VERDI REQUIEM

Hallam Choral Society joined Escafeld Chorale and Sheffield Symphony Orchestra for Verdi’s “blockbuster” Requiem.

Described by Classic FM as “Verdi’s choral masterpiece and one of the most enduring Requiems ever – find out what went into this landmark of the romantic era.

Requiems come in all shapes and sizes. Some, like Fauré’s, are serene, hardly so much as raising their grief-stricken voices. Others, like Mozart’s, are melancholic and rousing by turn, snapshots of the composer’s music at the time, more than any great comment on the theme of mortality and death. Verdi’s, however, fits into a category that’s almost a one-off, with Berlioz’s Requiem possibly the only other major companion work. It’s in the ‘blockbuster’ category.

Verdi’s Requiem, composed in 1874, is a huge, great wind-machine of a thing, often labelled an opera in all but name. Verdi had written a ‘Libera me’ as a part of what was meant to be a joint Requiem by him and several other composers, in honour of Rossini. When all that fell through, his Libera me was sent back to him. In his sixties and prompted by the death of his friend, the writer Manzoni, he set to work on surrounding it with its other constituent parts. It was a huge hit. In performance, it can be impressive simply to see the eight trumpets, often lined up round the stage, but when they play along-side a chorus marked ffff (that’s four times as loud as ‘loud’) well, it’s simply staggering.”

Coleridge: Requiem
We’re thrilled to bring you the Sheffield premiere of Matthew Coleridge’s Requiem as the highlight of our autumn programme of contemporary choral music. Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, this wonderful work in seven movements packs countless soaring melodies, lush harmonies and thrilling climaxes into just half an hour of music. It has established itself at the core of the UK choral concert repertoire, (with 14 UK performances in November that we know of!) and is regularly voted into the upper reaches of Classic FM’s Hall of Fame. Matthew has said “I’m so pleased that Hallam Choral Society has chosen to perform my Requiem. Having conducted it myself a few times in Yorkshire, I’m always thrilled to hear the fabulous quality of singing in God’s Own County. I’m sorry I can’t be there to hear it sung in one of Britain’s great musical cities, but wish you all the very best for a superb performance of a stunning selection of contemporary choral works”

West Riding Ensemble
We’ll be accompanied by a string quintet from the West Riding Ensemble and our own Martin Thiselton on the wonderful St Mark’s organ. West Riding Ensemble will also add a contrast to the otherwise contemporary programme for this concert with some Haydn chamber music.

Shaw: Blood Red
A second premiere of the evening will be a piece commissioned for Hallam Choral by Joseph Shaw entitled Blood Red. Joseph is a young British composer with exciting, widely performed, works in the UK and beyond. Joseph said: “I very much look forward to returning to my home city for this concert of contemporary choral works. Being warmly welcomed by singers to a rehearsal in July made the process of composing Blood Red very collaborative and even more enjoyable. This work had a long inception during a challenging period of creative reflection. As a result, it is both comforting and exciting to know the premiere will be given by the Hallam Choral Society.”

And our programme is beautifully complemented with:

Quartel: Density of Light
“sweeping, charming melodies supported by a fresh harmonic language”. Sarah Quartel contacted us to say “I’m absolutely thrilled that the Hallam Choral Society will be performing my piece Density of Light in their upcoming concert. This work is a very special one to me and it is such a delight to know that it will be shared by these singers.”

Hagenberg: A Farewell 
Elaine wishes us a wonderful concert and describes the meaning behind this work: “English poet Frances Ann Kemble (1809-1893) penned the poem An Entreaty as a description of leaving behind a beloved time and place. Children are often enchanted by nature, and the beauty and descriptive imagery in this poem returns us to our youth. The overall arc of the composition is based on lyrical lines and lush harmonies, while gentle dissonances and suspensions create a sense of yearning—for as often as we look on memories with happiness, we cannot deny the bittersweet truth of parting with simpler times and the loved ones of our past. This poem granted me a glimpse into my childhood of woodlands and wildflowers, and is an invitation for others to also reflect on “echoes sweet,” and a time to which they have said farewell.”

We joined with the Stone Choral Society for a nautical themed programme, performing it in consecutive weekends in Stone and then Sheffield.

An evocative choral concert celebrating the mystery and majesty of the ocean. Featuring Stanford’s stirring Songs of the Fleet, the ethereal beauty of Ola Gjeilo’s Across the Vast Eternal Sky, Eric Whitacre’s Seal Lullaby, and the radiant serenity of Wood’s Hail, Gladdening Light, this program invites you on a musical voyage through seascapes both powerful and poetic.

