Plymouth Philharmonic Choir Concert

The Plymouth Philharmonic Choir are performing at Plymouth Methodist Central Hall on Saturday 28 November, with the music starting at 7:30pm. The evening centres on the premiere of The Lodestone of Love, written and conducted by Paul Foster, alongside Fauré's Requiem in D minor Op. 48.

The Lodestone of Love has a bit of a story behind it. The choir commissioned it for the Mayflower 400 celebrations, and it was written by Paul Foster, a composer born here in Plymouth. Work on the piece was put on hold when the pandemic hit, so this is its first full outing. It draws on the writings of seventeenth-century Puritans to celebrate the transformative power of love, and with Foster conducting it himself, you'll be hearing it exactly as he intended.

That's paired with Fauré's Requiem, one of the most famous choral works in the canon. It's a particular version, too: Fauré left out the Dies Irae in favour of the contemplative In Paradisum, so it's a more peaceful, reflective take on the form than many other requiems. On the solo parts, the choir will be joined by soprano Catherine Hamilton and baritone/bass Darren Jeffery.

For a bit of context on the choir itself, they've been around since 1970 and are one of the West Country's most established amateur choirs, with more than 120 members. They regularly work with world-class soloists and musicians, perform across the country and abroad, and have tenor Neil Jenkins as their patron. Rehearsals for this concert began on 3 September, on Thursday evenings at Plymouth College Old Gym, and on the night the choir takes the stage in black with an orange rose. The concert is at Plymouth Methodist Central Hall, Eastlake Street, Yealmpton, Plymouth, PL1 1BA, on Saturday 28 November at 7:30pm.