Rasigueres Church - Languedoc
The idea of 'choral holidays' was sparked off during the French Village Holiday in June 2006. The long tradition on this holiday was for the members of the group to form a choir and to sing a choral Mass at the village church in Rasigueres on the Sunday morning. John was asked to take this on and the resultant performance of Haydn's Little Organ Mass prepared on three rehearsals inspired the idea of a holiday with choral singing as the main focus.

Thomaskirche - Leipzig - Easter 2007

John Catlow is now collaborating with John Whibley 'Holidays with Music' on a new venture of choral holidays, which offer enthusiastic choral singers a chance to prepare and perform a musical programme in exciting European venues. The first of these in April 2007 offered a chance to sing as guest choir at the Easter Sunday Evening Service at the Thomaskirche in Leipzig, where J.S. Bach worked as Cantor. The choir sang part 2 of Messiah and the 7th Chandos Anthem by Handel. The following day the choir gave a concert in Wettin.

Prague - Tuesday 23 to Sunday 28 October 2007

Dresden - Wednesday 16 to Monday 21 April 2008

Krakow - 28 October to 2nd November 2008

Prague - Tuesday 27 October to Sunday 1st November 2009

Haydn: Missa Brevis in F (Hob XX11,1 - Baerenreiter)
Handel: Chandos Anthem no7 (My song shall be alway - Novello)
Handel: Coronation Anthem, Zadoc the Priest
(New Church Anthem book; Lionel Dakers, O.U.P.)

There will be five rehearsals in Prague with John Catlow and accompanist David Ponsford.
A professional soprano will sing the solo parts. Please bring your own vocal scores, and let us know at time of booking what voice you are.

Performances will be in St Giles Church and Korunni Chapel

Rehearsal in Thomaskirche - 2007
Rehearsal in Thomaskirche - 2007

Leipzig - 2007 - assembled outside Thomaskirche


Rehearsal for concert at Wettin
John Catlow - 'cellist and conductor
Tel: +44 (0) 1284 747 129
e: johncatlowcello@btinternet.com