40th Anniversary Concert
Tallis: Spem in Alium for 40 parts

The Esterhazy Singers, one of the longest standing choirs in the City of London, will celebrate 40 years of performing inspirational choral music at a unique concert on Sunday 3rd July, 2011 at 3 pm.

“An uninterrupted record of 40 years of singing is a remarkable achievement for an amateur choir which has always strived for professional standards,” says Esther Jones, Conductor of The Esterhazy Singers.

“We invite music lovers and former choir members from the past 40 years to join us in what promises to be a joyous celebration of choral singing.  And what better way to mark 40 years of singing than to perform Thomas Tallis’ unique work for 40 voices Spem in Alium which, because of its complexity, is seldom heard in concert venues.”

The concert will also feature the World Premiere of a new work by award-winning British composer Alexander Campkin commissioned by The Esterhazy Singers to mark the 40th anniversary.

Other works include miniature masterpieces of English choral music featured on The Esterhazy Singers’ new CD Jewels in the Crown.

The Esterhazy Singers was formed in 1971 principally to perform the great works of Joseph Haydn – hence the choir was named after the two Esterhazy Princes who were Haydn’s principal patrons.  Today, Countess Marianne Esterhazy is the choir’s honorary patron and will be present for the 40th anniversary celebrations.

Over the past 40 years, the choir has performed all of Haydn’s choral works, but also a wide range of other repertoire, from Renaissance polyphony to ambitious contemporary music in major concert venues across London.

Dynamic young conductor Esther Jones is active as both a conductor and singer, and in addition to The Esterhazy Singers, she teaches at the Royal Academy of Music and is Associate Director of the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain.