A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | CH | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
| Bath Bach Choir | |
|---|---|
| Choir | |
| Origin | Bath, Somerset, England |
| Founded | October 1946 |
| Members | about 100 |
| Music director | Benedict Collins Rice |
| Website | www |
Bath Bach Choir, formerly The City of Bath Bach Choir (CBBC), is based in Bath, Somerset, England, and is a registered charity.[1] Founded in 1946 by Cuthbert Bates, who also became a founding father of the Bath Bach Festival[2] in 1950, the choir's original aim was to promote the music of Johann Sebastian Bach via periodic music festivals. Bates – an amateur musician with a great love and understanding of this composer's works – was also the CBBC's principal conductor and continued in this role until his sudden death, in April 1980. This untimely exit pre-empted his planned retirement concert performance of J. S. Bach's Mass in B minor,[3][2] scheduled for July of the same year, and effectively ended the first period of the choir's history.
Distinguished Handel scholar[4] Denys Darlow succeeded Cuthbert Bates as musical director in 1980 and remained in the post until 1990. He was followed by Nigel Perrin, who remained Musical Director until December 2022. Perrin began his musical life as a chorister at Ely Cathedral, then won a choral scholarship to King's College, Cambridge, studying under Sir David Willcocks. In 1970 he also joined the newly formed King's Singers, having sung with them on an occasional basis after graduation in the summer of 1969, and thereafter entertaining the world throughout the 1970s as the highest voice (counter-tenor) of the irrepressible and ground-breaking vocal group.
In 2023, Benedict Collins Rice was appointed music director, only the fourth in 75 years. Originally from Oxfordshire, Collins Rice held two conducting scholarships at the University of Cambridge before continuing his studies with the Heads of Conducting at the Royal College of Music, the Royal Northern College of Music, the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna and the University of Birmingham where he studied under Simon Halsey. Performing throughout Europe and the US, he has recorded for several labels,[5] broadcast live on BBC Radio 3, and founded a chamber group, The Facade Ensemble.[6]
The first president of the CBBC was Dr Ralph Vaughan Williams until 1958. Sir Arthur Bliss, then Master of the Queen's Music (Musik), took over as president in 1959, followed in 1975 by Sir David Willcocks, until 2015. In 2016 David Hill, musical director of The Bach Choir, was elected president of Bath Bach Choir, and Jonathan Willcocks a vice president.
Overview
The Bath Bach Choir, a member of the Cultural Forum for the Bath area,[7] has an illustrious history and continues to perform demanding and diverse choral works in the UK and overseas. Membership is governed by audition. The choir is widely regarded as one of the leading musical forces in the west of England and continues to perform two major orchestral concerts annually with a lighter concert in the summer. Most take place at Bath Abbey but other venues include Exeter Cathedral, The Forum, Bath the Michael Tippett Centre, the Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford on Avon and the Roper Theatre, Hayesfield Girls' School, Bath.
Recent performances have included Sergei Rachmaninov, All-Night Vigil (Rachmaninoff), J.S Bach's St Matthew Passion and Mass in B minor, Mass in Blue by Will Todd, accompanied by the composer, Elis Pehkonen's Russian Requiem,[8] also in the composer's presence, works by Sir Karl Jenkins and Sir James MacMillan's St John Passion who attend the concert performed in Wells Cathedral. The choir's 60th Anniversary Concert, in the Wiltshire Music Centre in 2007, comprised a newly commissioned work by Ed Hughes,[9] called Song for St Cecilia.
The choir regularly tours abroad: Karl Jenkins’ Requiem was performed at Carnegie Hall, New York, in 2008,[10] and concerts have taken place at Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres, Paris, and in Hungary, Belgium and Germany. In 2009 the choir was invited to perform in the famous Thomaskirche, where Johann Sebastian Bach was once choirmaster, Aix-en-Provence,[11] in 2013, and the Bath Bach Choir's most recent tour to Barcelona: Barcelona Cathedral, Sagrada Família, Santa Maria del Mar, Barcelona in 2015.
Today, referred to as the Bath Bach Choir, the choir comprises about 100 committed singers from Bath and its environs, such as Frome, drawn from all walks of life, offering them the opportunity to sing challenging works at the very highest level with professional orchestras and soloists – the very proposition Cuthbert Bates made in 1946. The choir maintains an active list of patrons and friends who support its musical work in return for a range of related benefits.
The early years 1946–1980
The City of Bath Bach Choir gave its inaugural concert in June 1947 in Bath Abbey,[2] performing J. S. Bach's Mass in B minor. Cuthert Bates chose Alan Bennett, then head of music at City of Bath Boys' School (today Beechen Cliff School), to take on the roles of collaborator, assistant musical director and assistant director of the Bath Bach Festivals; the distinguished composer Dr. Ralph Vaughan Williams was appointed as president. In December 1947 the choir gave its first Carols by Candlelight concert in the historic Grand Pump Room, Bath, at which the choir displayed versatility and musicianship by introducing new carols and arrangements as well as old favourites for audience participation. These annual Christmas concerts continue to this day.
A year after his death, in August 1958, Vaughan Williams was succeeded as president by Sir Arthur Bliss, Master of the Queen's Music. Sir Arthur died on 27 March 1975 and was replaced in July 1975 by distinguished choral musician and current president Sir David Willcocks, then famous for his work as the director of music at King's College, Cambridge, who had recently been appointed director of the Royal College of Music.
