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North London Chorus
Our next concert will be POULENC – GLORIA & DURUFLE – REQUIEM on 23 November 2024 at St. James Church, Muswell Hill!
An announcement about our soprano soloist Nadine Benjamin![]()
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Nadine has let us know that it is with deep regret that she is withdrawing from upcoming concerts due to illness. This is not a decision that she has taken lightly as she was very much looking forward to sharing music with her friends and supporters. She thanks everyone for their understanding.![]()
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NLC is pleased to announce that Philippa Boyle (www.philippaboyle.com) has kindly agreed to step in as soprano for our concert on 23 November, having last sung with us in the Verdi Requiem in June of this year.
Did you know..?![]()
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The French composer Francis Poulenc was no stranger to Muswell Hill, where the legendary twentieth century music critic Felix Aprahamian lived on Methuen Park Road. Aprahamian was known for his connections with French and British composers such as Duruflé, Bax, Messiaen, Widor and Walton, and for his knowledge of organ repertoire. Poulenc and many other visitors would give private premieres of their music to Aprahamian.![]()
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In his long life Aprahamian was a concert director for the London Philharmonic Orchestra, an air raid warden, music critic for The Sunday Times, secretary of the Organ Music society, and a regular voice on BBC Radio 3.![]()
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The house where Aprahamian lived contained at one point one of the most extensive private music libraries in the country, with Aprahamian almost causing the house to collapse from the weight of the shelves he had installed in the attic. The building also still houses a French-built Gonzalez chamber organ. On his death, he bequeathed the house to The Arabesque Trust for Blind Pipe Organists.![]()
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The house was also the residence of George Herbert for a time, who will perform Poulenc's magnificent Gloria and Duruflé's Requiem with us at St James Church, Muswell Hill, on Saturday 23 November, 7.30pm. Book your tickets now at northlondonchorus.org/tickets
We want to make sure everyone saves the date of our next concert – 23 November – to join us for a performance of two French masterpieces of the 20th century; Duruflé’s Requiem and Poulenc’s Gloria with Soprano Nadine Benjamin and Baritone James Cleverton. Read Maestro Murray's message for more details. mailchi.mp/b1e8f209ecdb/north-london-chorus-winter-2024-concert-members