Sunday 7 May
10.30am SOLEMN MASS of St John at the Latin Gate
Preacher: Fr Robert Ward SSC
Bring and share Picnic Lunch in the Church grounds (if fine) and Church Hall
5.30pm EVENING PRAYER and BENEDICTION
Monday 8 May
Midday LOW MASS followed by FIZZ at the Vicarage
5.30pm SOLEMN EVENSONG for the CORONATION
sung by CLEVEDON CHORAL SOCIETY
Thursday 11 May
7pm BEFORE AND AFTER SUMMER
Baritone Matthew Clark and pianist Richard Lennox perform Gerald Finzi’s song cycle Before and After Summer, alongside songs by Schumann and Brahms. One of the key figures of 20th century British song writing, Finzi fills his music with his love of poetry and evocations of the natural world. He lived for a time in Painswick, Gloucestershire and maintained a close connection with the area, with several of his works being performed at the Three Choirs Festival. In these songs he sets texts by Thomas Hardy which move through themes of time, love and loss.
Tickets £10 to include a glass of wine, available from the church and on the door.
Friday 12 May
7.30pm AN EVENING WITH JOHN BETJEMAN hosted by the Revd Rosey Lunn with guest Julia Elton DL in the Elton Hall.
Tickets £10 to include Madeira and Cake, available from the church and on the door.
Saturday 13 May
7.30pm FESTIVAL CONCERT
Clevedon Choral Society return to St Johns with their musical director Matthew Clark and accompanist Richard Lennox for a programme centred around the music of Franz Joseph Haydn and his Nelson Mass. Described as ‘arguably Haydn’s greatest single composition’, this is a work that is equally thrilling for the performer and the listener.
The first half of the concert will include two more pieces by Haydn; his joyous Te Deum in C and his great anthem Insanae et Vanae Curae. We will also mark the 400th anniversary of the death of the great Tudor composer William Byrd, with his exquisite motet Ave Verum Corpus, and the Agnus Dei from his beautiful Mass for Four Voices. Music by Mozart, Mendelssohn and Edward Bairstow completes the programme.
We will be delighted to welcome the chamber orchestra Ensemble Inspirita who will accompany the choir for the Nelson Mass and other pieces, as well as four high calibre soloists for the occasion. It promises to be a spectacular evening of music to conclude the festival!
Soloists
Soprano - Heather Wardle
Alto - Catherine Perfect
Tenor - Archie Playdon
Bass - William Stevens
Tickets available from the church, on the door and at www.clevedonchoralsociety.org.uk
Sunday 14 May
10.30am SOLEMN MASS ‘CORAM EPISCOPO’
Preacher: Rt Revd. Michael Beasley, Bishop of Bath & Wells followed by the Dedication of the Refurbished Lower Hall and Kitchen.