The first Bath Bach Festival, in October 1950, commemorated the bicentenary of the eponymous composer's death and was a great success. A further seven festivals were held at approximately four-year intervals until 1982 but the eighth was a financial disaster and indicated the end of an era. However, in 1995 the Bath Bach Festival tradition was revived by Elizabeth Bates, Cuthbert Bates' daughter, and periodic Bach Festivals continued in Bath under her direction until October 2010. A new mini-Bath Bachfest was initiated in February 2012, sponsored by the Bath Mozartfest[12] Charitable Trust.[13]
In its first 35 years the City of Bath Bach Choir gave many performances of Bach's major choral works, including its signature work – the Mass in B minor – as well as the St Matthew Passion, St. John Passion, Christmas Oratorio and numerous cantatas and motets. Other European composers were also represented, since choir policy has always been to explore lesser-known masterpieces in addition to popular choral repertoire. The choir gave one of the first modern performances of the Claudio Monteverdi Vespers of 1610, and other concerts included works by Bononcini, Francesco Cavalli, Antonio Vivaldi, Heinrich Schütz, Marc-Antoine Charpentier, Camille Saint-Saëns, Gustav Holst, Anton Bruckner and William Walton. In October 1966, they gave one of the first UK performances of the Duruflé Requiem in Bath. Michael Tippett's oratorio A Child of our Time was sung under the composer's baton as a part of the Bath Festival in June 1968. During this period the works of Ralph Vaughan Williams, the choir's first president, also featured strongly. From the beginning, the choir strove to obtain the highest quality professional support from professional orchestras such as the London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Boyd Neel Orchestra, though during the 1970s rising costs necessitated a modification of this practice. Similar attention was also given to the selection and engagement of solo singers such as Kathleen Ferrier, Dame Janet Baker, Margaret Cable, Wendy Eathorne, Eric Greene and John Shirley-Quick. Meanwhile, notable conductors included Ralph Vaughan Williams, Josef Krips (who was so impressed by a performance of Haydn's The Creation with the London Symphony Orchestra that he repeated it at the Royal Festival Hall, London), Yehudi Menuhin, Basil Cameron, Reginald Jaques, Nadia Boulanger, Charles Groves, István Kertész and Sir David Willcocks.
Unaccompanied pieces were not neglected. There were frequent recitals and serenade concerts in which a wide field of music was explored from the sixteenth century school to the present day.
The next decade 1980–1990
The City of Bath Bach Choir had planned to appoint Denys Darlow to replace Cuthbert Bates on his retirement. He had played the harpsichord continuo at a number of Bath Bach Festivals in the preceding years, was well known to the choir and sympathised with its aims. However, after the latter's unexpected death and in recognition of Bates's long and distinguished service, Sir David Willcocks conducted the July 1980 performance of Bach's Mass in B minor as a tribute and memorial. Darlow took over thereafter and at the time of his appointment was a senior professor at the Royal College of Music, Director of Music at St George's Church, Hanover Square, London, and had for many years been director of the Tilford Bach Festival[14][15] and London Handel Festival.[16]
The choir spent the next ten years moving forward from the Bach Festival legacy and building on its reputation for exploring works in the choral canon. Stephen Dodgson's Te Deum was performed in October 1982 as a part of the last Bach Festival at which the choir sung. Beethoven's Missa Solemnis was performed in 1982, the last time this work was heard in Bath. The choir continued to perform two major orchestral concerts each year as well as a 'lighter' summer concert and three seasonal performances of Carols by Candlelight. In April 1986 the choir gave the first performance of Denys Darlow's own Requiem, dedicated to the City of Bath Bach Choir itself.
From 1988 onwards, summer concerts were moved from Bath Abbey to the Michael Tippett Centre at Bath Spa University. In 1988 and 1989 these were conducted by Marcus Sealy, who joined the choir in January 1982 as Accompanist and Deputy Musical Director and remains in that post today. From 1987 to 1989 the carols concerts were conducted by Cuthbert's daughter, Elizabeth and attracted steadily increasing audiences. Denys Darlow died on 24 February 2015 aged 94.[17]
Modern era: 1990–present
On 8 January 1990 Nigel Perrin took on the role of Director of Music for the City of Bath Bach Choir. As one of The King's Singers, Perrin had sung all over the world with artists such as Kiri Te Kanawa and Sir Cliff Richard. Appointing a singer as musical director was a break from tradition but Perrin[18] brought insight into the mechanics and techniques of choral singing and a determination to lead the choir to even higher professional standards. His first concert was Monteverdi's Vespers of 1610 in Bath Abbey in April 1990. In 2023, Benedict Collins Rice was appointed music director.
The choir continues to explore new and unusual works and notably gave a performance of David Fanshawe's African Sanctus and Diana Burrell's Benedicam Dominum, a work which enabled Marcus Sealy to demonstrate the magnificent new Klais organ in Bath Abbey. The choir performed Requiem Aeternam by Jonathan Lloyd in the presence of the composer, which necessitated synchronising with a pre-recorded backing track. More recently, performance of two 'cross-over' works by Karl Jenkins – The Armed Man and Requiem – stretched the boundaries of CBBC singers' experience.
