“breathless lyricism, and one of those rare ‘time-stood-still’ moments”
“In this celebration of the 400th anniversary of seminal English composer, William Byrd, Ex Cathedra continue their tradition of presenting the familiar from a fresh and imaginative new perspective, but always with a strong academic justification for any unexpected choices.
“In a concert dominated by four major works by Byrd – the three Masses and The Great Service – many choirs might have just sung each of them through. Here, movements from the four pieces were mixed and matched, along with anthems and consort songs to give, in the first half, an approximation of how a Catholic Mass at the time might have been structured and, in the second, a representation of the form of an Anglican Evensong.
“This organisation of the music resulted in a programme delightfully full of contrast and variety in terms of musical forms and the vocal and instrumental forces at play. It set delicate readings of movements from the intimate, contrapuntal mass settings side by side with more monolithic multipart anthems to create a sense of relief and structure…
“In contrast, an atmospheric, purely vocal performance of Ave verum delivered breathless lyricism, and one of those rare ‘time-stood-still’ moments…
“Dedicated and interested audience members had the chance to get up close and personal with some of the repertoire – and had a rare chance to actually sing the 40-part motet – in a choral workshop the previous day. A surprisingly relaxed experience considering the musical challenges involved, this provided a unique insight into the workings of this amazing music.”
Read the full review of our Byrd’s Great concert and Singing Byrd workshop at www.reviewsgate.com
Byrd’s Great (Sun 5 Feb, 4pm)
Ex Cathedra welcomes new trustees
We are delighted to have appointed three new trustees and a new Young Person Representative at our Board and AGM earlier this week:
After a music degree at Cambridge University, where he was an organ scholar, Paul Keene’s first career was in music publishing. Thereafter, he spent 14 years at Symphony Hall and Town Hall Birmingham, where he was Director of Programming across a range of genres including classical, jazz, folk, and ‘world’ music. In 2011 he was the recipient of the first Association of British Orchestras/Classical Music Magazine Concert Hall Manager of the Year Award. He was Classical Music Programmer at the Barbican Centre from 2012 until going freelance in 2021. In the course of 25 years he has worked with most of the world’s major orchestras, artists and ensembles, as well as young artists and composers. He is strongly committed to learning, participation, partnerships, audience development and inclusion. He now has a portfolio career with clients including the European Concert Halls Organisation and St Martin-in-the-Fields, where he is Artistic Adviser, while mentoring, adjudicating, teaching and contributing to various Boards.
Gabriella Liandu is a Zambian-Scottish singer and creative, passionate about versatility and malleability of the voice. A mezzo-soprano, she takes her roots in the opera world. Gabriella completed her Vocal and Operatic studies, graduating with First Class Honours in Music, followed by a Masters (with Distinction) in Jazz, from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, winning the B:Music Jazz Prize (prev. known as the Jazzlines THSH Final Year Prize for Overall Excellence in Performance and Leadership) and the award of Leverhulme Arts Scholar. Raised in the Middle East, Gabriella’s strong cultural upbringing and eclectic background is reflected through her artistry and style as a writer and performer. Her experience covers a wide range of genres with repertoire expanding from Early Classical to Choral, Modern Jazz and more. Gabriella sings with Ex Cathedra, is a graduate Scholar 2022-23, and has taken a number of solo roles in recent concerts.
Born and brought up in Liverpool, Alok Nayak is the Chief Executive of Milap, an Indian Arts and Culture company. He has played a key role in the development of Milap’s national ensembles, SAMYO and TARANG, is an accomplished speaker and highly experienced in hosting and fronting events. In addition, he is a successful bid and funding application writer, including writing strategic plans and reviews. He has, with colleagues, led working internationally and contributed to the fine reputation of Milap in Liverpool, the UK and overseas. He has led the artistic development and programme of our two ensembles SAMYO and TARANG both at a practical and management level, as well as the creative aspects of their development.
Judith Smith is Professor of Health Policy and Management in the Health Services Management Centre (HSMC) at the University of Birmingham. From 2015 to 2022 she was Director of HSMC and prior to this spent six years as Director of Policy at the charitable health research foundation the Nuffield Trust in London. Judith’s first degree was in French Language and Literature, and after completing the NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme, she worked in a range of hospital management roles before moving into health services research and teaching in 1995. Judith is Trustee and Deputy Chair of the board of Health Services Research UK, and Deputy Director of the NIHR’s Health Services and Delivery Research Funding Programme. Other roles have included Non-Executive Director of the Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust from 2014-2022, Expert Adviser and Policy Assessor to the Public Inquiry into the Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust (2010-2013), Chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s Commission on Future Models of Care and a member of the board of the European Health Management Association. Judith has lived in Birmingham for almost 40 years, has a lifelong love of orchestral, sacred and choral music and is an Ex Cathedra Angel.
Ex Cathedra wish everyone a Merry Christmas in a stylish concert tour – 4.5* review
“One thing is unquestionable: Ex Cathedra know how to present a well balanced and entirely enjoyable Christmas event that appeals on all fronts. The choice of carols represents old and new, well known and unusual; the readings that break up the choral sets are just as varied, from passages of scripture to poetry and prose by Henry VIII, Francis Quarles, Tim Minchin and Jeanette Winterson; there are processions and movement, with items sung from all around the building; there are candles, drums, and bells, organ music and even, in one of the Ešenvalds pieces, the sounds of a glass harmonica played by members of the choir. The whole – under the masterly yet unostentatious direction of their conductor Jeffrey Skidmore – is slickly worked together into two seamless halves that leave the listener feeling thoroughly Yule-ready.”
Read the full review here, with mentions to Will Todd, Oliver Tarney, Alec Roth, Eriks Ešenvalds – “all excellent, the intonation spot on” – James MacMillan’s And lo, the angel of the Lord “bore witness to the exceptional qualities of both composer and performers … with thrilling effect”, Martin Bates’ Three Songs for Christmas “presented with élan and a sure understanding of style, as was (with extra camp sprinkles) Jim Clulee’s arrangement of Adam’s Minuit Chrétiens (‘O Holy Night’)”, and Liz Dilnot Johnson’s A wild midwinter carol “a snappy (but occasionally quiet), folksy energy”.