Leading London choir to sing in Malta in May

One of London’s foremost choirs is to visit Malta in May to perform Johannes Brahms’ Requiem in two Valletta churches.

The Islington Choral Society will sing Brahms’ Requiem ( Ein deutsches Requiem) at St Paul’s Pro-Cathedral in Valletta on Saturday, 5 May and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Church at Balluta, St Julian’s on Sunday, 6 May.

They will be joined by soprano Jenny Stafford, baritone Alistair Ollerenshaw and pianists Laurence Williams and Cameron Richardson-Eames.

The Islington Choral Society performs regularly in London’s leading concert venues and city churches. This is the choir’s first visit to Malta, following previous successful European tours. Ninety members of the choir are coming to the island, and many of them plan to stay on and take a holiday in Malta after the concerts.

The choir’s musical director Michael Waldron, who will conduct the two performances, says: “The choir and I are excited to be visiting Malta to sing this magnificent work in such glorious surroundings.”

This Requiem of compassion and consolation for the bereaved is the composition that established Brahms, then in his mid-30s, as a composer of major stature. It is one of his grandest creations, and one of the most enduring choral works of all time. The choir will sing the version of the Requiem that Brahms arranged for chorus, soloists and two pianos.

The concerts will last just over an hour. Admission to both is free.