Bacchanale

Previous Performances

Bacchanale are surely the hot ticket at the moment. Formed by Miranda Lisk in 2004, they have been taking our breaths away with brilliant concerts by brilliant performers, yet all done with informality and fun. This dynamic and virtuosic group of professional musicians is committed to inspiring new generations with an energetic and exciting approach to classical music. Their Hestercombe summer picnic was jaunty - occasionally uproarious but delivered with deceptive élan by a troupe of internationally renowned players.

24th April 2009

SPRING CONCERT ~ St James’ Church, Taunton

The performance included Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater, sung by Elizabeth Drury and James Armitage. Elizabeth is a regular with Bacchanale and needs no further introduction. James is a New Zealand-born counter tenor who graduated from the Royal College of Music in 2005. He has performed many choral pieces and sings regularly at St Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey as well as touring in the UK, Europe and as well as maintaining links by regularly performing in New Zealand

The programme included other vocal works and instrumental pieces, featuring Miranda Lisk, Katina Laoutaris-Smith and Brendan Ashe.

Friday 25th and Saturday 26th July

CARMEN a concert performance ~ Topsham and Nether Stowey

"If you like to see youth, beauty, professionalism, musicality and sparkling stage presence, and you didn’t turn out to see the performance of Carmen at Matthews Hall on 25th July, then I’m sorry to report that you missed a rare treat." - Read the rest of Lily Neal's review of the Topsham performance here.

21st April 2007

Classical Concert and World Première of The Earth ~ Belmont Chapel, Exeter

Bacchanale staged a compelling concert on Saturday 21st April 2007 featuring the première of a brand new commission of an Oratorio called “The Earth” by Brendan Ashe. Choral and orchestral, with stunning soloists, this was an unmissable event in the classical music calendar. Melisma, the nationally-acclaimed SSA choir from St Margaret’s School, Exeter, thrilled us in this concert, fresh from its performance as one of the top 6 Youth Choirs in the country, in the Finals of the BBC Radio 3 Choir of the Year Competition in the awesome surroundings of the Cardiff Millennium Centre.

Friday 15th December 2006

Christmas 2006 ~ Halse Village Hall

A Bacchanalian celebration of Christmas! The concert included an eccentric mix of Christmas songs ~ from the traditional through jazzy - with enchanting solos and captivating ensembles.

Saturday 18th November 2006

Fantaisies, Serenades and Rhapsodies ~ St John's Church, Taunton

Bacchanale staged an enchanting concert on Saturday 21st November 2006 featuring some classics of the orchestral repertoire. The concert included such luscious works as the Serenades by Tchaikovsky and Elgar, Rachmaninov’s Vocalise and the bubbling excitement of Vivaldi’s Double Violin Concerto in D.

Friday 21st July 2006 at 7:30pm

An Opera Gala Evening ~ Hestercomber Gardens

Bacchanale returned to Hestercombe to present a dazzling evening of Open Air opera with highlights from Verdi’s La Traviata as the centrepiece. Added to this was a stunning selection of arias and ensembles from best-loved operas, including Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro, Bizet’s Carmen and Puccini’s La Bohème, gathered together under the baton of the irrepressible Miranda Lisk and featuring soloists from the Glyndebourne and Raymond Gubbay Opera companies.

Intrigue, betrayal, passionate love, exquisite music and comic moments combined to create a spectacular night of intoxicating opera.

Saturday 24th June 2006 at 7:30pm

Blackdown Hills Opera Gala ~ Culmstock Village

Bacchanale gave the prestigious inaugural concert of the Blackdown Hills Opera Gala, held in the enchanting surroundings of the Devon village of Culmstock. An evening of exquisite music, this midsummer extravaganza was an opportunity to enjoy the passion of opera sung by international stars from the Glyndebourne, Verona and Zurich Opera companies.

Famous ensembles and solos from sublime operas such as Cosi fan tutte; Magic Flute; Carmen and La Traviata charmed and bewitched a rapturous capacity audience.

