LONDON - 5 December 2006 - 309 words
The
Parliament Choir
Jo Siedlecka
Harmony between the parties is not something one automatically associates with the Houses of Parliament. But there is one place in the Palace of Westminster where people of all political persuasions, sing from the same songsheet. The Parliament Choir, a cross-party choral group, practice together every Friday evening in the Chapel of St Mary Undercroft.
And they will be giving a performance of Mendelssohn's Elija, at Westminster Cathedral at 7.45pm tomorrow night.
Directed by Simon Over, the choir will be singing with soloists Paul Charles Clarke, Katherine Manley and Flora McIntosh.
Spokeswoman Peta Cubberley, a Catholic alto, and former research officer with Dame Shirley Williams said the choir was a great mix of people united by a love of singing. Formed by Lord Filkin in 2000, there are now over 90 full members.
Highlights so far have been a performance of The Messiah, when members of the Choir invited singers from their constituencies to join them and in 2003, a Coronation Jubilee Concert in Westminster Abbey in the presence of HRH The Prince of Wales.
In December 2004 the Choir gave a sell-out performance of the Verdi Requiem in Westminster Cathedral.
Peta said an important part of the Choir's philosophy is to support and encourage musicians at the start of their careers. The Choir regularly performs with talented young singers as soloists and has now adopted as its resident orchestra, Southbank Sinfonia, made up of exceptional young instrumentalists.
"Our repertoire is varied, ranging from challenging large-scale works such as Verdi's Requiem, which we sang in both Coventry and Westminster Cathedrals, through to an annual carol concert in the Atrium of Portcullis House," Peta said. "We have also tackled bits of opera, lots of church music and even an occasional madrigal."
Tickets for the Westminster Cathedral are £30-£10. To book call: 01728 452392 or 07880 644 859
© Independent Catholic
News 2006
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