Bradford Cathedral’s renowned choir is gearing up for an exhilarating tour of London, where they will showcase their exceptional talent in various prestigious venues. From Friday 2nd to Sunday 4th June, the choir members will embark on a memorable journey, with their experiences shared through a live blog on Bradford Cathedral’s website and updates on social media.
Having previously toured Germany and East Anglia, this tour provides the choir with an opportunity to gain valuable experience by performing in different churches and cathedrals, all while enjoying exciting activities and creating lasting memories.
Graham Thorpe, the Assistant Director of Music at Bradford Cathedral, expressed his anticipation for the upcoming tour, stating, “We’re really looking forward to this year’s choir tour to London. Over three days, we have a jam-packed schedule, including performances at St. George’s Hanover Square, All Saints Tooting, and Southwark Cathedral. You can tune in to the live services which will be shared on the Cathedral’s social media!”
In addition to their performances, the choir members will participate in several activities during their stay in London. These include visiting the renowned National History Museum, attending a concert at the prestigious Royal Festival Hall, and taking a memorable ride on the cable car beneath the flight path of London City Airport. With the anticipation of potential train strikes, the weekend promises to be filled with action and excitement.
The tour will commence with a visit to the Natural History Museum, providing the choir members with an opportunity to learn and relax before their first performance at St. George’s Hanover Square. At 5:30pm, they will enchant the audience with a Choral Evensong featuring a repertoire that includes Ives’ “Listen Sweet Dove,” Rose Responses, Psalm 145, Kelly in C, and Parry’s “I was glad.”
Matthew Turner, the verger at St. George’s, expressed his delight, saying, “St. George’s Hanover Square has a long-established musical tradition and history, dating back to the days when Handel himself was a prominent parishioner. We are thrilled to welcome the choir of Bradford Cathedral to perform Evensong with us and contribute to the rich musical heritage of this place.”
The next stop for the choir is All Saints in Tooting, where they will have the opportunity for sightseeing at prominent landmarks such as Shakespeare’s Globe, the Tate Modern, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and the National Theatre. At 4pm, the choir will perform a Festal Evensong for the Eve of Trinity Sunday, alongside members of the All Saints choir. The repertoire for this performance will feature Rose Responses, Howells’ Collegium Regale, and Stainer’s “I saw the Lord.”
Revd Mae Christie, from All Saints, expressed their excitement, saying, “We are thrilled to be hosting the choir and very much looking forward to getting to know them, as well as having the joy of listening to the music at Evensong!” The Festal Evensong will be streamed live on All Saints, Tooting’s Facebook page, with updates also available on their Twitter and Instagram accounts.
The final day of the tour will see the choir performing at Southwark Cathedral. A Eucharist service will be held at 11am, followed by a lunch in the Cathedral garden, providing the opportunity to explore Borough Markets. The tour will conclude with the choir’s final Evensong at 3pm, featuring pieces such as Rose Responses, Psalm 93, Howells’ Collegium Regale, and Stainer’s “I saw the Lord.”
Following the completion of the tour, the choir members will make their way back to Bradford Cathedral, concluding the Bradford Cathedral Choir Tour 2023