Modernism does not mean that the choir has neglected its roots and it often returns to the music of J. S. Bach. In April 1997 the choir gave a performance of the Mass in B minor in Bath Abbey under the baton of its president, Sir David Willcocks, to mark its 50th anniversary celebrations and, more controversially, gave a semi-staged and critically acclaimed performance of the St John Passion in The Forum, Bath in April 2005, using lighting and moving images, and later as noted in the histogram of performances.
Over the years the choir has also travelled widely and developed relationships with singers in Bath's twin cities in Hungary, the Béla Viká Choir, and in Braunschweig[11][19] (Brunswick), Germany with the Cathedral Dom Chor; and with Les Bengalis de Liège in Liège, Belgium. Braunschweig was heavily bombed by the allies on the nights of 14 and 15 October 1944, which inflicted substantial damage to the Dom (cathedral), and many people died. In October 2004 the CBBC was invited to join the Dom Chor in a performance of Benjamin Britten's War Requiem in the presence of HM Ambassador to Germany, HE Sir Peter Torry. This concert, at the Dom, was a centrepiece of the city's commemoration and an act of remembrance and reconciliation. In 2009 the choir travelled to perform in Bach's own church, the Thomaskirche in Leipzig, and in October 2011 they toured to Rome, performing in both La Chiesa di Sant'Agnese in Agone, and The Venerable English College (colloquially referred to as English College, Rome), founded in 1579 by William Allen.
Carols by Candlelight concerts routinely occur in December each year, which from 2001 – 2012 included a performance by the choir's junior section, formed and led by Nigel Perrin and sponsored by the CBBC for more than a decade, 'to sow a seed for what may be to come in the future'. The City of Bath Bach Junior Choir enabled children from 8–15 years to sing together and learn basic musical techniques and at its height it had some 50 or more singers. In 2008 Simon Carr-Minns took the baton from Perrin, who handed it to Adrienne Hale in 2009, and two years later it passed Jamie Knights. The children, in distinctive purple T-shirts, gave regular charity performances. They helped to raise £4,200 for the Royal United Hospital in Bath and, in 2010, raised money for the 'Afghan Heroes Charity' through their vocals and accompanying video[20] for Forever Young – a Song For Wootton Bassett, written by Alan Pettifer and commissioned as a tribute to the people of Royal Wootton Bassett for their support of UK Armed Forces repatriation. With numbers dwindling as more and more opportunities for choral work were being offered to local children, the decision was taken to wind up the programme, and they gave their final performance in 2012. However, an opportunity for talented young musicians is still provided as an interlude during the Carol concerts, principally performed by exceptional music students from Wells Cathedral School.
The Bath Bach Choir's biggest recent challenge – supported by the combined forces of Exeter Festival Chorus[21] and The Wellensian Consort[22]– was arguably staging two performances of The Saint John Passion, an exceptionally demanding contemporary piece composed by Sir James MacMillan and sung in his presence.[23] Performances took place at Wells Cathedral and then Exeter Cathedral in March 2013, with soloist Mark Stone[24] as Christus, and Alexander Hohenthal leading the Southern Sinfonia.[25] The baroque performance of Handel' Messiah (Handel),[26] accompanied by Music for Awhile, with leader Margaret Faultless, a musician within the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, went down especially well with the packed audience.[27] Consequent upon Coronavirus (COVID-19) in 2020, and UK Government restrictions on live concerts, the choir produced three 'virtual performances' of singular works. The choir returned to Bath Abbey for a live concert, socially distanced, presented to a restricted but, judging by the request for an encore, most appreciative audience of 150 people on 3 July 2021.
Performance chronology
| Date | Composer | Work | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21/22 Dec 2023 | Various | Carols by Candlelight – 76th Season | Pump Room, Bath, |
| 4 Nov 2023 | Parry, Ireland, Faure | Songs of Farewell, Greater Love, Requiem: Frederick Long bass, Harry Hampson-Gilbert treble, Sebastien H. McHugh treble, Marcus Sealy organ & piano, Benedict Collins Rice Musical Director. | Bath Abbey |
