vospriyat Izrailya otroka svoyego, pomyanuti milosti, Yakozhe glagola ko otsem nashim, Avraamu i semeni yego, dazhe do veka. 12. Slavosloviye velikoye Slava v vyshnikh Bogu, i na zemli mir, v chelovetsekh blagovoleniye. Khvalim Tya, blagoslovim Tya, klanyayemtisya, slavoslovim Tya, blagodarim Tya velikiya radi slavy Tvoyeya. Gospodi Tsaryu nebesny, Bozhe Otche, Vsederzhitelyu, gospodi Syne Yedinorodny, Iisuse Khriste, i Svyaty Dushe. Gospodi Bozhe, Agnche Bozhi, Syne Otech, vzemlyai grekh mira, pomiluy nas; vzemlyai grekhi mira, priimi molitvu nashu. Sedyai odesnuyu Otsa, Magnificat My soul doth magnify the Lord and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. Higher than the Cherubim, more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim; Thou who undefiled barest God the Word, Mother of God, we magnify Thee. For He hath regarded the low estate of His handmaiden: for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For He that is mighty hath done to me great things, and holy is His name, And His mercy is on them that fear Him from generation to generation. He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted those of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things and the rich He hath sent empty away. He hath holpen his servant Israel, remembering His mercy; As He promised to our forefather Abraham and his seed forever. The Great Doxology Glory be to God on high, and on earth be peace, good will towards men. We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we worship Thee, we glorify Thee, we give thanks to Thee for Thy great glory, O Lord God, heavenly king, God the Father Almighty. O Lord, the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ; Also the Holy Spirit O Lord God, Lamb of God. Son of the Father, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. Thou that sittest at the right hand of

10 pomiluy nas. Yako Ty yesi, yedin svyat, Ty yesi yedin Gospod', Iisus Khristos v slavu Boga Otsa. Amin'. Na vsyak den' blagoslovlyu Tya, i voskhvalyu imya Tya, vo veki i v vek veka. Spodobi, Gospodi, v den' sey bez grekha sokhranitisya nam. Blagosloven yesi, Gospodi, Bozhe, Otets nashikh, i khval'no i proslavleno imya Tvoye vo veki, amin'. Budi, Ghospodi milost Tvoya na nas, Yakozhe upovahom na Tia. Blagosloven yesi, Gospodi, nauchi my a opravdaniyem Tvoim. Gospodi, pribezhishche byl yesi nam v rod i v rod. Az rekh: Gospodi, pomiluy mya, istseli dushu moyu, yako sogreshikh Tebe. Gospodi, k Tebe pribegoh, nauchi mya tvoriti volyu Tvoyu, yako Ty yesi Bog moy, yako u Tebe istochnik zhivota, vo svete Tvoyem uzrim svet: Probavi milost'tvoyu vedushchim Tya. Svyaty Bozhe, svyaty krepki, svyaty bessmertny, pomiluy nas. Slava Otsu i Synu i Svyatomu Dukhu, i nyne i prisno, i vo veki vekov, amin'. Svyaty bessmertny, pomiluy nas; Svyaty Bozhe, svyaty krepki, svyaty bessmertny pomiluy nas. 13. Tropar "Ones' spaseniye" Dnes' spaseniye miru byst', poyem voskresshemu iz groba, i nachal'niku zhizni nasheya; razrushiv bo smertiyu smert', pobedu dade nam i veliyu milost'. the Father, have mercy upon us. For Thou only art holy; Thou only art the Lord; Thou only, Jesus Christ, in the glory of God the Father. Amen Every day will I give thanks unto Thee, O Lord, and praise Thy Name for ever and ever. Vouchsafe, 0 Lord this day to keep us without sin. Blessed art Thou, 0 Lord, God of our Fathers, praise and glorified be Thy Holy Name forever, amen. Let Thy mercy, 0 Lord, be upon us, as we have set our hope on Thee. Blessed art Thou, 0 Lord; teach me Thy statutes. Lord, Thou hast been our refuge from generation to generation. I said, Lord, be merciful unto me and heal my soul, I have sinned against Thee. Lord, I flee to Thee. Teach me to do the thing that pleaseth Thee, for Thou art my God, for with Thee is the well of life, and in Thy light shall we see light. Continue Thy mercy on those that know Thee. Holy God, holy, mighty, holy, immortal, have mercy upon us. Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, as it was, is now, and shall be, world without end. Amen. Holy, immortal have mercy upon us. Holy God, holy, mighty, holy, immortal have mercy upon us. Hymn "Today hath salvation" Today hath salvation come to earth; Praise our Saviour, risen from the tomb; for He is the Author of our life; for destroying death by death, He hath given us victory and great favour.

