When you say something is new, what do you mean? When shops promote a 'new' product, they usually mean it has just come out in the last month, and when the cinema announce a 'new' film, they usually mean it has just started playing at their venue. But how long is it until something is no longer new?
Sometimes I see my mum wearing an outfit that I haven't seen before, so I'll ask 'is that new?' It is often the case that she bought the outfit last year - or perhaps even longer ago than that - but this is the first time she has worn it. So is it new?
Maybe something is no longer new once everyone has heard of it. I.E. once it has become 'old news'. But this becomes rather confusing when 'new' is in the title. For example, The New London Choir was founded over thirty years ago in 1981. Surely it is no longer new?
Oh well, new or old, the choir is considered a star of star of European contemporary music, performing regularly at festivals such as the Archipel Festival in Geneva, and the BBC
Proms. With an excellent cast of vocalists and three outstanding conductors, you will enjoy listening to ever performance as if they really were new.
I suppose, to some extent, the choir will always be new, because even if it has been around for over thirty years, the members are always changing. At the moment, the choir is looking for new talent to join their ensemble. If you love to sing and have a strong voice, then the New London Choir want to hear you. Auditions last about fifteen minutes, and you can apply
here.
The gift of song is something we are not all endowed with - I should know - but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy listening to others, and he choir has two upcoming performances for you in the following months.
Macedonia Now!10th March, Wilton's Music Hall, 6pm-9pm, £12.50
The New London Chamber Choir are teaming up with the Kreutzer Quartet to present new music from Macedonia. They already have strong links with Macedonia, having performed there in 2010 at the Days of Macedonian Music Festival, with pieces such as
Allele by Michael Zev Gordon. This programmed the work of several prominent new (there's that word again) generation composers and includes four world premieres.
The evening will start with a pre-concert talk, followed by performances such as
Star Factory,
Meier Settings,
Three Songs for the Wounded Human Being,
Bric-a-Brac, and more.
Tallis Lamentations by Candlelight25th April, St Martin-in-the-Fields, 9.30pm-10pm, £14
As part of the Brandenburg Choral Festival, The New London Chamber Choir present will
Elizabethan Masters - Tallis and Harvey. This nightbird performance will include
Lamentations of Jeremiah,
Miserere nostri ,
O nata lux de lumine, and more.