Northwood residents Rachel Haywood and Jennifer Bullock are joining forces with St John’s United Reformed Church, Northwood, to present a concert performance of Purcell’s popular baroque opera, ‘Dido and Aeneas’ on Saturday September 20 at 7.30pm in the beautiful, newly transformed space of St John’s church. Following the success of last summer’s Monteverdi’s Vespers at St John’s, in which Rachel was a soprano soloist and Jenny played the viol, the new production brings together a number of the two friends’ musical connections. Vocal roles will be taken by Northwood Baroque Singers, a group of leading amateur opera singers with whom Rachel Haywood has worked locally, notably in Aylesbury and Harrow Opera Groups. The opera’s chorus features members of the English Chamber Choir, who mounted last summer’s Monteverdi Vespers and with whom Rachel and her husband have sung for many years. Chelys Consort of Viols, of whom Jenny Bullock is a member, will provide the opera’s accompaniment on period instruments. Formed in 2007, Chelys is a vibrant young ensemble of former students of the Royal Academy of Music and Trinity College of Music, who are achieving increasing success in the early music world and will be releasing their debut CD in 2015. In July of this year they presented at St John’s a highly successful concert of English viol music followed by cream tea. The production will be directed from the harpsichord by local musician and former professor at the Royal College of Music, David Ward. Following extensive renovations to the church over the past year, this concert furthers the aim of St John’s to promote music and the arts in their Northwood community. Tickets (£15/£12 concessions, including a glass of wine) will be available on the door, or can be reserved in advance from Rachel Haywood on 07790 469058 /rachelhaywood@fireflyuk.net.
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