THREE CHOIRSFESTIVALHEREFORD 201828 JULY – 4 AUGUST Festival Preview 3choirs.org

WELCOMEA century after the passing of the 1918 Representation of the People Act – the start of universal suffrage in the UK – we open the festival with a rare performance of the Mass in D by Ethel Smyth, a prominent member of the suffragette movement. Described by Bernard Shaw as ‘magnificent’ and championed, along with her other works, by Beecham, the work deserves to be better known and more frequently performed.

We’re delighted to welcome Sir Andrew Davis back to the festival for two concerts: the first ever Three Choirs performance of Elgar’s 1896 cantata King Olaf, and one of our centenary tributes to Parry, including his cantata Invocation to Music, a setting of a text by Robert Bridges commemorating the bicentenary of the death of Henry Purcell. We also welcome the outstanding vocal ensemble Tenebrae whose programme includes Parry’s sumptuous Songs of Farewell, composed in the last two years of his life.

In 1918, as well as losing Parry, the musical world was robbed of the talent of Lili Boulanger, aged only 24, and we present her setting of Psalm 130, composed in 1915 as a response to the horrors of World War I, in a programme which also includes Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms.

At the heart of the festival since its origins in the early 18th century, the Three Cathedral Choirs of Gloucester, Hereford and Worcester combine for joint Evensongs and a performance of Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610, sure to be a highlight of the week.

Following performances of Mendelssohn’s two great oratorios Elijah and St Paul at the 2016 and 2017 festivals, we complete our cycle of his major choral works with his fine Lobgesang, paired with Bruckner’s stirring Te Deum. The festival will end with Brahms’ Requiem, in a programme including Parry’s own Elegy for Brahms, and Parry’s pupil Vaughan Williams’ Toward the Unknown Region.

There’s only space here for some of the highlights of Hereford 2018, but there’s much, much more. Look out for our booking brochure, published next spring. We look forward to seeing you!

Geraint BowenArtistic Director

EVENING HIGHLIGHTS

Geraint Bowen conducting © Ash Mills

Saturday 28 JulyIreland These things shall be Smyth Mass in D

Sunday 29 JulyProgramme to include:Holst The Planets

Monday 30 JulyElgar King Olaf

Tuesday 31 July Monteverdi Vespers

Wednesday 1 August Bruckner Te Deum Mendelssohn Lobgesang

Thursday 2 August Parry Blest pair of Sirens Parry Symphony No 5 Parry Invocation to Music

Friday 3 AugustRavel Le tombeau de Couperin Boulanger Psalm 130 Walton Viola Concerto Stravinsky Symphony of Psalms

Saturday 4 AugustVaughan Williams Toward the Unknown Region Parry Elegy for BrahmsBrahms Ein deutsches Requiem

Geraint Bowen © Michael Whitefoot

ARTISTSConductors Geraint BowenSir Andrew DavisPeter NardoneAdrian Partington

SoloistsMatthew BrookNeal DaviesEleanor DennisMahan EsfahaniJames GilchristClare HammondAnna HarveyRuby HughesOlivier LatryDavid Owen NorrisJames OxleyMatthew RoseMadeleine ShawElizabeth Watts

Orchestra in ResidencePhilharmonia Orchestra

Choirs and Vocal EnsemblesBinchois ConsortGothic VoicesTenebrae Three Cathedral ChoirsTCF ChorusTCF Youth Choir

Orchestras and EnsemblesGoldfield EnsembleGould TrioNational Youth Orchestra of WalesTrio Dali

Clare Hammond © Julie Kim

Mahan Esfahani © Bernhard Musil Deutsche Grammophon

Ruby Hughes© Camilo Echeverri

TAKE PARTFestival ChorusApplications to join the Three Choirs Festival Chorus from good amateur choral singers with excellent sight-reading ability are always welcome. To find out more about the audition process, visit

3choirs.org/take-part/festival-chorus

Youth ChoirConfident singers aged 14–25 are welcome to sign up for the Three Choirs Festival Youth Choir from early 2018. For more information and to apply, visit

3choirs.org/take-part/youth-choir

VolunteerThe festival relies on a host of dedicated volunteers to make the festival a welcoming and smooth-running event each year, from ushers and programme sellers to runners and car park attendants. We are always interested in hearing from new volunteers. Find out more at

3choirs.org/take-part/volunteer

Festival FriendsThroughout the year, a tireless team of local Friends hold fundraising events to support the festival, as well as providing catering during the festival itself. If you would like to join the Friends of the Hereford Three Choirs Festival, please visit

3choirs.org/take-part/city-friends

Youth Choir © Sally Corrick

@3choirs 3ChoirsFestival @threechoirsfestival

Tickets The full programme will be announced in late March 2018, with tickets on sale in April:

4 April 2018: Booking opens for Gold Society Members9 April 2018: Booking opens for Standard Society Members23 April 2018: Public booking opens

To find out more about Society Membership and for access to priority booking, exclusive events and a regular magazine, visit 3choirs.org/membership or call 01452 768 928.

Our Ticket Office is open for all enquiries Monday – Friday, 10 am – 4 pm, throughout the year on 01452 768 928. Online ticketing services are always open at 3choirs.org

Support UsThe festival could not take place without the generous support of individuals, companies, trusts and foundations. If you would like to find out more about supporting a concert, joining a funding circle, corporate sponsor packages, or advertising your business to our audience, please contact Genie Dyke, our Head of Development

genie.dyke@3choirs.org 01452 768 933

JOIN US

Three Choirs Festival Association Ltd, 7c College Green, Gloucester GL1 2LX. Registered charity number 204609.

Supporters

© Ash Mills

© Alex Ramsay