11 14. Tropar "Voskres iz groba" Voskres iz groba, i uzy rasterzal yesi ada: razrushil yesi osuzhdeniye smerti, Gospodi, vsya ot setey vraga izbavivy. Yavivy zhe sebe apostolom Tvoim, poslal yesi na propoved', i temi mir Tvoy podal yesi vselenney, Yedine mnogo milostive. 15. Vzbrannoy voyevode Vzbrannoy voyevode pobeditel'naya, yako izbavl'shesya ot zlykh, blagodarstvennaya vospisuyem Ti rabi Tvoi, bogoroditse! No yako imushchaya derzhavu nepobedimuyu, ot vsyakikh nas bed svobodi, da zovyom Ti: raduysya nevesto nenevestnaya! Hymn "When Thou hadst arisen" When Thou hadst arisen from the tomb, and burst the bonds of hell, Thou destroyedst the condemnation of death O Lord, breaking the bonds of the enemy. Revealing Thyself to Thine Apostles, Thou sent them forth to preach Thy Word, granting Thy peace to all the world, 0 Thou only all-merciful one. To Thee, chieftain To Thee, chieftain of triumphant hosts, we Thy servants, delivered from evil, offer hymns of glad thanksgiving unto Thee, Thou who bearest God! Do Thou, to whom God hath given might invincible, deliver us from every ill; then shall we cry: Hail to Thee, 0 Bride and ever Maiden!

12 The Russian mezzo-soprano, Alexandra Danilova, grew up in a musical family in St. Petersburg. She received her initial musical training at the Music School Nr. 11 in St. Petersburg, before receiving a scholarship at age 13 to attend Wells Cathedral School as a voice Specialist. Currently taught by Andrew Kidd in Wells, Alexandra intends to continue her training at Die Musik und Kunst Privatuniversität in Vienna, where she is already been mentored by leading soprano and teacher Claudia Visca. She has been heavily involved in the vocal and choral programme at Wells, particularly enjoying the tours broadcasts and recordings, and is now extremely excited to be taking the next steps towards fulfilling her dream of a successful career on the opera stage. The English tenor Kieran White studied at The Royal Academy of Music under the tutelage of Neil Mackie and Iain Ledingham, where he held a Kohn Bach scholarship. Kieran has recently made his debut with John Eliot Gardner and the Monteverdi Choir. In 2017 toured Bach s Matthäus-Passion with Ton Koopman and Amsterdam Baroque, performing across Europe. He is a passionate performer of Bach s Johannes & Matthäus Evangelists, recently performing in Kings College, Christchurch Priory and St John s Waterloo; Bach s Weihnachtsoratorium at Domkirken, Bergen; Bach s Messe h-moll with Bristol Bach Choir; Monteverdi Vespers with Edvard Grieg Kor, Bergen; Rachmaninov Vespers with Bath Bach Choir. Operatic roles include Rameau s Hippolyte e Aricie (Hippolyte), Lully s Armide (Renaud), Handel s Acis and Galatea (Acis), Rossini s Locassione fa il Ladro (Conte Alberto), Il Signor Bruschino (Florville), L inganno Felice (Betrando), La Cambiale di Matrimonio (Eduardo), La Cenerentola (Ramiro), Mozart s Cosi Fan Tutte (Ferrando).

