Newbury Choral Society is exploring three different musical offerings inspired in some way by William Shakespeare. Most will be very familiar with the Bernstein and Sondheim retelling of Romeo and Juliet in West Side Story, but perhaps not with the choral suite of songs from the musical arranged by Mac Huff. Well-loved tunes such as Tonight, America, Maria and I Feel Pretty are among the medley arrangements in this 2012 version.
Lovers of jazz will immediately recognise the name George Shearing, composer of Songs and Sonnets. The work was commissioned by the Mostly Madrigal Singers of St Charles, Illinois and first performed in 1999 with Shearing himself at the piano and John Rutter conducting. Unlike the West Side Story songs, the words of these are taken directly from their Shakespearean sources. It was a lover and his lass and Who is Sylvia are among the seven songs selected for the Shearing treatment.
Three Shakespeare Songs by Ralph Vaughan Williams completes the array of songs with Full Fathom Five, The Cloud-capped Towers and Over Hill, Over Dale. Intended for a capella performance, the suite was specially composed a 1951 festival run by the British Federation of Music Festivals.
Doors open 6.45pm, concert starts 7.30pm and includes an interval.
Tickets £18, 12-18 years & full-time students 18-22 years £10, under 12s £5, available online at www.newburychoral.org.uk and on the door until sold out.