A ‘Fire’ starter

If you passed by the Attlee Youth & Community Centre last week you may have wondered – as did the guys who turned up for their usually quiet Tuesday evening football match – what was going on as scores of people poured in through the door. This was the first gathering of the “Fire choir”, coming together for some fun singing, to meet the composer David Bruce, and to give a section of his new commission Fire a whirl.

Sam Chaplin and the 'Fire' singers

The 96 amateur singers in attendance were in fine voice and quickly built up into part singing under the direction of chorus leader, Sam Chaplin. After a break to catch up with faces old and new it was time to tackle Fire. This they did with admirable ease, the section worked on coming together quickly and sounding very fine – which bodes well for the performances in June and July!

The more experienced in the group ably supported those new to choral singing, including one young woman who’d turned up for something else but got gathered into the fold. Her parting remark was “I never thought music could be fun; but I’ll be back!”

If you’d like to join her in giving at a whirl there are still places available, especially for male voices. To find out how to get involved contact Natalie Ellis on 020 7377 0287 or send an email.

Cathy Birch
Programme Manager: Learning & Participation 

Fire – A Festival Finisher

200 singers, horn ensemble, fire-artists and pyrotechnics in the open air of Spitalfields – it’s our Festival Finale, Fire!

Sample design for the performance of Fire by Mandy Dike & The World Famous

Fire is an exciting new work by David Bruce, and is the second of our PRS for Music Foundation New Music 20×12 performances this Summer. The piece uses texts from Vikram Seth and Yannai to revel in the spiritual relationship we as human beings have with fire, and we’ll be working with The Opera Group to bring this celebration alive in Spitalfields’ market area.

It’s also a unique opportunity to get further involved in this summer’s Festival, as we are looking for enthusiastic singers to join the chorus. If you would like to find out more download our e-flyer, or contact our Programme Manager: Learning & Participation, Natalie Ellis via email or phone 020 7377 0287.

In the meantime, do check out this video from composer David Bruce and The Opera Group all about Fire:

What makes you think that you can sing?

Arlene Adair shares her experiences of being a singer, performing in Women sing East and rehearsing for the world premiere of our community opera We are Shadows:

“Do you honestly think that you can sing?” The words of my eldest, my first born, daughter pierced my brain bringing what I believed to be the “song of a nightingale” to an abrupt and premature end!  Children can be so cruel and, some may say, truthful!

I had always considered my singing voice to be, at least, worthy of airing at home.  Perhaps I was just a bit rusty!  Perhaps, on the other hand, my parents had been very loving, tolerant and tone-deaf!

“Join a choir, a women’s choir, Women sing East,” the kind words of a concerned colleague rang happily in my ears.  She knew that I had observed with nostalgic jealousy my youngest daughter, my fourth and last born, singing like an angel with the Hackney Borough Youth Choir.  Could it be that simple for me to join Women sing East?  What about my voice?

So, in September 2010 “stepping gaily arm-in-arm” with a fellow Scot (a bonnie wee lassie with blonde curls and an awfully good voice!) I tentatively approached the assembled throng of women confidently waiting in the foyer of the Brady Arts Centre.   We were “the new girls”.  Were there any other “new girls”?  Who knows?

The arrival of the director Laka D brought with it a big warm cosy welcome like a soft tartan blanket (not a horrible old scratchy one!).  “New girls” or not we were part of a 40-strong smiling, laughing, rocking, popping, madrigal women’s choir.   This all happened within two hours of leaving my six strong family at the kitchen table.  This was heaven!  Within eight months, we had performed two public performances and were feeling very happy.

Today, as I rehearse with the chorus of We are Shadows, an opera in pieces, I am reminded of a time when I could only dream of singing opera.   Twenty eight years ago, I was a costume maker in the wardrobe department of Scottish Opera. With a mouth full of dressmakers’ pins I could only hum along  as I listened  in awe to singers rehearsing pieces by Mozart, Puccini, Bizet and many other wonderful composers.

So, as I strive to reach the high notes of this world premiere opera, the words of my daughter haunt me “Do you honestly think you can sing?”  The simple answer is, “I really do not know but, so far, nobody has asked me to mime!”

Arlene Adair

Always wanted to sing? Why not join one of our community choirs! For more information click here. We are also looking for local people to perform as part of We are Shadows. Email cathy.birch@spitalfieldsmusic.org.uk or give us a call on 020 7377 0287 for more information.

Artist Focus: La Venexiana

La Venexiana are the Italian Madrigal Group. Founded by soprano Rossana Bertini and counter-tenor Claudio Cavina, they are some of the most experienced performers in the early music field. They open the second half of our Winter Festival with a beautiful programme of highlights from Monteverdi’s Books Five to Nine of Madrigals on Wednesday 5 January 2011.

Garnering praise from around the world, the group have won numerous prizes including a Gramophone award, the Diapason d’Or, the Prix Amadeus 2000 and the Cannes Classical Award.Their aim is to sing music of the past in a way affected by culture and emotions of the present, promising a futuristic and romantic performance of Monteverdi’s sublime madrigals.

Don’t miss out on the chance to hear these Italian Masters singing what they do best!

If you want a sneak preview of La Venexiana’s stunning sound check out our La Venexiana Spotify playlist by clicking here!

Italian Masters
Wednesday 5 January, 7.00pm
Christ Church Spitalfields
Tickets: £5 – £22
Book now!

Streetwise Opera Workshop

There are many things to look forward to at the end of a working week; spending time with your friends, going home and putting your feet up and most importantly, knowing you don’t have to wake-up to an alarm in the morning. This Friday evening was different though, this Friday three quarters of “Team Comms” were heading out on a mission to find out more about Streetwise Opera!

The guys and girls at Streetwise had been kind enough to invite Rebecca (blog expert), Michael (marketeer extraordinaire) & I, to observe one of their workshops so we could truly get to grips with what they were achieving- an opportunity not many people get. I had no idea what to expect when I walked into the room, the three of us huddled together like it was our first day at school, but it didn’t take very long for every single person around us to say hi.

As we took our seats in a giant circle and began warming up, it became hugely apparent that we were not just observing. That’s ok; we can do this, one problem… I can’t sing! Streetwise isn’t just about singing; it’s about allowing people the opportunity to be creative, to express themselves and we all rose to the challenge. By the end, I was shaking limbs like nobody was watching as the confidence and energy displayed by everyone in the group was contagious.

“This Friday evening was different though, this Friday three quarters of “Team Comms” were heading out on a mission to find out more about Streetwise Opera!”

The demonstration of creativity in this particular workshop also involved the use of miming with a plastic hoop. After thinking long and hard as to what I would perform, I knew what I was going to do if I was picked. It was a classic, unbeatable- I was convinced that nobody would have this idea. When the group leader looked in our direction, after one gentleman had finished miming ‘bomb disposal expert’, it was obvious that my hula-hoop idea should be saved for another day! The enthusiasm in the room was incredible. Even the quietest people in the room suddenly sprang to life when we started singing, including our very own Michael, who is clearly an undiscovered talent!

I could let you know more about what we were singing, but instead, I suggest you all come to see Fables- A Film Opera on the 17 December as part of the Winter Festival and discover exactly what we were up to. I promise you, it will not disappoint.

Danielle Sutcliffe
Box Office Assistant

Fables – A Film Opera
Friday 17 December 2010
5.00pm, 7.00pm & 9.00pm
Shoreditch Church (St Leonard’s)
Tickets £15 (£10 restricted view)

For more information and to book visit www.spitalfieldsmusic.org.uk