Belated centenary celebrations for Sussex Chorus and a visit to West Sussex for Ruthie Collins
Burgess Hill-based Sussex Chorus is offering a concert to celebrate not only its centenary but also a return to singing.
Its centenary was in 2021 but celebrations were delayed due to Covid-19. The concert, a performance of Bach’s St John Passion, will take place at 7.30pm on Saturday, March 26 at St Andrew’s Church, Burgess Hill, RH15 0LG. Spokesman Anne Jordan said: “The St John Passion is an extraordinary musical accomplishment and one of the most dramatic oratorios ever written.
“It tells the story of Jesus’ last days as a man, betrayed and broken through the cruellest of persecutions. Bach intersperses the work with a collection of arias, chorales and choruses that interweaves the subtext of love, sacrifice and redemption at its centre.
“Sussex Chorus will be joined by a cast of world-class soloists. Pauls Putnins (bass baritone) will sing the part of Jesus and Jon Openshaw (baritone) the part of Pilate. The Evangelist, one of the most demanding oratorical roles written, will be sung by the choir’s music director, tenor Stephen Anthony Brown who will also be directing not only the choir but the orchestra and soloists too.
“Orchestral accompaniment will be provided by the Rosenau Sinfonia and other solo parts will be sung by
Ted Black (tenor), Rosanna Harris (soprano) and Helena Cooke (mezzo soprano).
The harpsichord continuo will be played by the choir’s accompanist Jeremy Weaver, music director at St Mary’s Horsham.”
Sussex Chorus chairman John Welch said: “The St John Passion is a stunning work. It’s very exciting to be singing it as part of our centenary celebrations and this is an opportunity to hear an Albert Hall quality concert in a beautiful local setting. “I encourage all music lovers to join us for what is sure to be a glorious evening of music.” Tickets are £15 full price or £6 for under-16s or students and can be bought from Eventbrite.co.uk; Carousel Music (01444 417654); Burgess Hill Help Point (01444 247726) or by contacting Sussex Chorus’s ticket manager Richard Moon (01444 412579). Visit www.sussexchorus.org for more information about the choir. New singers are always welcome.
Ruthie Collins Ruthie Collins (Sidewalk Records) is joining Sam Outlaw on an upcoming twoweek UK tour.
She will be making a stop in Sussex on Friday, March 25, with a show at the Mid Sussex Music Hall.
Spokeswoman Sara Pearce said: “Ruthie has received extensive airplay for her latest single Hypocrite, taken from her critically acclaimed album Cold Comfort +, released as an expanded edition in January, with over 2.5million combined streams and video views for songs from the album to date. “Ruthie, who was raised on a grape farm in Fredonia, New York, fell in love with music from an early age. She learned about the classical world from her mother, a pianist and organist, and the Gospel world from church, where she sang in the choir, but it was the radio that first introduced her to the magic of pop and country, and she spent her formative teenage years enamoured with the stories and melodies that lit up the dial.
“After college, Ruthie spent five years writing songs and waiting tables in Nashville before signing with Curb Records.
“Named to CMT’s prestigious Next Women Of Country series, Collins began turning heads almost immediately with a series of critically acclaimed releases and showstopping festival performances.”