Purcell Consort of Voices - a short history
Grayston's association with Aldeburgh and Imogen Holst led directly to the formation of the Purcell Consort of Voices in 1963. Early Members of the Consort included Barbara Elsey (soprano) Susan Longfield(soprano), Ian Partridge (tenor) Geoffrey Shaw(bass) and Christopher Keyte (bass). Later, Eileen Poulter took over from Barbara (who went with her family to South Africa), and Felicity Palmer replaced Susan (who died from cancer). The Consort - by this time including Eileen Poulter, Elaine Barry, Martyn Hill, Geoffrey Shaw and Christopher Keyte - celebrated its 10th Anniversary at the Wigmore Hall.
The Consort had a long career throughout the 1960s and 1970s and their performances and recordings became a benchmark for the highest standards of its generation, and the large number of comissions of new music remain a worthy testimonial to its courageous and forward-looking policy. (see below) The Consort travelled extensively, with numerous engagements around the world (in Europe, Australia, and Canada, and in several countries behind the Iron Curtain.
Commissions
| Year | Who | What | 1st performed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Gordon Crosse | Epitaph | ||
| 1967 | Jonathan Harvey | Iam Dulcis Amica | December 1975 | |
| 1969 | Humphrey Searle | "I have a new garden"; op 51 | October 1969, British Music Week in Vienna | |
| 1971 | Christopher Brown | Lauds | 1971 in Tewkesbury Abbey as part of the Three Choirs Festival. | |
| 1973 | Imogen Holst | Hullo my Fancy | 10th anniversary concert of Consort at Wigmore Hall | |
| 1974 | Geoffrey Burgon | Noche Obscura | 1974 Cheltenham Festival | |
| 1974 | Elisabeth Lutyens | Roads Op.95 | Cheltenham, 6th July 1974 | |
| 1976 | Stephen Oliver | The Waiter's Revenge | 1976 Nottingham Festival |
as well as works from John Gardner, David Gow, Robin Holloway, John Joubert, Nicholas Maw, Phyllis Tate and Douglas Young.
Here are some pictures of the PCV (© Purcell Consort of Voices).
Click for full-sized image.