For the grand finale of Classic Sheffield 2025, we were the chorus for a new take on Carmen by Opera on Location and Sheffield Philharmonic Orchestra.

REVIEW: A THRILLING MODERN CARMEN BRINGS PASSION TO SHEFFIELD @ CANON MEDICAL ARENA
HERD VERDICT:🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘
By Nat Up North & Charlotte Sometimes
Photographs by Andy Brown and Emma Ledwith
A cacophony of brass and violins fill the arena. The sounds of basketballs, sneakers, and three-pointers have been replaced by the swelling notes of The Toreador’s Song from Carmen. The roar of a stage wrestling crowd still echoes as the audience sits on the edge of their seats. The sound of a gun… BANG!

On the afternoon of Sunday 23rd March, Sheff Herd joined a packed audience at an electrifying production of Carmen, a masterful collaboration between Sheffield Philharmonic Orchestra, Opera on Location, Sheffield Music Hub, and Hallam Choral Society. The Canon Medical Arena, home of the Sheffield Sharks basketball team, was transformed into the scene of a crime—one of passion, obsession, and ultimately, tragedy. And what a performance this was!

Director Rosie Kat’s bold artistic choices made this production of Carmen a triumph, bringing the drama and intensity of Bizet’s classic to a modern audience in a way that felt accessible (it was performed in English and had a billboard to caption the songs to aid understanding) but still deeply dramatic.

Told in four acts, Carmen follows the ill-fated journey of Don José, who abandons his devoted love, Michaëla, for the intoxicating allure of Carmen, only to spiral into jealousy and violence when she leaves him for another. A striking narrative addition of this production was the character of a detective, who framed the opera as a police interrogation, adding a fresh layer of suspense and intrigue. This clever narrative device drew the audience into the investigation of Michaëla’s and Carmen’s entwined fates and gave new weight to each character’s motivations.

This adaptation also introduced a poignant twist at the end— Michaëla’s (played by the superb Andrea Tweedale) final act of mercy in ending Don José’s suffering, a chilling and thought-provoking addition that underscored the opera’s timeless themes of love and obsession.

The Sheffield Philharmonic Orchestra, masterfully conducted by George Morton, and Hallam Choral delivered a stunning performance, with every note heightening the drama onstage. Likewise, the students of Sheffield Music Hub were a real delight, waving to the audience during the wrestling match at the end, and providing some much-needed comic relief, alongside some of the wittier lines of the show.

All the soloists were breathtaking but it was the two leads that really elevated this production. Don José, played by Sheffield University alumni Gareth Lloyd (whose thrilling performance at the Sheffield Sharks game raised a standing ovation from the crowd), was an absolute powerhouse; his operatic tenor – particularly in his final showdown with his ‘lover’ demonstrated his vocal finesse and raw emotional depth. Likewise, Mae Heydorn’s Carmen was magnetic, charismatic, and at times quite frighteningly bewitching, her velvety voice weaved seduction and danger into every phrase. The collaboration between the orchestra, choir, and soloists was seamless, creating a powerful musical experience that was both thrilling and deeply moving.

Adding to the afternoon’s magic was the presence of The Right Worshipful Lord Mayor of Sheffield Cllr Jayne Dunn, whose love for the arts was clear to see. During the interval, she took the time to speak with the orchestra and as many performers as possible—typical of this fantastic and approachable mayor. She even tried her hand at conducting, much to the delight of the musicians!

After the performance, the Lord Mayor took some time to speak with us and reflect on the power of opera, which she is a “big fan of”, especially this play:

“Carmen was brilliant! I loved how they adapted it and made it so accessible because that is how the arts should be. Some of the language is really brutal when you see it written out on the billboard like that isn’t it? And the issues in this opera are still so relevant today.”

The Lord Mayor added: “The staging was incredible – almost not like a stage; so stripped back so we could really focus on the intensity and the music. It was a truly excellent collaboration”

This Carmen production was a bold, breathtaking celebration of classical music, opera, and Sheffield’s vibrant cultural scene. And the best part? The Sheffield Philharmonic Orchestra is only getting started with its 80th anniversary celebrations—don’t miss their special concert on Saturday, 14th June, or catch them at Tramlines Festival on 28th July. If Carmen was anything to go by, you won’t want to miss what’s next.