| 8 Jul 2023 | Mendelssohn | Elijah: Matthew Brook Elijah, Laura Lolita Perešivana soprano, Lotte Betts-Dean mezzo-soprano, James Way Tenor, Marcus Sealy organ continuo, Southern Sinfonia – Simon Chalk artistic director, Benedict Collins Rice Musical Director. | Bath Abbey |
| 01 Apr 2023 | Hildegard of Bingen, Maurice Duruflé, Frank Martin, Eric Whitacre | O viridissima virga, Quatre Motets, Mass for Double Choir, Sainte-Chapelle, Alleluia. | St Mary’s Church, Bathwick |
| January 2023 | Benedict Collins Rice Appointed as Director of Music | ||
| 21/22/23 Dec 2022 | Various | Carols by Candlelight – 75th Season: Jointly conducted by Nigel Perrin and Benedict Collins Rice on transfer of Musical Directorship. Accompanist Marcus Sealy. Guest Soloist Katie Bunney, Saxophone, a Headley Trust Scholar at the Royal College of Music. Programme included second performance of The Bach Choir annual Sir David Willcocks Carol Competition joint winner Matt Finch, With Wondering Awe, and Mykola Leontovych arr Benedict Collins Rice Carol of the Bells. | Pump Room, Bath |
| 75th Anniversary Concert – Nigel Perrin's last concert as Director of Music | |||
| 5 Nov 2022 | J.S. Bach | Mass in B minor. Baroque Performance with Music for Awhile – Leader Margaret Faultless; Mhairi Lawson soprano, David Allsopp counter-tenor, Hugo Hymas tenor, Frederick Long bass-baritone. Marcus Sealy organ continuo. Nigel Perrin conductor. | Bath Abbey |
| 2 Jul 2022 | Monteverdi | Vespers of 1610 I Fagiolini: Robert Hollingworth continuo, Zoe Brookshaw and Rebecca Lea soprano, Hugo Hymas and Christopher Fitzgerald Lombard tenor, Sam Gilliatt and Greg Skidmore baritone; English Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble: Conor Hastings and Helen Roberts Cornetto, Emily White, Tom Lees, Adrian France Sackbut; Birmingham Musical and Amicable Society: Miki Takahashi, Christi Park, Wendi Kelly, Kate Fawcett, En-Ming Lin. Musical Director Nigel Perrin. | Bath Abbey |
| 26 Mar 2022 | Rossini | Petite messe solennelle. Soprano Johanna Harrison-Oram, Mezzo-soprano Cassandra Dalby, Tenor Chris Why, Baritone Samuel Harrison-Oram, Piano Marcus Sealy, Harmonium Mark Wood. | St Mary & St Nicholas, Wilton |
| 2022 | The choir's 75th anniversary year | ||
| 16/17 Dec 2021 | Various | Carols by Candlelight – 74th Season | Pump Room, Bath, |
| 30 Oct 2021 | Brahms | A German Requiem (Brahms) Verity Wingate soprano. Paul Grant Baritone, Piano Marcus. | Bath Abbey |
| 3 Jul 2021 | Llibre Vermell de Montserrat, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Thomas Tallis, Cristóbal de Morales, Francisco Guerrero (composer), Dieterich Buxtehude, Gabriel Fauré, Ola Gjeilo, Gioachino Rossini | Mid Summer Vespers. O Virgo Splendens, Priidite, poklonimsia, Blagoslovi, dushe moya, Ghospoda, Bogoroditse Devo, O nata lux de lumine, If Ye Love Me, Parce mihi, Domine, Duo Seraphim, Magnificat, Cantique de Jean Racine, Evening Prayer, Agnus Dei. Encore: Vzbrannoy voyevode. Cassandra Dalby mezzo-soprano. Katie Bunney saxophone. Organ Huw Williams. | Bath Abbey |
| 30 Apr 2021 | John Rutter | The Lord bless you and keep you – Virtual Bath Bach Choir. Nigel Perrin director, Marcus Sealy piano. | Virtual Bath Bach Choir[28] |
| 16/18/19 Dec 2020 | Various | Carols by Candlelight – 73rd Season | Bath Assembly Rooms, St Mary the Virgin's Church, Bathwick |
| 12 Aug 2020 | Marjorie Kennedy-Fraser Arrangement Simon Carrington | Eriskay Love Lilt – Virtual Bath Bach Choir featuring Chris Bruerton of The King's Singers. Christopher Bruerton baritone, Nigel Perrin counter-tenor, Marcus Sealy piano. | Virtual Bath Bach Choir[29] |
| 2 Jun 2020 | Gabriel Fauré | Cantique de Jean Racine;Bath Bach Choir Quarantine Lockdown Recording Project. Director Nigel Perrin, Piano Marcus Sealy. | Virtual Bath Bach Choir[30] |
