Pinner Music Festival – Pinner Festival Choir, Orchestra & Soloists

PINNER MUSIC FESTIVAL CHOIR & ORCHESTRA

Leader: Rebecca Boyle

REBECCA LEA (Soprano)

GRAHAM NEAL (Tenor)

ANDREW RUPP (Bass)

Conducted by DAVID GOULD

This year we perform Handel’s dramatic ode Alexander’s Feast, with text from John Dryden’s poem of the same name, written to celebrate Saint Cecilia’s Day.

The work describes a feast held by Alexander the Great and his lover, Thaïs, in the Persian city of Persepolis, following Alexander’s victory in battle over Darius III. During the feast, Timotheus, a musician, sings and plays his lyre, arousing various moods in Alexander – until he is finally incited to burn down the city in revenge for the Greek soldiers killed during the wars with the Persians. The piece ends with a glorious chorus extolling the virtues of Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of Music, and invoking the ode’s alternative title The Power of Music. Handel’s score for soprano, tenor and bass soloists, choir and orchestra is a triumph of variety, calling on a wide range of dramatic moods as Alexander’s emotions are skilfully manipulated by poetry and music.

David Gould was a choral scholar at St John’s College, Cambridge and a member of Westminster Cathedral choir from 1993 until 1998. He is an experienced consort and choral singer appearing regularly with many leading choirs and ensembles, including the Cardinall’s Musick, the Tallis Scholars, the King´s Consort and the Sixteen. Over the last fifteen years, David has conducted various choirs in the London area including Stanmore Choral Society, the Sine Nomine Singers, Ashtead Choral Society and most recently the Amici Chamber Choir.