NOVEMBER 2025 CONCERT
Carl Orff: Carmina Burana
Bob Chilcott: Dances Of Time
Minster Church of St Andrew, Plymouth
Saturday 29 November at 7:30pm
For tickets click the Book Online button or call 07453 312919
Carl Orff: Carmina Burana
CARMINA BURANA – origins
The name has Latin roots – “Carmina” means “songs”, while “Burana” is the Latinised form of Beuern, the name of the Benedictine monastery of Benediktbeuern in Bavaria. So, “Carmina Burana” translates as “Songs Of Beuern”, and refers to a collection of early 13th-century songs and poems that was discovered in Beuren in 1803 – although it has since been established that the collection originated from Seckau Abbey, Austria – and is now housed in the Bavarian State Library.
The songs (over 1000 of them) were written in a mix of Latin, German and medieval French by the Goliards, a band of poet-musicians comprising scholars and clerical students, who celebrated with earthy humour the joys of the tavern, dance, nature, love and lust. Although Orff set the original texts, he chose not to use the primitive musical notation that accompanied some of the songs.
Carmina Burana – Carl Orff
Love, sex, drinking, gambling, fate, and fortune – EastEnders plotlines any day of the week; but there is nothing new here. Composed in the 1930s and written exclusively for entertainment, Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana tackles those very same themes with gusto, style and passion. Inspired by a set of medieval poems, this is a huge favourite among concert-goers and one of the most popular pieces in the classical music repertoire.
Dances of Time – Bob Chilcott
Dances of Time is a diverse collection of five choral songs addressing different aspects of time. Texts ranging from Biblical to twentieth century are set to Chilcott’s attractive and characterful music, drawing on elements of dance forms in various styles. The work opens with a rhythmic setting of Henry VIII’s famous text ‘Pastime with good company’, before the contrastingly wistful and reflective ‘Today’. The carpe diem sentiment of ‘Gather ye rosebuds’ is heightened through its setting as a lively jig, and in ‘To every thing there is a season’ a central section presents the paired images of the text from Ecclesiastes, enclosed by almost hymn-like outer segments. The infectiously positive ‘Life has loveliness’ sums up the overall message of the collection: despite the passing of time, we can celebrate the present through music and singing.
Catherine Hamilton – soprano
Catherine was the first singer to be awarded a Junior Exhibitioner’s scholarship in the history of the Royal Academy of Music at the age of ten. After gaining a BA Hons from Southampton University she returned to the RAM on the post-graduate opera course and was awarded the Diploma of Advanced Studies and a LRAM with Distinction. During her time there she was chosen as the soloist for an official recording for HRH Prince William.
Catherine is a versatile performer whose international career has encompassed opera, oratorio, recitals, and musical theatre. She made her West End debut at The Queen’s Theatre with the acclaimed production of Masterclass and toured Germany as Christine in “Das Phantom der Oper”. Her many operatic roles have taken her throughout Europe and closer to home for Opera Holland Park’s summer season and Devon Opera.
Catherine is in great demand as an oratorio soloist and has sung extensively for choirs and choral societies across Europe in major venues.
Highlights have included Mozart’s Exultate Jubilate at the Festival Saint- Eloi in France and a concert tour in Italy, culminating in a performance in St. Peter’s Rome.
Among her performances as a recitalist was a concert series of Rodrigo’s songs for the Spanish ambassador at their Institute in London and a recording of Bachianas Brasileiras no 5 by Villa Lobos. Catherine was also chosen as the soloist for the regional premier of “The Great War Symphony” by Patrick Hawes.
Mathew Minter – tenor
English tenor Matthew Minter developed his passion for singing as a member of the Berkshire Youth Choir before becoming the youngest member of the National Youth Choir of Great Britain. In 1992 Matthew sang with the World Youth Choir at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Barcelona. Following his undergraduate studies, Matthew continued his vocal training with Nicholas Powell at the Royal Northern College of Music.
In demand as a soloist on the concert platform, Matthew has performed with many of Britain’s leading orchestras under the direction of such distinguished conductors as Marin Alsop, Pierre Boulez, Bernard Haitink, and Sir David Willcocks.
As a consort singer, Matthew has worked extensively with the BBC Singers over the past twenty-five years and was a member of the Netherlands Radio Choir for five years. He continues to perform with a variety of vocal ensembles, recording for radio, television and film. Matthew sings on a daily basis as a Vicar Choral at Wells Cathedral, and he also enjoys giving vocal coaching sessions in the Wells area.
Selected career highlights include a gala concert performance in the presence of a number of former British Prime Ministers, serenading various members of the British Royal Family at a private party, appearing live on BBC1 as soloist during the Christmas Day morning service, and a most exhilarating experience being driven at high speed around the Ascari race circuit in Spain by the seven-time Formula 1 world champion Michael Schumacher whilst singing ‘O Sole Mio’ which was featured on the BBC’s Top Gear programme.
Recent concert engagements include Bach’s St. John Passion (Evangelist) at Eton College, Beethoven’s Symphony No.9 at Wells Cathedral, Handel’s Messiah at Sherborne Abbey, Haydn’s Creation at Downside Abbey, and Verdi’s Requiem at the Emirates Palace Auditorium in Abu Dhabi.
Matthew currently serves on the Equity Singers Committee representing professional singers in the UK. Aside from singing, Matthew enjoys walking in the countryside with his wife Louise and their Dog Harvey. Matthew also fills his spare time servicing and restoring antique clocks as well as vintage fountain pens!
Adrew Malor – baritone
Andrew Mayor enjoying a rich career in the dramatic repertoire. Andrew was born in Manchester, studied at Oxford University, and subsequently won a postgraduate scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music, London.
Andrew has sung numerous operatic roles in the UK including at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and Scottish Opera.
International engagements have included a tour of the USA for Columbia Artists, Germont and Escamillo in Malaysia, a tour of Germany and Europe singing the title role in Rigoletto for the Compagnia d’Opera Italiana di Milano, and Sharpless (Madama Butterfly) in Tokyo.
Recently Andrew sang Don Carlo in La forza del destino and Kothner in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg for Regents Opera. Mr. Mayor now lives in Berlin and London.
PETER COOK Conductor
Peter brings with him vast experience of both singing and directing choirs.
He has sung bass with the Plymouth Philharmonic for many years and has been our Assistant Musical Director. He has also recently worked directing The Stanborough Chorus and was Choral Master of The South West Philharmonia.
Peter is the founder and Musical Director of The South Hams SIngers. Peter’s light hearted nature and energy has seen his choir expand rapidly since forming after COVID to over 75 members.
This summer, you may have performed in, or were in the audience for the highly emotional and sold out performances of The Armed Man by The Devon Anglo German Mass Choir. This choir of over 160 singers (120 from The south west and 47 from Germany) was put together from scratch by Peter and helped celebrate 80 years of peace between our countries.
Peter says, ‘I’m so excited to have the opportunity this term to lead the Plymouth Philharmonic Choir. Carmina Burana and Dances with Time gives us the opportunity to have lots of fun, work hard with enthusiasm, and create a wonderful performance at St Andrews on November 29th.’