| 18/19/20 Dec 2019 | David Clover, Bob Chilcott, Byrd, J.S.Bach, Robin Benton, James MacMillan, Bob Chilcott, Herbert Sumsion, Walford Davies, P.D.Q. Bach, William Llewellyn, Peter Phillips, Bob Chilcott, Roderick Williams, John Gardner, Ian Humphries, Bernard White, John Rutter, Tom Cunningham, James McKelvy (composer)|James McKelvy, Peter Gritton, Eric Whitacre, Paul Fincham | Carols by Candlelight – 73rd Season: Ukrainian Bell Carol, Hail, Star of the se most radiant, Lullaby, my sweet little baby, Ich steh an deiner Krippen heir, See the star, O Radiant Dawn, (audience) God rest you merry, gentleman, O little town of Bethlehem, O little town of Hackensack, Ding Dong! Merrily on high, o beatum et sacrosanctum diem, For him all stars have shone, Mary had a baby, Tomorrow shall be my dancing day, Coventry Carol, The Bees, Mary's boy child, (audience) Child in a manger, Merry Christmas Jazz, Deck the Halls, Three-minute Messiah, Lux Aurumque, Ring the Bells. The Year 5 Choir of St Andrew's Church School, Bath, Maria Foster; Peasedown St John Primary School Choir, Myra Barretto; St Julian's and Shoscombe Church Schools, Kerin Adam; Eliza Haskins recorder, Katie Bunney saxophone, Piano Marcus Sealy. | St Michael's Church, Bath, Pump Room, Bath, |
| 26 Oct 2019 | Anon, Geoffrey Burgon, Rachmaninov, Cristóbal de Morales, John Sheppard, Rheinberger, Andrew Motion/James Whitbourn, Samuel Barber, J.S.Bach Orlando Gibbons, Arthur Sullivan, Robert Pearsall, Ola Gjeilo | Before the ending of the day. Nunc Dimittis, Nine otpushchayeshi, Partce mihi, Domine, In Manus Tuas, Cantus Missae – Mass for double choir in E Flat op 109, Living Voices, Abendlied, Sure On This Shining Light, Sonata in E flat, The Silver Swan, The Long Day Closes, Lay a Garland, Evening Prayer. Katie Bunney saxophone, Keyboard Marcus Sealy. | |
| 6 Jul 2019 | Haydn, Mozart | Nelson Mass; Kyrie and Benedictus. Exsultate Jubilate; Carolyn Sampson. Requiem; Carolyn Sampson soprano, Alison Kettlewell mezzo-soprano, Nathan Vale tenor, Stephen Connolly bass. Southern Sinfonia, Simon Chalk leader. Continuo Marcus Sealy. | Wells Cathedral |
| 30 Mar 2019 | J.S.Bach | Motetten and Organ. Komm, Jesu, komm (BWV 299), Toccata in the Dorian mode (BWV 538), Jesu, meine Freude (BWV 538), Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied (BWV) 225, Sonatina from Cantata 106, Sinfonia from Cantata 29, Lobet den Herrn, alle Heiden (BWV 230. Organ Marcus Sealy. Cello Continuo Rhiannon Evans. | Bath Abbey |
| 19/20/21 Dec 2018 | Various | Carols by Candlelight – 72nd Season | St Michael's Church, Bath, Pump Room, Bath, |
| 27 Oct 2018 | David Fanshawe | African Sanctus. Soprano Johanna Harrison, Keyboard Peter Adcock, BackBeat Percussion Quartet. | Kingswood School Theatre |
| 23 Jun 2018 | Vivaldi, Handel | Gloria, Suite from Water Music, Dixit Dominus. Soloists Kirsty Hopkins soprano, Sophie Gallagher soprano, David Hurley counter-tenor. Music for Awhile, Margaret Faultless leader. Marcus Sealy Organ Continuo. | Bath Abbey |
| 4 Jun 2018 | Rachmaninov, Vivaldi | Liturgy of St John Chrysostom, Gloria. Marcus Sealy Organ. As part of Devizes Arts Festival 2018. | St Mary's Church, Devizes |
| 24 Mar 2018 | Rachmaninov, Christopher Wood | Liturgy of St John Chrysostom, Requiem. | Bath Abbey |
| 13/14/15 Dec 2017 | Various | Carols by Candlelight – 71st Season | Pump Room, Bath, St Michael's Church, Bath |
| 11 Nov 2017 | Paco Pena, Pärt, Pizzetti, Howard Goodall, John Tavener, Daley, Whitacre | Cordero de Dios, The Beatitudes, Messa di Requiem, Requiem: Kyrie: Close Now Thine Eyes, Song for Athene, In Remembrance, Cloudburst. Marcus Sealy Organ Continuo. | Malmesbury Abbey |
| 1 Jul 2017 | J.S.Bach, Mozart | 70th Anniversary Celebration Concert. Magnificat (Bach) in D, Great Mass in C minor, K. 427. Soloists Verity Wingate soprano, Anna Sideris soprano, Stephen Harvey counter-tenor, Kieran White tenor, Julien van Mellaerts bass. Southern Sinfonia, Richard Smith leader. Marcus Sealy Organ Continuo. | Bath Abbey |
| 25 Mar 2017 | Gregorio Allegri, Gabriel Fauré, James MacMillan, Dvořák | Miserere, Cantique de Jean Racine, Cantos Sagrados, Mass in D. | Bath Abbey |
| 2017 | Jonathan Willcocks, is appointed choir Vice President | ||
| 2017 | The choir's 70th anniversary year | ||
| 14/15/16 Dec 2016 | Various | Carols by Candlelight – 70th Season | Pump Room, Bath |
| 29 Oct 2016 | Giovanni Antonio Rigatti, Rovetta, Monteverdi, Giovanni Legrenzi, Alessandro Grandi, | Venetian Vespers:Deus in Adjutorium; Dixit Dominus a8; Laudate pueri a4; Laetatus sum; Adoramus te, Christe; Nisi Dominus; Christe, adoramus te; Lauda Jerusalem; Ave maris stella; Magnificat a 6/7. Conductor Peter Leech. | The Chapel of Our Lady of the Snows, Prior Park College, Bath, Somerset |
| 18 Jun 2016 | J.S. Bach | Mass in B minor. Baroque Performance with Music for Awhile – Leader Margaret Faultless; Mhairi Lawson soprano, Rupert Enticknap counter-tenor, Nathan Vale tenor, Matthew Brook bass. | Bath Abbey |
