On Tuesday 9th July, the Etone Choir were invited by Armonico Consort to perform alongside them at the Royal Albert Hall in London. The Royal Albert Hall is one of the most famous concert halls in the world having hosted performances from famous musicians such as The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Adele, Beyoncé as well as the world famous Proms series – and now, the Etone Choir joins this legion of musical legends in performing at the venue!
The choir performed a wide range of pieces conducted by Christopher Monks, founder and artistic director of Armonico Consort, and accompanied by Warwickshire based orchestra, The Orchestra of the Swan. Strictly Come Dancing’s Karen Hauer performed several moving and elegant routines to the pieces performed. The choir were also delighted to be conducted in singing ‘Viva La Vida’ by Caius Lee, director of music at Worcester College, Oxford, who has visited us several times to coach us in singing.
Highlights of the programme included the dynamic ‘The Power in Me’, the moving ‘The Prayer’, the catchy ‘Baba Yetu’ and, of course, the powerhouse that is Carl Orff’s ‘Carmina Burana’, which includes the sky shaking ‘O Fortuna’ (most commonly recognisable to our students from its use in The X-Factor!). Students had been working since the Autumn term in order to sing the piece in the original Latin and medieval German which on the day they were able to sing from memory!
Well done all and thank you so much to Armonico Consort for inviting us to be part of such an incredible day.
