Britten Singers celebrate 200th concert

1:21pm Monday 12th May 2008

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MORE than 30 years ago Elgar award-winner Pamela White started a chamber choir, with the help of a few friends and an advertisement in the Hereford Times.

On Saturday, 33 years after their first concert, the Britten Singers will be giving their 200th concert, which like the previous 199, aims to raise funds for charity, on this occasion for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

The concert, in St John’s Methodist Church at 7.30pm on Saturday, May 17, will demonstrate the versatility of the group, still directed by founder Pamela White, opening with Bach and closing with The Beatles.

The Britten Singers’ 200 concerts have seen them perform in a wide variety of venues, from stately homes to beautiful gardens in the rain, the Town Hall in the snow and at the opening of The Courtyard.

They have also been on tour to Europe three times - to France, Norway and Prague. A long career has not been without incident, such as the time the choir arrived to sing at a flower festival, where the floral arrangements left no room for the singers and one of the more innovative exhibits consisted of a toilet with a running tap.

The unusual accompaniment ensured barely controlled giggles from the choir and laughter from the audience until the tap was turned off.

Saturday’s concert will also include Britten’s Dances from Gloriana, Elgar and Durufle part songs and wind music from the New Amadeus Wind Quintet.

Tickets available on the door, admission free, but donations welcome for The Cystic Fibrosis Research Trust.