A festive summer for the choir

Just like the temperature, the Plymouth Philharmonic Choir are preparing for their next concert, “Orb and Scepter: A concert to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee”, which will take place on Saturday July 9 at 7.30pm at St Andrew’s Minster Church, Plymouth .

Some of the jewels performed include the 1953 coronation music.

Parry’s I Was Glad was the first track to be sung at the start of the service, just like during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Thanksgiving service at St Paul’s Cathedral.

Handel composed Zadok the Priest as one of four hymns for the coronation of George II in 1727.

This piece has been performed at every coronation since, usually during the anointing, the spiritual climax of the service.

The new Queen treated Westminster Abbey in Walton’s Te Deum, composed for the occasion.

With its energetic rhythms, crunchy chords and sometimes eight vocal parts, it’s music that makes your heart sing.

The choir is delighted to be joined by two guests. John Suchet, TV Journalist of the Year (1986), TV Presenter of the Year (1996), received the Royal Television Society’s highest honor – Lifetime Achievement Award (2008), self-confessed Beethoven addict, received an honorary scholarship from the Royal Academy of Music (2001), an author who has written seven books on this great composer and whose night program “The Classic FM Concert” is listened to by thousands of music lovers.

And Timothy Noon, Director of Music at Exeter Cathedral, having previously held positions at cathedrals in the UK, Republic of Ireland and New Zealand.

In 1993, at the age of 19, he became a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists, winning the coveted Limpus Prize.

Since then he has been in demand as a solo recitalist, giving concerts in many prestigious venues across Europe, and in this concert will perform a number of pieces including Walton’s Orb and Sceptre.

He is also an active and published composer, and reviewer for the ABRSM.

Further information, as well as ticket prices and availability, can be found on the choir’s website (plymouthphilchoir.org).