Concerts & Workshops
Welcome to our new season of the best in vocal music, past and present - a series of unique 'live' experiences in which music, architecture, atmosphere and presentation meet in an enthralling blend. As ever, early booking is a good idea, especially for our immensely popular Carols by Candlelight. Don't forget that you can also 'do it yourself' in our friendly and fun workshops (details below).
Current and coming events
Cappella Nova events 2007/8Previous events by year.
Cappella Nova events 2005/6Cappella Nova events 2004/5
Cappella Nova events 2003/4
2006-7
For regular updates about workshops, concerts, touring, recording and news of group discounts, join our free mailing list by submitting the form on this website.
Psalms for Jamie Saxt
Not only the first performances in modern times, but actual world premieres of extraordinary, exquisite Psalms composed for James VI by Jean Servin, setting Latin versions of the texts by George Buchanan, the great Scottish poet whose 500th anniversary falls in 2006. Presented by the composer to the king and never before performed, these delightful and original works are being heard for the first time some 450 years on! You can hear them alongside other early Protestant Psalm settings by Peebles, Tallis and Bourgeois, placing these lovely works in historical context.
Pre-performance talk: Professor James Porter, who has prepared Servin’s works for imminent publication, will introduce Servin and his music in a brief introductory talk, free to ticket holders, at 7.15pm in each venue.
Fri 27 Oct, 2006, at 7.30pm in Greyfriars Kirk, Edinburgh
Sat 28 Oct, 2006 at 7.30pm in Church of the Holy Rude, Stirling
TICKETS:£12.50 & £10 (concessions £9.50 & £7)
EDINBURGH - Queen's Hall Box Office - 0131 668 2019
STIRLING - MacRobert Centre Box Office - 01786 466666
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A Star In The East
A Ceremony of Carols (Benjamin Britten)
Hymns from the Rig Veda (Gustav Holst)
Eight female voices from Cappella Nova join with virtuoso harpist Catriona MacKay for two British choral classics, marking the approach to Christmas. East meets west in spiritual texts from both the Christian and Hindu traditions, and a selection of chant, old and new and from east and west, will be sung by a specially formed group of women’s voices from the Scottish Plainsong Choir, directed by Alan Tavener.
Fri 1 Dec, 2006, at 7.30pm in Canongate Kirk, Edinburgh
Sat 2 Dec, 2006, at 7.30pm in Long Gallery, Scone Palace
Sun 3 Dec,2006, at 7.30pm in St Andrews in the Square, Glasgow
TICKETS: £12.50 & £10 (concession £9.50 & £7)
EDINBURGH - Queen's Hall Box Office - 0131 668 2019
SCONE - Perth Theatre Box Office - 01738 621031
GLASGOW - Glasgow Royal Concert Hall - 0141 353 8000
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Carols by Candlelight
This is our 20th season of Christmas concerts and we’ll mark the occasion with a programme of your favourites, including many special requests, from a millennium of seasonal music. You’ve told us what you like, so sit back and listen to the finest carols, sacred and secular Christmas songs, nostalgic and witty numbers and more, including the world premiere of a new carol. You can join in with audience carols, indulge in some seasonal refreshments and and marvel at the sparkling wit and virtuosity of our special guests: St Petersburg Baroque Brass Quintet.
Carols in Brechin – fans in the north can enjoy this programme, along with guest appearances by young local musicians.
Fri 15 Dec, 2006 at 7.30pm in the Barony Hall, Glasgow
in association with the University of Strathclyde
Sat 16 Dec, 2006 at 7.30pm in the Queen's Hall, Edinburgh
Sun 17 Dec, 2006 at 7.30pm in the Gardner Memorial Church, Brechin
in association with the Brechin Arts Festival
TICKETS: £16, £13, £10 & £8 (concessions £12, £10, £8 & £6.50)
GLASGOW - Glasgow Royal Concert Hall - 0141 353 8000
EDINBURGH - Queen's Hall Box Office - 0131 668 2019
TICKETS: £12 (concessions £10) including refreshments
BRECHIN - Brechin Arts Festival - 01356 650279
e-mail: ruth.lesliemelville@virgin.net
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Felix Femina
CANTY (the medieval female quartet from Cappella Nova)
William Taylor medieval harps & symphonie
The launch concerts for Canty’s latest CD, featuring the world premiere recording of delightful 13th century Scottish polyphony. This exquisite music from the St Andrews Music Book takes you back to the moment when Queen Margaret of Scotland was made a saint, and to a time when pilgrims journeyed to St Andrews to visit the Apostle’s tomb. Take a magical, mystical, musical journey with us as we perform this wonderful programme – the latest in a long line of major discoveries from Scotland’s rich cultural heritage.