| 2016 | David Hill (choral director), is appointed choir President | ||
| 19 Mar 2016 | Rachmaninov | Vespers and Preludes in Harmony with Exeter Festival Chorus. All-Night Vigil (Rachmaninoff) Vespers 1919. Rachmaninov Preludes. As below with one changed soloist. Soloists Nina Alupii-Morton, Kieran White. Peter Donohoe (pianist). Conductors Nigel Perrin and Peter Adcock. | Bath Abbey |
| 5 Mar 2016 | Rachmaninov | Vespers and Preludes in Harmony with Exeter Festival Chorus. All-Night Vigil (Rachmaninoff) Vespers 1919. Rachmaninov Preludes opus 23: no 3 in D minor tempo di menuet, no 7 in C minor allege, no 10 in G flat major, no 8 in A flat major allegro vivace, no 13 in D flat major grave, no 4 in D major andante cantabile, no 10 in B minor lento, no 11 in B major allegretto, no 8 in A minor vive, no 6 in E flat major andante, no 1 in C major allegro. Soloists Nina Alupii-Morton, Peter Drury. Peter Donohoe (pianist). Conductors Nigel Perrin and Peter Adcock. | Exeter Cathedral |
| 16/17/18 Dec 2015 | Samuel Scheidt, David Willcocks, Hafliði Hallgrímsson, J S Bach, John Rutter, Reginald Jacques, Richard Rodney Bennett, Ian Pillow; Mary George, Bernard Wight, Jonathan Willcocks, John Kirkpatrick, Harker, Herbert Sumsion, James McKelvy, James Pierpont, Robin Benton, Irving Berlin, Peter Garland, Andy Razaf, Scott Walker | Carols by Candlelight – 69th Season. A child is born in Bethlehem, Samuel Scheidt arr Willcocks; Sussex carol, English trad arr Willcocks; Joseph and the Angel, Haflidi Hallgrimmson; O little one sweet, J S Bach; In dulci jubilo, Old German carol arr Rutter; Audience: O come, O come, Emanuel, arr Willcocks; Audience: Good King Wenceslas, Piae Cantiones arr Reginald Jaques; Out of your sleep, Richard Rodney Bennett; The Oxen,Thomas Hardy/Ian Pillow; This Glorious Day, Mary George/Bernard Wight; In excelsis, Jonathan Willcocks; Tomorrow shall be my dancing day, English trad arr Willcocks; Away in a manger, Kirkpatrick arr Harker; I wonder as I wander, Appalachian carol arr Rutter; Lord of the dance, Shaker song arr Willcocks; Audience: Joy to the World, arr Herbert Sumsion; Audience: Birthday Carol, words & music David Willcocks; Deck the halls, arr James McKelvy; Jingle bells!, J.Pierpont arr Robin Benton; I'm dreaming of a white Christmas, Irving Berlin arr JB; In the Christmas Mood, Garland & Razaf arr Walker/Wight; 12 days of Christmas, trad arr John Rutter. | Pump Room, Bath |
| 7 Nov 2015 | James MacMillan, John Rutter, Karl Jenkins, Eric Whitacre, Vaughan Williams | Lux Aeterna, Requiem, Motets, Cantate Domino, Agnus Dei, Ave verum corpus, God shall wipe away all ters, Exsultate Jubilate; When David heard that Absalom was slain; Valiant for Truth. Soprano Verity Wingate, New Bristol Sinfonia. | Bath Abbey |
| 16/17 Oct 2015 | Karl Jenkins, Kinley Lange, Paco Peña, Tchaikovsky, Nikolay Kedrov, Sr., Gabriel Fauré, Tomás Luis de Victoria, Vaughan Williams, John Rutter, D L Bevenot | Ave verum corpus Stabat Mater, Agnus Dei (Armed Man); Cordero de Dios (from Misa Flamenca), Esto les Digo; Blazhenni yazhe izbral, Izhe kherumvimy, Dostoyno est, Sviati Bozhe; Otche Nash; Requiem; O quam gloriosum; Valiant for Truth; Requiem; Mass in RE. | Barcelona: Barcelona Cathedral, Sagrada Família, Santa Maria del Mar, Barcelona |
| 4 Jul 2015 | Tchaikovsky, Faure Nikolay Kedrov, Sr. | Music for Vespers, Requiem; Lucy Sealy soprano, Iain Duffin baritone. Otche Nash. | Malmesbury Abbey |
| 14 Mar 2015 | J.S. Bach | St Matthew Passion. Baroque Performance with Music for Awhile – Leader Margaret Faultless; Nathan Vale Evangelist, Adrian Powter Jesus, Mhairi Lawson soprano, Rupert Enticknap alto Alexander Robin Baker bass. | Bath Abbey |
| 17/18/19 Dec 2014 | Various | Carols by Candlelight – 68th Season | Pump Room, Bath |
| 15 Nov 2014 | Marion Wood, Henry Purcell, Jonathan Willcocks, Eric Whitacre, Howard Goodall, Leonard Bernstein, Vaughan Williams | Futility, Funeral Sentences, From Darkness to Light, When David heard, Lacrymosa: Do not stand at my grave and weep, from Eternal Light : A Requiem, Chichester Psalms, O clap your hands (Vaughan Williams). Supported by Wells Cathedral School Brass Percussion Ensemble, Kate Pearson – Harp and Marcus Sealy Organ, Daniel Robson and Lydia Ward. | Bath Abbey |