13 Christopher Finch is an acclaimed choral conductor and accompanist. He rose to national prominence in 2010 when he led the Wellensian Consort to the title of BBC Choir of the Year 2010, the UK s premier choral competition. He enjoyed further competitive success in 2013 when Wells Cathedral School Choralia became the first British choir in over a decade to reach the grand final of the internationally revered Let the Peoples Sing competition. He is greatly in demand as a conductor, accompanist, vocal coach, répétiteur and teacher. He is currently Head of Student Porgrammes and Coordinator of Vocal Studies in the specialist music faculty of Wells Cathedral School. A passionate advocate of the importance of Photo: Debbie Scanlan singing in education, Christopher is actively engaged in outreach programmes as a choral advisor and guest conductor. Appointed as music director to Bristol Bach Choir in January 2012, Christopher combines this with his commitments conducting the Wellensian Consort, Choralia, Wells Cathedral School Chapel Choir, and one of Bath s leading chamber choirs, A Handful of Singers. Christopher has performed and collaborated with some of this country s finest performers, composers and ensembles, including; Richard Hickox; John Rutter, Charles Hazelwood, Bob Chilcott, John Tavener, Will Todd, Brian Kay, Charivari Agréable, Canzona, Arve Henriksen, Patricia Rosario and Iestyn Davies amongst many others. Performances, workshops and recordings have taken Christopher to many parts of Europe, the USA and the Far East, and his recordings have been broadcast worldwide. Nigel Nash read Music at Bristol University and teaches piano at Badminton School, as well as being accompanist at Bristol Grammar School & Badminton. Since his appointment as Bristol Bach Choir s accompanist in 1998, Nigel has played for the choir in numerous concerts in Bristol, Oxford and Gloucester and on tour in Paris, Oporto, Prague, Dresden, Iceland and Tallinn. In the autumn of 2011 Nigel became the choir s acting Musical Director, conducting them in concerts at St Mary Redcliffe and St George s, Bristol. A fellow of the Royal College of Organists, Nigel is much sought after as an accompanist for choirs across the West Country and he has accompanied choral workshops with Brian Kay, Nigel Perrin & Bob Chilcott. He has also been involved with several broadcasts on national radio and television including HTV s Morning Worship, Carols from Wells Cathedral, and BBC Radio 4 s Daily Service, and Sunday Half-Hour on Radio 2.

14 Music Director: Christopher Finch Registered Charity No PATRONS Victor and Anthea Barley Tony and Diana Beckingsale Mike and Liz Bell Ruth and Jonathan Bolgar Christine Buckley Colin Carroll Peter Dart and Annabel Martin David and Julia Dean Angela Dixon George and Cynthia Dobson Gareth and Jill Dodds Penny Dodds Julian Dudley Antony and Rachel Evans Sarah Evans Ms Alison Farnill Susan Garnier Penny Garrett Dr Naomi Gillingham Althea Hamlyn Chris and Helen Hill Geoff Hill Ian Hopley Jenny and John Huskins CHOIR Maggie Kirby Sheila Lang Dave and Chris Lewis Gillian Lewis John and Gaynor McCarthy B McGowan Elizabeth Mildner Ian and Breeda Morton Eve Nash Tony and Alison Peck Dr Graham Pegg Mary Quirk & Chris Williams Mr Colin Reed Michael Seeley Valerie Shelton Diana Smith Rob and Angela Thackray Mrs Rosemary Thomas Dave Vorley Chris and Andrew Watson Pete and Joanne Weston Colin Williams S Robin and Aurelie Wright Sopranos: Julie Borowski, Fiona Bowden, Gill Cato, Helen Cooper, Heidi Couper, Cynthia Dobson, Sue Gregory, Lucy Griffith, Tamzin Howard, Lisa Lewis, Emma Lovell, Sarah O Grady, Fran Smettem Altos: Andrea Argent, Jessica Best, Ellie Case, Kirsten Cunningham, Alison Dawson, Pat Harrad, Carolyn Morgan, Katy Radcliffe, Melanie Reed, Danni Rochman, Bridget Simpson, Caroline Taylor, Emily Thornton, Helen Thouless, Margaret Williams Tenors: Mike Garnier, Richard Griffith, Nigel Nash, Phil Neville, Gui Rego, Jonty Rougier, Tim Warren Basses: Tim Case, Michael Cullen, Julian Dale, Anthony Edey, Marcus Evans, Angus Gregson, Chris Hall, Rupert Handley, Vince Hobbs, Paul Stephens, Graham Thornton, Rod Thouless, Paul Tilbury, Basile Vigneron