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Our concert last Sunday (18th May) was a great success, despite one brief technical hiccup when the conductor’s electronic score stopped working. The orchestra, the Degani Ensemble, were very skilled and our soloists, Sara Di Bella and Ben Russell were excellent in the Mirror of Perfection. The choir sang very well, putting behind them any suggestion that they do not like syncopated entries; indeed, in the movement The Furnace the choir gave an exemplary display.

We were honoured by the presence of the Ms Grete Odegaard, the Deputy Head of Mission at the Royal Norwegian Embassy, and her husband Mr Even Klinkenberg. Ms Odegaard went out of her way to say how pleased she was with the concert and that she had been invited to attend.

On 15th June 2013 Bray Choral Society took part in a performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 (Choral) at Greystones. The concert was promoted by Fergus Sheil and Wide Open Music; Fergus Sheil has since been appointed Artistic Director or Opera Theatre Company. Bray Choral Society was joined by Wicklow Choral Society and a number of other singers; we formed about two thirds of the choir. We joined the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra and soloists Miriam Murphy (soprano), Imelda Drumm (mezzo), Michael Wade Lee (tenor) and Manfred Hemm (bass). The programme opened with two short extracts from Wide Open Opera’s recent production of Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde (the Prelude and Liebstod); the main event was the Beethoven 9th Symphony. The performance in Greystones was a fantastic success and was hugely appreciated by the audience.

The performance was presented in three venues with different groups of choirs. Some members of Bray Choral Society also went to Carlow on 14th to support the Carlow Choral Society and other massed choirs in the performance there, and some also went to Drogheda on 16th to support the massed choirs taking part in that performance. Those performances were also very well received by the audiences.

Bray Choral Society and Wicklow Choral Society, both directed by Frank Kelly, will both perform at the concert at Shoreline Leisure Centre.

Individual singers are invited to join in Beethoven’s Symphony No 9 (Choral.)

Beethoven’s Choral Symphony is one of the most uplifting works of the entire orchestral and choral repertoire. The famous Ode to Joy in the final movement is a triumph of joy and optimism. The symphony is a very large undertaking and, as such, is rarely performed. It requires a symphony orchestra of about 70 players, a large choir and four top vocal soloists. This project is on a unique scale and promises to be a memorable performance.

Singers wishing to take part in this project will be expected to attend up to six rehearsals in either Wicklow or Bray over the course of the coming months and to prepare in between with the aid of a rehearsal CD.

This project is supported by The Arts Council and Wicklow County Arts Office and produced by Wide Open Music – led by conductor Fergus Sheil. To register interest contact Ann Catherine Nolan on (087) 972 3059 or getvocalchoir@gmail.com, indicating your voice type (soprano, alto, tenor, bass.)