| 5 Jul 2014 | A Night at The Opera – Verdi, Bizet, Puccini, Tchaikovsky, Rossini, Mozart, Weber, Strauss,[clarification needed] Andrew Lloyd Webber, Verdi | Anvil Chorus (Il Trovatore 1853); Gerusalem (I Lombardi 1843); Brindisi (La Traviata1853); Toreador (Carmen 1874); O mio babbino caro Gianni Schicchi 1918 – Verity Wingate; Au fond du temple saint, Les Pecheurs de Perles 1863 – Kieran White & Robert Clark; Chorus of peasant girls (Eugene Onegin 1878); Waltz scene (Eugene Onegin 1878); Villagers' Chorus (Guillaume Tell 1829); La ci darem la mano – (Don Giovanni 1787) (Verity Wingate & Robert Clark); Arie des Ferrando (Cosi fan tutte 1790) – Kieran White; Huntsman's chorus (Der Freischütz 1821); Victoria, Victoria! (Der Freischütz 1821); Lieben, Hassen, Hoffen, Zagen (Ariadne auf Naxos 1916) – Robert Clark; Medley from The Phantom of the Opera 1986; Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves (Nabucco 1841). | Roper Theatre, Hayesfield Girls' School, Bath |
| 22 Mar 2014 | Handel | Messiah (Handel). Baroque Performance with Music for Awhile – Leader Margaret Faultless. Nathan Vale Evangelist. | Bath Abbey |
| 18/20 Dec 2013 | Various | Carols by Candlelight – 67th Season | Pump Room, Bath |
| 16 Nov 2013 | J.S. Bach, Bruckner, Britten | Jesu, meine Freude; Mass in E minor; Messa Brevis. Southern Sinfonia Wind Ensemble. | Bath Abbey |
| 27 Oct 2013 | Bruckner, Knut Nystedt, Mozart, George Dyson | Mass. Entrée de l'Office – Locus iste. Offertoire – Laudate Dominum. Communion – Ave verum corpus. Sortie de la Messe Confortare. | Aix Cathedral Cathédrale Saint-Sauveur, Aix en Provence |
| 26 Oct 2013 | George Dyson, William H Harris, Samuel Sebastian Wesley, Healey Willan, J. S. Bach, Gabriel Faure, Wolfgang Mozart, J. S. Bach, Benjamin Britten, John Ireland, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Anton Bruckner | Four Anthems sung at the Coronation of Elizabeth II – 1953: Confortare – Be strong and of a good courage, Let my prayer come up into thy presence, Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, O Lord, our Governour. Jesu, meine Freude: Jesu, meine Freude, Es ist nun nichts, Unter deinem Schirmen, Trotz dem alten Drachen, Ihr aber seid nicht fleischlich, Weicht, ihr trauergeister. Entente Cordiale – Sung with Aix Chorale Darius Milhaud Choir Conductor – Patrick Rinaldi: Cantique de Jean Racine, Ave verum corpus, Jesus bleibet meine Freude. Organ Interlude Marcus Sealy Cavatina Toccata in D minor. John Ireland, Gaston Bélier. Choral Dances from Gloriana (less nos 4 and 5). A Garland for the Queen: The Hills, Silence and Music. Mass in E minor: Gloria. | Aix Cathedral Cathédrale Saint-Sauveur, Aix en Provence |
| 22 Jun 2013 | A Garland for The Queen – Various | The Triumphs of Oriana 1601: John Bennett: All creatures now are merry-minded; Robert Jones: Fair Orianna seeking to wink at folly; Thomas Weelkes: As Vesta was from Latmos hill descending; Thomas Morley: Hard by a crystal fountain. Music from the Coronation of Elizabeth II, 2 June 1953: Herbert Howells: Behold O God Our Defender; William Harris: Let my prayer come up into Thy presence; SS Wesley: Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace; George Dyson: Confortare: Be strong and of good courage; Healy Willan: O Lord Our Governor in Benjamin Britten's centenary year: Choral Dances from Gloriana Op 53; The Ballad of Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard; Old Joe has gone fishing from Peter Grimes Op 33; Selections from Friday Afternoon Op 7 A Garland for the Queen 1953: Bliss: Aubade for a Coronation Morning; Bax: What is it like to be young and fair?; Vaughan Williams: Silence and Music; Ireland: The Hills; Tippett: Dance, Clarion Air. | Roper Theatre, Hayesfield Girls' School, Bath |
| 23 Mar 2013 | James MacMillan | St John Passion – Christus Mark Stone (baritone): City of Bath Bach Choir, Exeter Festival Chorus, Wellensian Consort, Southern Sinfonia, Leader Alexander Hohenthal. | Exeter Cathedral |
| 16 Mar 2013 | James MacMillan | St John Passion – Christus Mark Stone (baritone): City of Bath Bach Choir, Exeter Festival Chorus, Wellensian Consort, Southern Sinfonia, Leader Alexander Hohenthal. In the presence of the composer James MacMillan. | Wells Cathedral |
| 19/21 Dec 2012 | Various | Carols by Candlelight – 66th Season. Soloists: Molly Sharples Harp; Joseph Pritchard Cello; Verity Wingate Soprano. | Pump Room, Bath |
| 3 Nov 2012 | J.S. Bach, Aaron Copland, Britten | Komm, Jesu, komm; In the Beginning; St Nicolas. | Bath Abbey |