May 2006

Carmen ~ with Somerset Opera

A captivating week of sultry passion in Taunton's brewhouse Theatre as Bacchanale provided a steller orchestra for Somerset Opera's widely-acclained production of Bizet's seductive opera, Carmen, under the baton of Brendan Ashe and led my Miranda Lisk

Saturday 29th April 2006 at 7.30pm

A Chamber Music Concert ~ St James’s Church, Halse

Miranda Lisk ~ Violin

Emily Owen ~ Soprano

Audrey Gullick ~ 'Cello

Brendan Ashe ~ Piano

Music from Schubert’s Piano Trios; Handel’s Let the Bright Seraphim; Purcell’s Dido’s Lament and Virtuoso Violin!

An enchanting even of smouldering, passionate Schubert interspersed with rhapsodic solos from Audrey Gullick, Emily Owen and Miranda Lisk.

1st October 2005

Classical Concert and World Première of The Light

Bacchanale staged a compelling concert on Saturday 1st October 2005 featuring a choir of children from Trull Primary School in the premiere of a brand new commission of an Oratorio called “The Light” by Brendan Ashe.

We were also thrilled that Melisma, the nationally-acclaimed SSA choir from St Margaret’s School, Exeter, was able to participate amid its preparations for a Proms appearance at the Royal Albert Hall in November 2005.

Brendan Ashe is an established local composer. Amongst many other pieces, he has recently premiered an Oratorio “The Waters” featuring the Chapel Choirs of Wellington School and St Margaret’s School in May 2004 to a sell-out audience at the Tacchi-Morris Centre.

The concert also featured enthralling, energetic and moving performances of Bach’s Double Violin Concerto (soloists Miranda Lisk and Katina Laoutaris-Smith) and Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto (soloist Nick White).

2nd July 2005

A Glittering Evening of Opera ~ Hestercombe Gardens

So, on to the fourth concert of the series and we moved to a glittering evening of opera in the world-famous surroundings of Hestercombe Gardens. Elizabeth Drury and Stephen Brown joined Bacchanale once more, together with soprano Charlotte Wimshurst, mezzo Katie Bray and bass Simon Trist for a sparkling concert of operatic arias and ensembles. The evening included best-loved music from Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro, Cosi fan Tutte and Don Giovanni, Bizet’s Carmen, Verdi’s La Traviata and Puccini’s La Bohème.

16th April 2005

A Gilbert and Sullivan Gala ~ St James’s Church, Taunton

A complete change of tack came with the next concert from this diverse group. A Gilbert and Sullivan Gala Evening in April featured the brilliant tenor Stephen Brown from D’Oyly Carte and Glyndebourne; the outstanding young soprano Elizabeth Drury and the comic skills of Somerset’s Les Skidmore (bass). Joined by an enchanting chorus of girls named Cantata (which also provided the alto soloist in the form of the extraordinary Katie Bray) the quality of singing transcended all the usual Gilbert and Sullivan arguments. It was a fabulously entertaining evening, characterised by good humour and excellent performances.

4th March 2005

Celestial Chamber Music ~ St James’s Church, Taunton

Considered by many to be two of the greatest masterworks ever written, Schubert’s Trout Quintet and Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet were performed with joyous aplomb. The dominating mastery of Brendan Ashe at the piano contrasting with the strings, underpinned by the brilliant double bass of Imogen Fernando, made for a moving, inspiring and, at times, amusing performance. The Musical Director, Miranda Lisk, led with her usual ebullience, while tackling the extraordinarily technically demanding violin part with confidence and humour. The inner workings of the Quintet: Chris Bull (viola) and Jo Lewis (‘cello) contributed musicianship and responsiveness to the ensemble, with each instrument taking starring roles during the work, especially in the famous Variations movement. The second half of the programme was an enchanting rendition of Mozart’s sublime Clarinet Quintet. The solo clarinettist, Nick White, was on stunning form, with technical mastery combined with the most extraordinary musicianship. The slow movement was utterly captivating.

4th December 2004

Debut concert ~ Halse

A Celebration of Christmas! Singers, strings, mulled wine and hot toddies were on the programme as this dazzling new group burst onto the scene with a full-blooded festive celebration.

Reviews of Previous Performances