Farewell

April 2024 St Marks Broomhill
Fauré – Requiem
Benjamin Britten – Rejoice in the Lamb and Jubilate Deo
Elaine Hagenberg – A Farewell
Harriet Johnson, soprano
Ruth Milsom, alto
Peter King, tenor
Peter Taylor, baritone

An evening of festive music

December 2023 St Marks Broomhill
Including:
Vaughan Williams – Fantasia on Christmas Carols
Rutter – When Icicles Hang
with traditional and modern carols and Christmas songs for all to join in

‘Gloria’

July 2023 St Marks Broomhill
with Harlequin Brass
British choral classics including Rutter’s Gloria, Parry’s I was Glad, Handel’s Zadok the priest and much more

with Hallam Sinfonia, Sheffield Philharmonic Orchestra and Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus

Joint winners of the Stella Jockel Young Composer Competition, Sheffield Nocturne
Gustav Mahler, Symphony No. 2 (The Resurrection)
George Morton, conductor
Ella Taylor, soprano
Anna Harvey, mezzo-soprano

Rare Treats

December 2022 St Mark’s Church
Edward Elgar, The Music Makers
Ralph Vaughan Williams, Five Mystical Songs
Peter Warlock, Capriol Suite

A Fourth of July Concert of 20th century American Choral Music

July 2022 Hallam Community Centre
including compositions by Copland, Lauridsen, Billy Joel, Whitacre

A celebration of British choral music

April 2022 St. Mark’s church

Accompanied by a Manchester string ensemble
Finzi: The full final sacrifice
Handel: Zadok the priest
Stanford: Beati quorum via
MacMillan: O radiant dawn
Parry: Blest pair of sirens and I was glad
and an instrumental work from the string ensemble

This concert was cancelled due to the covid pandemic

Christmas Carol concert

December 2021 St. Mark’s church

Haydn’s Nelson Mass

November 2021, St. Mark’s Church

Nelson Mass
(Missa in Angustiis)
by Joseph Haydn
with Hallam Sinfonia

This concert was cancelled due to the covid pandemic

A Musical Serenade

March 2020 St. Mark’s church
Hubert Parry — O Blest Pair of Sirens
Ralph Vaughan Williams — Serenade to Music
Edward Elgar — The Music Makers
Gustav Holst — Brook Green Suite
Accompanied by Hallam Sinfonia

Autumn Concert

November 2019 St. Mark’s Church
Mozart, Vespers

Mendelssohn, O Rest in the Lord

Vivaldi, Gloria

Handel: Concerto Grosso Op. 6

Carol Concert

December 2019 St Andrew’s Church

Autumn Concert

December 8th 2018 St. Mark’s Church
Mozart: Requiem
Bernstein: Chichester Psalms

accompanied by Hallam Sinfonia

with Hallam Sinfonia

Beethoven, Symphony No. 9
Jenny Jackson, viola concerto ‘Limb’ (premiere)

Summer concert

June 2019 St. Mark’s Church
Haydn, The Creation
Aaron Copeland, In the Beginning

Autumn Concert

December 2017 St. Mark’s Church
Handel’s Messiah
with Hallam Sinfonia

Spring Concert

March 2018 St. Mark’s Church
Brahms
Geistliches Lied
Zigeunerlieder
Haydn
Insanae et Vanae Curae
Missa in Tempore Belli
with Hallam Sinfonia

Summer Concert

July 2018 Hallam Community Centre
An evening of folk songs

Rutter ‘A sprig of thyme’ and British folk songs

Autumn Concert

November 2016 All Saints Church Ecclesall
Featuring Kantos
Durufle’s Requiem and
Music from Parry, Elgar and Stanford

Christmas Concert

December 2016 St Andrew’s Church
Traditional Carols and Readings

Spring Concert

April 2017 St. Mark’s Church, Broomhill
Featuring Rutter’s Feel the Spirit & Copland’s Old American Songs

Summer Concert

July 2017 Hallam Community Hall

Chichester Psalms

October 2016 Sheffield Cathedral
As part of the Classical Sheffield Music Festival, Hallam Choral Society will be performing a joint concert with the Tideswell Singers, accompanied by Hallam Symphonia

The festival is to celebrate two years of Classical Sheffield, from Friday night on the 23rd October 2015 through until Sunday 25th October 2015.

Christmas Concert

December 2016 St. Andrew’s Church
Featuring Sheffield Junior Singers

Spring Concert

April 2016 St. Mark’s Church
Faure’s Requiem
Cantique de Jean Racine
Elgar’s Scenes from the Bavarian Highlands

Summer Concert

July 2016, Hallam Community Hall

‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’
Celebrating the words of Shakespeare through music
Including George Shearing’s ‘Songs and Sonnets’