A medley of melodies will fill the Great Hall of Reading University’s London Road campus next month.
Reading Festival Chorus choir- a group of 80 singers of both sacred and modern music- will perform their second showcase of 2019 Verdi: Requiem as part of a collaborative concert with German choir Johanneskantorei Düsseldorf and Berkshire-based Westminster Chamber Orchestra.
Singer and publicity representative for the group Sarah Burke said: “The choirs have performed at this venue before but we have also used many different churches and halls including Reading Town Hall over the years.
“The University of Reading Great Hall is an excellent performance venue. The immediate surroundings are elegant and the acoustics conducive to large scale choral and orchestral works such as Verdi’s Requiem. The size and scale of the Great Hall means that we can accommodate a large audience too.”
The Reading choir are currently in their 74th year. The group rehearse on Monday evenings and regularly perform at special occasions including weddings and memorial services. Their main aim is to give the people Reading the opportunity to learn and perform a variety of choral music.
Sarah added: ““The Reading Festival Chorus was reportedly started after the war to bring good cheer to the people of Reading and great friendships have been forged between the choir members of both cities over the years.
“Rehearsals for the upcoming concert are progressing well with each choir learning and preparing the work over a number of weeks. RFC meets every Monday evening for a two hour rehearsal. The 2 directors of music, Wolfgang Abendroth and Greg Hallam, communicate on a regular basis before and during the preparation period.
“The programme on this occasion is a single work. Verdi’s Requiem is a very exciting piece, both to perform and to listen to. It is somewhat operatic in style and full of most beautiful melodies and harmonies.
Verdi: Requiem will take place on June 22 at Reading University Great Hall from 7.30pm. Adult tickets start at £20 while under 18s go free. To book call 0118 947 8081.
