Brighton Early Music Festival and Handel: Messiah for Doctors for Nepal

John Hancorn will conduct the Baroque Collective Singers and BREMF Players in a programme of Bach and Buxtehude for the Brighton Early Music Festival on 28 October 2023. Full details and tickets available here.

The Baroque Collective Singers and The Baroque Collective will perform Handel’s Messiah on 17 December 2023 in a special charity performance in aid of Doctors for Nepal in Lewes Town Hall directed by John Hancorn. Tickets available from 1 October 2023 here.

Sing & Discover Online and Live Workshops 2022

John Hancorn and Richard Wigmore continue their hugely successful series of choral workshops with one online and two live workshops in 2022. They explore Bach’s Magnificat and Handel’s Dixit Dominus in an online workshop on Saturday 22 January. Haydn’s Creation follows live in Lewes on Saturday 12 March, followed by Handel’s Four Coronation Anthems on Saturday 16 July, preceding the Baroque Collective Singers’ performance on Saturday 23 July as part of Lewes Baroquefest. Tickets now on sale. Full details here.

Lewes Baroquefest 2021

John Hancorn is co-artistic director for Lewes Baroquefest 2021, featuring vocal and instrumental recitals by top international musicians and culminating in a performance of Handels’ Dixit Dominus with his Baroque Collective Singers. Full details here.

Sing & Discover with Richard Wigmore now ONLINE

Saturday 20 June, 4-6pm: Handel’s Saul and Samson
Saturday 11 July, 4-6pm: Bach’s Magnificat and Mass in B Minor
Join John Hancorn and Richard Wigmore for these two-hour online workshops. John and Richard will look at the origins and cultural background of these magnificent works and explore the music in some detail, with recorded illustrations. Participants will then join in with several choruses.
Each session costs £10 (plus booking fee) and tickets are available from Trybooking – click on the links below:
Saturday 20 June, Saul and Samson: https://www.trybooking.com/uk/SNK
Saturday 11 July, Bach: https://www.trybooking.com/uk/SNQ
John Hancorn is music director of the BREMF Singers, Baroque Collective Singers, East Sussex Bach Choir and Eastbourne Choral Society. He leads workshops and masterclasses specialising in baroque repertoire including regular visits to Early Music Fora. He teaches at the University of Chichester and East Sussex Academy of Music and is a specialist examiner for Trinity Laban. https://www.johnhancorn.com
A former professional singer, Richard Wigmore works as a music writer, lecturer and broadcaster for BBC Radio 3. He writes for GramophoneBBC Music Magazine and other journals, appears frequently on BBC Radio 3’s CD Review, is in demand for pre-concert talks at the South Bank, Wigmore Hall, King’s Place etc, and is a regular lecturer on Martin Randall Cultural Tours. His publications include Schubert: The Complete Song Texts and Pocket Guide to Haydn. http://wigmoresworld.co.uk

Homelink Concert at Glyndebourne a huge success

John Hancorn was Artistic Director for Sussex charity Homelink’s Gala Concert at Glyndebourne on 17 November 2019. The concert was sold out and raised over £35,000 for the charity. John put together a brilliant showcase of local professional and amateur talent, including soprano Dame Felicity Lott, mezzo-soprano Rebecca Leggett, conductor Sian Edwards, recorder virtuoso Piers Adams, violinist Julia Bishop, the Lewes Prison Staff Choir, the Choir with No Name, and school and community groups.

Homelinks 20th anniversary Gala held at Glyndebourne Opera House, East Sussex, UK. Pictured is action from the event. #homes4homeless Homelink 20th Anniversary Gala
Photograph by Sam Stephenson, 07880 703135, www.samstephenson.co.uk.

 

Homelink Concert: artists confirmed

John Hancorn is artistic director for Homelink’s fundraising concert at Glyndebourne Opera House on Sunday 17 November 2019. Featured performers include Felicity Lott, soprano; Piers Adams, recorder; Sian Edwards, conductor; the Baroque Collective and Baroque Collective Singers; Lewes Sings Gospel; Lewes Youth Band; Chitone.

The event will be MC’d by Steve Coogan and Katie Derham.

Full details here.

 

BREMF Singers live-streamed across Europe

John Hancorn conducted the BREMF Singers and the BREMF Community Choir in a sold-out concert in Brighton celebrating European Early Music Day. Repertoire included extracts from Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas and the opening movement from Handel’s Dixit Dominus with the BREMF Players.

The concert was live-streamed across Europe.

Video here. Purcell at 1hr 5mins; Handel at 1hr 20mins

BREMF Peace in Europe review

John Hancorn directed the BREMF Singers and Players in a programme of music from Britain, France and the Holy Roman Empire as the finale of the Brighton Early Music Festival 2018.

‘The highest point of this beautifully balanced concert was Purcell’s deeply tragic ‘Dido’s Lament’. Charlston’s delivery was so tender and Hancorn responded by allowing plenty of time for the drama while avoiding self-indulgence.’