Tag: National Youth Choir of Scotland

Scottish Ensemble to tour Bach & Blood this September

  • A new collaboration with NYCOS showcasing the power of strings and voice, which will include the UK premiere of David Fennessy’s composition Blood
  • Opening at Lammermuir Festival before performances in Perth, Glasgow, and London from 16 September – 02 October

Inhale. Exhale.

Every breath resonates and each string sings, in a new performance that brings together Scottish Ensemble and singers from the Chamber Choir of the National Youth Choir of Scotland (NYCOS).

Bach & Blood will present a programme showcasing the atmosphere and power of strings and voice, emphasising the virtuosic solo violin as performed by Scottish Ensemble’s Artistic Director Jonathan Morton. Musical voices from across the centuries are united by ritual, reflection, and transcendence.

J.S. Bach’s Chaconne, famously described as “the greatest structure for solo violin that exists”, is illuminated by accompanying “Ghost chorales” relating to death and resurrection, that reveal emotional depths beneath the soloist. It is complemented by the ethereal, mystical power of Arvo Pärt’s Greater Antiphons for strings, which unfolds in shimmering stillness with a sense of timeless devotion.

The performance will climax with the UK premiere of Glasgow-based composer David Fennessy’s work Blood. Originally commissioned by the Irish Chamber Orchestra, the piece is based on a short melody written by the 12th century composer and mystic Hildegard of Bingen; Blood expands and draws out the sound until it morphs into something completely new.

A solo violin weaves and flows through haunting vocals from the NYCOS choir, led by their Artistic Director Christopher Bell. Consonants are erased and vowels stretched into an emotional, primal stream of sound. What emerges is a work of profound power, where ancient chants merge with a resonating body of orchestral strings to create a startling new sonic landscape, pulsing with visceral, muscular energy.

Bach & Blood will open with a performance at St Mary’s Church in Whitekirk as part of the 2026 Lammermuir Festival. It will then tour to St John’s Kirk in Perth, and to Glasgow Cathedral as part of the 2026 Glasgow Cathedral Festival programme.

Finally, in October, the performance will visit London’s Milton Court, as part of Scottish Ensemble’s Company in Residence season with The Barbican.

Listings Information

Wednesday 16 September, 3pm

St Mary’s Church, Whitekirk

Part of the 2026 Lammermuir Festival

Tickets: From £18, half-price tickets for under-25s

Thursday 17 September, 7pm

St John’s Kirk, Perth

Tickets: From £6, free for under-26s

Friday 18 September, 7pm

Glasgow Cathedral

Part of the 2026 Glasgow Cathedral Festival

Tickets: From £7 – Limited number of £1 tickets available for local residents.

Friday 02 October, 7.30pm

Milton Court, London

Part of Scottish Ensemble’s Company in Residence season with The Barbican

Tickets: From £24

Ticket booking at scottishensemble.co.uk

National Youth Choir of Scotland proves it is among the best in the world 

National Youth Choir of Scotland

European Tour

25th – 30th July, 13th August 2023

Tickets are on sale now for National Youth Choir of Scotland’s (NYCOS) tour of Europe in late July. Widely acclaimed as one of the best choirs in the world, regardless of age, they are set to bring magical performances of Maurice Duruflé’s ethereal Requiem, Benjamin Britten’s ever popular Rejoice in the Lamb and American composer Stacy Garrop’s exploration of three types of love in Sonnets of Desire, Longing, and Whimsy.

Between 25 and 30 July, the choir famed for its high-energy performances under the artistic direction of Christopher Bell performs this collection of rich choral work at St. Lawrence’s Parish Church in York as part of the Ryedale Festival; Église St. Eustache in Paris (yes, they are taking Duruflé to the French!), France; St. Rumbold’s Cathedral in Mechelen, Belgium; and St. Nicholaas Basilica in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

The choir then returns to Scotland’s capital to finish the tour in Edinburgh this August. Christopher Bell will be conducting all concerts with Michael Bawtree on organ.

For many singers being a part of NYCOS is a life-changing experience and this tour is set to be special for many members as they head into their last year as part of the ensemble. It is also one of the most experienced groups that NYCOS has toured, with the leavers now in their mid-twenties with up to 10 years of singing together under their belts.

In a cosmopolitan trip round the continent to capitals both ancient and modern, a particular highlight is set to be its concert in Paris, where Scotland’s young singers perform in the Église St. Eustache. Gregorian chant and the deep emotion of Duruflé’s writing combine in his Requiem to fill this beautiful 17th-century church with mesmerising and shimmering sound.

The choir’s summer culminates in a performance at the Edinburgh International Festival on Sunday 13 August in a favourite venue for them, the Usher Hall. NYCOS will be joined by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, alongside former members of the choir – Cardiff Singer of the World 2017 Catriona Morison and member of Academia Teatro all Scala in Milan in 2019-20 Paul Grant – as soloists.

In a special open access session at 4pm preceding the concert, Christopher Bell – renowned for his expertise in music education – will give audiences a rare glimpse into NYCOS’ musicianship technique.

Masters of the Kodály method of music teaching devised by Hungarian musicologist Zoltán Kodály in the mid-20th century, Bell and 200 young singers will explore and explain the method which has been central to NYCOS’ work for 25 years in a typically sparky presentation, before performing their last concert of the tour.

Christopher Bell, Artistic Director of National Youth Choir of Scotland said: “The National Youth Choir of Scotland combines the best of singing with the energy, enthusiasm and passion of youth.

“Audiences, world renowned conductors and orchestras have been delighted to hear the quality of sound and experience the commitment of Scotland’s young people. Please join us for what promises to be five outstanding performances this summer.’’

Tickets for the European tour, including performances in York and Edinburgh, are on sale now https://www.nycos.co.uk/events/nycos-summer-europe-tour-2023/.

LISTINGS

Programme:

Duruflé Requiem

Britten Rejoice in the Lamb

Garrop Sonnets of Desire, Longing and Whimsy (except EIF)

Tuesday 25 July 2023

Ryedale Festival

3pm

St. Lawrence’s Parish Church, York 

Tickets

Thursday 27 July 2023

8pm Église St. Eustache

Paris, France

Tickets

Friday 28 July 2023

4pm

St. Rumbold’s Cathedral

Mechelen, Belgium

Tickets

Saturday 29 July 2023

8:15pm

St. Nicholaas Basilica

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Tickets

Sunday 13 August 2023

Edinburgh International Festival (with Royal Scottish National Orchestra)

5pm (with 4pm Kodály method demonstration)

Usher Hall, Edinburgh

Tickets