| 23 Jul 2012 | Chilcott, Elgar, Eric Whitacre, Dove | Aesop's Fables; From the Bavarian Highlands, Three Flower Songs; The Passing of the Year. | Wiltshire Music Centre |
| 17 Mar 2012 | J. S. Bach | Mass in B minor. Baroque Performance with Music for Awhile – Leader Margaret Faultless. Soprano Lucy Hall, Alto William Purefoy, Tenor James Geer, Bass Stephen Varcoe. | Bath Abbey |
| 14/16 Dec 2011 | Various | Carols by Candlelight – 65th Season | Pump Room, Bath |
| 5 Nov 2011 | Howard Goodall, Whitacre, Mikołaj Górecki, Part, John Tavener, Peters | Eternal Light: A Requiem; Lux Aurumque; Totus Tuus; Beatitudes; Svyati; Toccata, Fugue et Hymne sur 'Ave Maris Stella'. | Bath Abbey |
| 23 Oct 2011 | Knut Nystedt, Bruckner, Rossini | Laudate Domninum; Locus iste, Quando Corpus. | The Venerable English College, Rome |
| 22 Oct 2011 | Nystedt, Górecki, Ellington, Mozart, Bruckner, Rossini, Eric Whitacre, Monteverdi, Tippett, | Laudate Domninum; Totus Tuus Op 60; Come Sunday (arr John Høybye); Ave Verum Corpus; Locus iste; Quando Corpus, Lux Aurumque, Cantate Donini, Five Negro Spirituals (from Child of our Time). | La Chiesa di Sant'Agnese in Agone, Rome |
| 16 Jul 2011 | Tippett, Dahl, Ellington | Five Negro Spirituals (from Child of our Time); Songs by Roald Dahl (performed by The CBBC Junior Choir with Jamie Knights, Piano, Adrienne Hale Conducting); Pacific Song (with Marcus Sealy, Piano); Sacred Concert (Andy Williamson – saxes, Pete Judge – trumpet, Robin Holloway – piano, Al Swainger – double bass, Andy Hague – drums). | Wiltshire Music Centre |
| 19 Mar 2011 | Mendelssohn | Elijah: Roderick Williams Elijah, Mary Plazas soprano, Wendy Dawn Thompson Mezzo-soprano, Justin Lavender Tenor, Sophie Edwards Youth, Marcus Sealy Organ, The Wessex Sinfonia – Leader Adrian Eales, Nigel Perrin Musical Director. | Bath Abbey |
| 15/17 Dec 2010 | Various | Carols by Candlelight – 64th Season | Pump Room, Bath |
| 6 Nov 2010 | Monteverdi, Chilcott | Hymns and Psalms; Salisbury Vespers. Performed with Bath Camerata. | Bath Abbey |
| 3 Jul 2010 | Brahms, Horovitz | Ein deutsches Requiem Op. 45; Captain Noah and His Floating Zoo (performed by The CBBC Junior Choir with support from the Senior Choir). | Malmesbury Abbey |
| 19 Jun 2010 | Brahms, Horovitz | Ein deutsches Requiem Op. 45; Captain Noah and His Floating Zoo (performed by The CBBC Junior Choir with support from the Senior Choir).[31] | Wiltshire Music Centre |
| 27 Mar 2010 | Monteverdi; Rossini; J. S. Bach | Beatus Vir; Stabat Mater; Cantata BWV 182 Himmelskönig, sei willkommen. | Bath Abbey |
| Nigel Perrin's 20th Anniversary Concert[32] | |||
| 16/18 Dec 2009 | Various | Carols by Candlelight – 63rd Season | Pump Room, Bath |
| 7 Nov 2009 | J. S. Bach, Britten, Bruckner | Lobet den Herrn; Jesu meine Freude; Rejoice in the Lamb; Tota pulchra es; Ecce sacrados; Afferentur regi; Inveni David. | Bath Abbey |
| 24 Oct 2009 | J. S. Bach, Britten, Bruckner | Lobet den Herrn; Rejoice in the Lamb; Locus iste; Ave Maria; Tota Pulchra Est. | Thomaskirche, Leipzig |
| 4 Jul 2009 | Will Todd | Mass in Blue. | Wiltshire Music Centre |
| 28 Mar 2009 | Handel; Karl Jenkins | Messiah (Handel) Part II; Stabat Mater. | Bath Abbey |
| 17/19 Dec 2008 | Various | Carols by Candlelight – 62nd Season | Pump Room, Bath |
| 1 Nov 2008 | Pehkonen, Hughes, Vivaldi | Russian Requiem. A Song for St. Cecilia. Gloria (RV589). | Bath Abbey |
| 12 July 2008 | Vaughan Williams | An Evening with Ralph Vaughan Williams and Friends. Works by Wood, Parry, Stanford, Holst, Bruch, Ravel, Finzi and Vaughan Williams to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Vaughan Williams's death. | Wiltshire Music Centre |
| 15 Mar 2008 | Duruflé | Requiem and works by Fauré, Messiaen, Poulenc Vierne and Hakim. | Bath Abbey |
| 21 Jan 2008 | Karl Jenkins | Requiem – New York City Premier. | Carnegie Hall, New York City United States |
| 19/20/21 Dec 2007 | Various | Carols by Candlelight – 61st Season | Pump Room, Bath |
| 3 Nov 2007 | J. S. Bach, Rossini | As a part of Nigel Perrin's Gala Concert. Lobet den Herrn. Peiite Messe Solonelle. | The Forum, Bath |
| 14 Jul 2007 | Hughes, Rutter, Purcell | Song for St. Cecilia (Commission – First Performance). Birthday Madrigals. Birthday Ode for Queen Mary Come Ye Sons of Art. | Wiltshire Music Centre |
| 2007 | 60th Anniversary Concert | ||
| 31 Mar 2007 | Mozart, Beethoven | 'Great' Mass in C Minor K427. Christus am Ölberge Op 85. | The Forum, Bath |