Friday, 29 November 2024
For the first time ever, the University of Nottingham Choir will perform with the world-famous BBC Concert Orchestra – and join with the Nottingham Trent University Choir and the Choristers of Southwell Minster – for a performance on 4 December at Nottingham’s Royal Concert Hall.
Conducted by the renowned and award-winning maestro, George Jackson, this performance of Carl Orff’s spectacular twentieth-century choral masterpiece Carmina Burana is a unique opportunity for university students to come together and perform alongside the prestigious professional orchestra.
Carmina Burana remains irresistible to audiences with its changing dynamics and building crescendo, powered by a massive orchestra and choir. This performance will be broadcast in full on BBC Radio 3 shortly after the performance.
A collection of 24 poems from medieval literature was the inspiration for German composer Carl Orff, who turned the poems’ satirical commentary into the spectacular and dramatic masterpiece, familiar to most. The boundless rhythmic energy of Carmina Burana has given voice to both movie opening battle scenes and dramatic television commercials.
It has been the most enormous privilege for me to work with the University Choir on this exciting and challenging repertoire for our big concert with the BBC Concert Orchestra. There is so much joy and beauty to be found within the pieces we are performing, and along with that, a great sense of fun and achievement when we hit those high notes and make those ecstatic, vibrant chords ring out."
“There is nothing like the power of many voices singing all together, and when we join with the choir of NTU and this huge professional orchestra in the Concert Hall next week, the results and energy will be nothing short of breath-taking. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime to perform with one of the best orchestras in the UK, and we are absolutely raring to go!”
Two works by leading contemporary American composers will open the concert. Eric Whitacre ventures into Leonardo da Vinci’s dreamworld, in an exotic fusion of ancient words with modern musical timbres in Leonardo Dreams of his Flying Machine, performed by the University of Nottingham Choir; whilst Jenni Brandon tells the moving story of an immigrant family on the move, guided by the stars and sustained by their memories, in Tonight, A Stolen Moment, performed by the Nottingham Trent University Choir.
Professor Jeremy Gregory, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Arts, said: “This is a wonderful opportunity for Choirs from both universities and the Choristers of Southwell Minister to perform alongside a world-renowned orchestra. This will be an amazing experience for our students and I'm very much looking forward to this concert.”
The concert is part of a programme of activities supported by the Universities for Nottingham partnership with the BBC Concert Orchestra and the orchestra’s residency at the Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall. The partnership aims to inspire the next generation, reach new audiences and improve quality of life, health and wellbeing across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.
The performance begins at 7:30pm on Wednesday 4 December and tickets can be purchased here from the Royal Concert Hall website.
The concert will be available to listen to on BBC Radio 3 shortly after broadcast here.
Story credits
More information is available from Elizabeth Kelly, Associate Professor in Music Composition, via elizabeth.kelly@nottingham.ac.uk
Notes to editors:
About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 32 in Europe and 16th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2024, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the second most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2022 report by High Fliers Research.
We lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.
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