Thu 22 Feb, 2007, at 7.30pm Greyfriars Kirk, Edinburgh
Fri 23 Feb, 2007, at 7.30pm St Mary’s RC Cathedral, Aberdeen
Sat 24 Feb, 2007, at 7.30pm St Salvator’s Chapel, St Andrews
in association with St Andrews University Music Centre
Sun 25 Feb, 2007, at 7.30pm St Andrews in the Square, Glasgow
TICKETS: £12.50 & £10(concession: £9.50 & £7)
EDINBURGH - Queen’s Hall Box Office - 0131 668 2019
ABERDEEN - Aberdeen Box Office - 01224 641122
ST ANDREWS - Byre Theatre Box Office - 01334 475000
GLASGOW - Glasgow Royal Concert Hall - 0141 353 8000
NB: Performance ends c10.15pm
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Tenebrae Responsories - James MacMillan
The world premiere of a major new work commissioned by Cappella Nova from James MacMillan. Scored for vocal octet, this marks a further exploration into the drama of Holy Week by one of the leading composers of our time. His choice of texts from the Tenebrae liturgies goes to the very heart of Christ’s Passion, yet speaks to all of every faith and none, of the power of love and redemption through personal sacrifice. Renaissance polyphony and plainchant for Holy Week complete this very special musical experience, with the Scottish Plainsong Choir, directed by Alan Tavener.
Pre-performance talk (8.40pm on 6 April only): James MacMillan will introduce his work and answer questions. Free to ticket holders on a ‘first-come-first-served’ basis.
Wed 4 April, 2007, at 9pm St Andrew’s in the Square, Glasgow
Maundy Thursday, 5 April, 2007, at 9pm Kinnoull St Mary’s, Perth
Good Friday, 6 April, 2007, at 9pm Greyfriars Kirk, Edinburgh
NB: performance runs without break and ends c10.15pm
TICKETS: £10 (concession: £7)
GLASGOW - Glasgow Royal Concert Hall - 0141 353 8000
PERTH - Perth Theatre Box Office - 01738 621031
EDINBURGH - Queen’s Hall Box Office - 0131 668 2019
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Best Of British
Mass for Five Voices (William Byrd)
Gaude flore virginali (Robert Carver)
Our 25th Anniversary Season ends with a concert of the loveliest renaissance music from Scotland and England. The main works are William Byrd’s rich and gracious Mass for Five Voices and the extraordinary and colourful extended motet by Scotland’s own Robert Carver – Gaude flore virginali. The programme will be completed by a selection of other favourite examples of the finest British polyphony and plainsong.
End our season with us on a high note, celebrating the very art of music, and looking ahead to the 2006/07 season in which Cappella Nova celebrates its 25th anniversary.
Thu 10 May, 2007 at 7.30pm Greyfriars Kirk, Edinburgh
Fri 11 May, 2007 at 7.30pm St Andrew’s Episcopal Cathedral, Aberdeen
Sat 12 May, 2007 at 7.30pm St Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, Dundee
Sun 13 May, 2007 at 7.30pm St Andrews in the Square, Glasgow
Tickets: £12.50 & £10 (concession: £9.50 & £7)
EDINBURGH - Queen’s Hall Box Office - 0131 668 2019
ABERDEEN - Aberdeen Box Office - 01224 641122
DUNDEE - Central Booking Office - 01382 434940/1
GLASGOW - Glasgow Royal Concert Hall - 0141 353 8000
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Outreach Programme
Our popular workshops are fun, friendly and open to all. We want to encourage as many people as possible, of all levels of experience, to sing, enjoy their voice and increase their appreciation for vocal music of all types.
Community Choir for Women
Offers the chance to participate in the A Star in the East performances in early December. An intriguing selection of medieval and modern music will be chosen to complement the other works in the programme. We’re recruiting now, so get in touch!
Three sessions in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Perth in November 2006 leading to inclusion in three performances.
Get High on Your Voice!
Following the great success of last year’s Enjoy Your Voice! workshops… At the low point of the year, why not join us to release those endorphins and enjoy the natural ‘high’ of singing? There’ll be exercises, warm-ups and singing games and a focus on choral techniques and exploring the health-enhancing benefits of singing. You can request specific topics to include in advance so that you can have individual time with one of the leaders.
EDINBURGH - Sunday 14 January, 2007, from 2 to 5pm
PERTH - Saturday 27 January, 2007, from 2 to 5pm
Workshops cost £7 (£5 concessions, £3 students). These are only obtainable by post direct from:
Cappella Nova
172 Hyndland Road,
Glasgow
G12 9HZ.
Scottish Plainsong Choir
Our very special community choir will re-form again this season for a number of rehearsal/workshop sessions (early 2007, under the direction of Alan Tavener), to prepare for participation in our Tenebrae Responsories performances in April. This mixed choir includes singers of all types and levels of experience from all over Scotland, and is open to all. For 2007, our programme will include separate items for groups of different levels of experience, and we will enjoy some very special input from composer James MacMillan.
Four sessions in Glasgow and Edinburgh in February/March 2007 leading to inclusion in three performances.
Cappella Nova is Vocal Ensemble in Residence at the University of Strathclyde and our Glasgow workshops are held in association with the University of Strathclyde Music Society.return to top of page