Royal Academy soloists to sing Fauré’s soul-stirring Requiem

Four leading vocal soloists from the Royal Academy of Music in London will be launching the second series of Gala concerts at St George’s Anglican Church in Parktown in March, as part of their South African tour.

Jenny Stafford

The church has embarked on a second series of organ concerts to celebrate last year’s installation of its impressive new Rieger pipe organ.

The four Royal Academy vocalists will be singing Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem, one of the most beautiful and well-known choral pieces of all time, during the first gala concert in the new series at St George’s on Tuesday, 26th March 2013 at 7.30pm.

Sam Pantcheff

The visitors from London, Jenny Stafford (soprano), Sarah Shorter (mezzo-soprano), Nicholas Scott (tenor) and Samuel Pantcheff (baritone), will be performing the solos in this work, joined by the Choir of St George’s Church.

Sarah Shorter

Conducted by Richard Pantcheff, the celebrity visitors will also perform a number of solo and ensemble items accompanied by Peter Black on the organ, and a selection of exquisite works from the Renaissance period. Their programme will also include solo extracts from George Frederic Handel’s Messiah, one of the world’s best-loved and most recognisable oratorios.

All four Royal Academy vocalists have already embarked upon their professional singing careers, and have taken part in many first-class concerts and operas.

They have performed with such distinguished conductors as Sir Colin Davis, Edward Gardiner and Trevor Pinnock, and in some of the most prestigious locations: the Barbican, the Old Vic Theatre, Cadogan Hall, the Grimeborn Festival, the Edinburgh Festival, Buxton Opera and with the Israel Camerata, as well as at many cathedrals and concert halls in the United Kingdom. They have also featured prominently in the recent major musical productions of the Royal Academy itself.

In addition to their gala concert at St George’s, the four vocal scholars will be performing in a number of high-profile events around the country in March and April, including the Wakkerstroom Festival, the Rand Club Chamber Music Series, and at the Linder Auditorium.

Tickets for the Royal Academy gala concert on 26th March at 7.30pm are available directly from St George’s Church in Parktown by phoning 011-482-1606/7 or emailing music@stgeorges.org.za or secretary@stgeorges.org.za