Sound and Music

Missa del Cid Judith Weir (c25') for narrator and 10 solo voices, narrated by Hannah Thomson
prayer of imperfect desire Hilary Campbell, text by Ryan Wood (c15') for 16 solo voices
INTERVAL
Meadows of Gold Jamie Brown (c45') for narrator, mezzo soprano, baritone, choir and chamber orchestra. Narrator: Eamonn O’Dwyer, mezzo soprano solo Kathryn McAdam

Performed by the Blossom Street Singers and the King William Singers and Orchesra

All three works take the absurdity of war, or the importance of mutual respect and understanding, as their theme. The concert is not only a launchpad for PLANTAGENET but is also raising money for Action for Brazil's Children, a humanitarian aid charity.

PLANTAGENET (www.plantagenetproject.com) is a new musical/cross-art group which aims to provide a creative platform for young artists to collaborate, produce new work and have regular performance opportunities, taking projects to classical music halls as well as visual and dramatic art venues, and workshops for schools. Each of its six members specialise in one field but bring a wide range of skills:

Jamie Brown composer – also experienced arts administrator

Hilary Campbell composer – also soprano and conductor

Kathryn McAdam mezzo-soprano – also teacher and workshop leader

Danny Standing baritone – also performance artist

Hannah Thomson actor – also poet and workshop leader

Ryan Wood poet – also workshop leader

ASSOCIATE ARTISTS: The Blossom Street Singers (vocal ensemble) www.blossomstreetsingers.com

In future years we hope to take on more artists from a wider range of backgrounds, including choreographers/dancers, and visual artists. The six original members were chosen for a specific project: a song cycle, in which two sides of the same love story are told from both male and female perspectives. Involving two singers, the cycle (with words by both poets and music by both composers) will chart the history of a relationship and hopefully create insights into how things can go right and wrong without proper understanding between the sexes… The cycle will be ready for premiere in 2010, but first we are concentrating on a launch concert at St John’s Smith Square in October, in which the six members will be joined by Blossom Street, the King William Singers and Orchestra, plus actor Eamonn O’Dwyer, for a gala concert.