Land of Singing Waters: Tyne Theatre & Opera House

The Whatelys The idea for a concert of music and literature from the North Country was made by Newcastle Choral Society Ambassador Michael Chaplin, writer for theatre, TV and radio. He acted as production consultant in compiling the poems from Northumbria and having known the Whately family for many years, invited the fine actor Kevin Whately and his actress wife Madelaine Newton to read them. In Michaels words: A strong theme emerged, touching on what makes this region so distinctive above all, beyond the landscape and history, the toughness, tenderness and wit of its people. The concert includes work by the Ashington dialect-poet Fred Reed; Newcastle poet Catherine Graham; Michaels father Sid Chaplin; Basil Bunting; and Ripyard Cuddling! NCS Musical Director Mark Anyan invited Kitty Whately, glorious mezzo soprano, to perform at the concert with her parents. Kitty was a BBC New Generation Artist between 2013 and 2015. During this time, together with her parents, she made her debut album This Other Eden, featuring English poetry and song. The concert includes works featured on that album as well as the interwoven Northumbrian poems and songs. Kitty will be accompanied by pianist Joseph Middleton. Described by The Times as the cream of the new generation, Joseph specialises in the art of song accompaniment and chamber music and has been widely acclaimed within this field. Will Lang and Guests Will Lang is a modern British folk musician, composer and producer. Will has collaborated with several choirs to produce folk-influenced choral music. In 2012 he was made a musical associate of The National Youth Choir of Great Britain and since then he has been featured, and his pieces performed, on BBC Radio 3s The Choir. A wonderful collision of musical traditions masterminded by Lang (Greg Beardsell, Radio 3s The Choir). Wills arrangements of Sea Coal and Farewell to the Monty are some of the choral works to be performed at the concert. They feature in Wills choral and orchestral work Canny at Neet, Bonny at Morn, which focuses on North East life and was premiered in Durham Cathedral with great reviews. Will is joined by his longtime collaborator Niopha Keegan of The Unthanks; Amy Thatcher of the Kathryn Tickell Band; and Newcastle University Folk Degree graduates Andy Watt and Michelle Broderick. The Dream of the River: Will Todd NCS commissioned this choral suite from Will Todd for their Diamond Jubilee concert in 2014, in Hall One Sage Gateshead. It was partly inspired by Michael Chaplins book Tyne View and is centred on the River Tyne, capturing the spirit of the North East, its notable people and the places they shaped. Will Todd has adapted the original orchestral accompaniment for the bodhrán, piano, fiddles, guitar and accordion; played by Will Lang and Guests.