Collegium Musicum Of London Chamber Choir

During Franz Schubert’s short lifetime, informal, unadvertised gatherings – known as Schubertiades – were frequently held in the apartments of wealthy patrons, showcasing the composer’s more intimate works. These evenings quickly became popular in early-19th-century Vienna, were typically sponsored by friends or aficionados of Schubert’s music, and also featured poetry readings, dancing, and other sociable pastimes. Many Schubertiades included the composer’s participation, accompanying notable soloists, and eventually gatherings also took place outside Austria’s capital, as Schubert’s fame spread.

CML’s first visit to St George’s, Bloomsbury, presents an intriguing, relaxed evening of a cappella and accompanied chamber works, including Brahms’s Three Songs, opus 42, Stanford’s The Bluebird, Vaughan Williams’s Three Shakespeare Songs and Schubert’s sublime setting of Psalm 23.

Rapidly gaining a reputation as one of London’s leading chamber choirs, Collegium Musicum of London will round off its 2017 season with this varied and accessible programme, under Greg Morris’s inspired musical direction.

 Joining CML, fresh from his triumphant collaboration with the choir in last April’s St John Passion, at  Temple Church, will be the exciting young tenor and former Britten-Pears Young Artist, James Way.

Born in Sussex, tenor James was winner of second prize Prize in the 62nd Kathleen Ferrier Awards at the Wigmore Hall. He was awarded the 2016 Simon Sandbach Award from Garsington Opera, and the ‘most promising singer’ award at the Dean and Chadlington Singing Competition.