Barney Life No. 35

Friday evening, June10th
I have a choice: the television; an invitation to the Bowes Museum for a preview, as a Friend of the Museum, of a new prestigious exhibition about Vivienne Westwood Shoes 1973-2011; or an invitation to Barnard Castle School Choral Society's Summer Concert.
The TV is ordinary; I am not into shoes (except the pair on my feet).  So I choose the third option.

The School is a fine building and has a good reputation, with a student body including many from the Far East (the Prep School is next door).  The School, besides producing clever people, is known for its prowess on the rugby field, and for producing fine choirs and musicians.  The student choir is best known for its Christmas  Carol Concert in the Bowes Museum each December.  But the School also hosts an adult choir made up of men and women from the locality, with the conductor and organist being teachers at the School.
Friday's Concert was held in the College Chapel.

The choir was formed about fifteen years ago, and has a strong reputation in the county and beyond. One of the highlights of this year's performances was Bach's St Matthew's Passion in Durham Cathedral in March.

On Friday evening, there was music by Franz Joseph Haydn, John Rutter, John Ireland, Edward Elgar, and finished with music by Charles Hubert Parry.  Rebecca Lowe, soprano, sang Let the Bright Seraphim by George Frederick Handel, and Matthew Atherton played an organ solo by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.  The conductor was Mark Mawhinney.