“Nervously opening the vocal score of The Magic Trumpeter felt like I was a teenager again, turning over the paper to start an exam. The same feeling of fear and excitement and a strong sense that it would be a life changing experience,” says founder and conductor of Chorus of Dissent, Ruth Whitehead.
“And it is. The sense of privilege and responsibility we have in bringing Clara’s concept written especially for us to life is scary and exhilarating, and full of joy. We’re all working so hard to be worthy of her creative genius, and can’t wait for Harvey Brough’s exquisite orchestration to enhance the whole experience.”
Stokey performer and composer Clara Sanabras has written a setting of this Walt Whitman poem especially for CoD, and the world premiere will be on on Saturday 9th July at St Matthias Church in Wordsworth Road, N16. Harvey Brough’s orchestration exquisitely enhances the piece, and Chorus of Dissent is loving every single note.
Those of you who were present at a performance of our previous commission from Clara, A Hum About Mine Ears, will never forget the experience. We ended up recording it with the Britten Sinfonia, and launching the album live onstage at the Barbican. Who knows where we’ll end up with The Mystic Trumpeter!
We’ll also be performing a thrilling arrangement of Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells for choir and symphony orchestra with the Elastic Band. We’d love to share this fantastic concert with you, your family and friends.