This Friday, 3 May, marks the return of Live at Lunchtime, our series of free, informal performances taking place on various Fridays throughout May to September, thoughtfully programmed to include a diverse range of classical and contemporary music, with an emphasis on local and emerging artists. For our first concert of the season, we’re thrilled to be welcoming choral ensemble The Mancunium Consort to the Stalls Foyer, with Harry from the choir sharing more about their inspirations, aspirations and what audiences can expect to hear at the Hall this Friday below.
In its simplest terms, what is choral music?
Choral music, at its heart, is the coming together of voices as a collective – beyond this, the scope is incredibly vast. Choral music can vary widely in style, complexity, and function, making it all the more fun!
How did The Mancunium Consort come about?
After moving to Manchester in 2021, one of the first things I noticed was the comparative lack of professional opportunities for singing compared to where I’d grown up in Kent/London. So, at the end of a year-long Choral Scholarship, me and one of my best friends, Joe, decided to set up our own group. We spent a few months building the infrastructure and convincing friends from the Manchester freelance circuit to join and really, it’s just gone from there. We launched in February 2023, and since have performed all over the UK, collaborated with industry-leaders and had a lot of success in digital media. It’s been a very exciting time for us all!
Our free Live at Lunchtime concerts are a great opportunity for people to experience music they might not already be familiar with. What would you say to those who think that choral music isn’t for them?
I would say please give it a chance! One of the best things about choral music is how accessible it is, both to the seasoned concertgoer and to those completely new to [the style]. I’d encourage anyone to go and watch a performance of a top choir and really commit to the experience – follow along to the words, take in the breadth of sounds and let it take you on a journey!
Do any other forms of music inspire your live performances?
Absolutely! I have the upmost respect for any artist who performs live – it’s a very exciting but also very vulnerable experience. I think there are so many inspirational people in the world who can express themselves and their art authentically to an audience, and that sentiment is absolutely something that we strive for. In this sense, I think there is much more that unites than divides across the different facets of the performing industry.
What do you hope people take from both your performances and your work more broadly?
I hope that people see us as a bastion, not just for Northern music-making, but for the Young Professional community as a whole. I think that we can make a real difference to the careers of our team, whilst also sharing the joy and passion we have for Choral Music far and wide, especially in an area where you might say it’s under-represented. More than anything though, I want our audience to feel entertained, and if we can play a part in igniting – or re-igniting – that passion in others, then that will be really fulfilling!
Do you have any personal connections to or memories of The Bridgewater Hall?
My favourite memory of The Bridgewater Hall is seeing the Hallé perform Mahler’s Symphony No.3 in January 2022 under Sir Mark Elder. It was a piece I was already familiar with, but hearing it live for the first time was an experience that has stayed with me ever since!
What can people expect from your performance on Friday 3 May?
We’ll be taking the listener on a journey through the ages, singing a selection of our favourite pieces from our previous concerts. As well as this, we’ve got a couple exciting new additions to our repertoire, including the world premiere of our first commission, Richard Barnard’s I Will Not Leave You Comfortless. The audience can expect an immersive experience that will resonate with them long after the final note has faded. We can’t wait to perform, and hopefully we’ll see lots of you there!