Song of Wisdom (UK)

Tait Tuesdays at Home
Tuesday 25th May – 7pm BST

Live-streamed 7pm AWST & 9pm AEST & 11pm NZST | 8pm USA EDT | 8pm USA PDT

To read our streaming tips click here

THE LINK FOR THE CONCERT WILL BE HERE READY TO VIEW AT 7pm BST

“Miriam Allan sounded sweet but soft-voiced in Isifile’s opening number; later on she opened up dynamically, demonstrating both commanding forte and barely breathed but perfectly audible pianissimo.”

Bachtrack (December 2013)

CONCERT PROGRAMME

Miriam-Allan-programme_250521_FINAL

The “sublime singing” (Gramophone, 2017) of Soprano Miriam Allan has been enjoyed across the world, most recently during the funeral of HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

The Tait Trust is delighted to present a gala concert to celebrate our return to live music in the beautiful surroundings of St Paul’s Church Knightsbridge, on Tuesday the 25th May at 12 noon.  A first for the Tait this concert will be livestreamed to our Tait Tuesdays digital audience in the UK, Australia and New Zealand.

Miriam  is arguably one of the world’s leading sopranos, she is critically acclaimed for outstanding musicianship, tonal beauty and for her breathtaking technique. The “sublime singing” (Gramophone, 2017) of Soprano Miriam Allan has been enjoyed across the world, from her native Australia, through Japan and Singapore, as well as at festivals throughout Europe and North America.

Before the pandemic she sang Bach St Matthew Passion at Wigmore Hall with Dunedin Consort and John Butt, returned to Australia in the role of Josabeth (Athalia, Handel) for Pinchgut Opera, Sydney, toured books of Gesualdo Madrigals with Les Arts Florissants and made her debut with Portland Baroque performing Messiah.

A recent performance of this same work inspired the Sydney Morning Herald to write “the vocal magic of the night…she took the audience’s breath away.”

Other recent highlights have included Bach cantatas at the BBC Proms, a recital of Dowland lute songs within the enclaves of Windsor Castle and performances with the Queensland Orchestra and Erin Helyard.

Miriam is to be supported by Luke Bond, the Assistant Director of Music at St George’s Chapel, Windsor after appointments at Clifton College, The Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick and eight years as Assistant Director of Music at Truro Cathedral.

The ultimate goal of the concert is to raise a substantial sum which will be added to our Tait Emergency Relief  Fund to support young Australasian performing artists. This will be a very popular concert so book early as places are strictly limited.

Miriam Allan

The “sublime singing” (Gramophone, 2017) of Soprano Miriam Allan has been enjoyed across the world, most recently during the funeral of HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Recent performances have seen her debut with Collegium Vocale Gent and their director Philippe Herreweghe in concerts and recordings; a debut with the London Philharmonic Orchestra; concerts with La Nuova Musica at London’s Wigmore Hall; reunite with Dunedin Consort for Bach’s St Matthew Passion and sing Monteverdi Vespers at Cadogan Hall.

On the opera stage she is a regular principle with Pinchgut Opera, alongside appearances at the Innsbruck Festival, Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Opera Comique, Paris, and Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York as well as appearances in Mozart Opera Galas at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and Salle Pleyel, Paris.

Frequent collaborators include Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Masaaki Suzuki and William Christie, whilst she has sung with the BBC Philharmonic, Melbourne Symphony, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and the Academy of Ancient Music.

Her discography includes the Gramophone award winning series of Monteverdi Madrigals and Gesualdo Madrigals with Les Arts Florissant, with whom she can also be seen in the DVD release of Orfeo, as well as Mozart Requiem with Leipzig Kammerorchester, a recital of Handel & Purcell on ABC Classics and Pinchgut Opera’s series of live recordings.

James Orford, organ

James Orford is currently the Organist in Residence at Westminster Cathedral, where he plays an important role in the weekly cycle of services as well as contributing to the life of the choir. He previously held organ scholarships at St Paul’s Cathedral, Truro Cathedral, the Royal Hospital Chelsea, and King’s College, London. Last summer, he graduated from the Royal Academy of Music, where he studied with David Titterington and Bine Bryndorf. He completed his postgraduate degree with distinction, having previously completed his undergraduate degree with first-class honours. He was the recipient of the Duchess of Gloucester’s Award for Exemplary Studentship in 2019 and was awarded one of the Academy’s prestigious Bicentenary Scholarships.

James enjoys a busy performing schedule and has given recitals and concerts in many of the UK’s most notable venues, including St Paul’s, Westminster, and Liverpool Cathedrals, several Cambridge college chapels, and the Royal Festival Hall. He has an extensive repertoire, which includes works from all the major schools of organ repertoire and has completed many transcriptions for the organ, including Vivaldi L’estro Armonico Op. 3, Sibelius Karelia Suite Op. 11, and Howells King’s Herald. He has recently finished recording his transcription of L’estro Armonico, which is due for release later in 2021. He has also performed as part of the St Alban’s, Edinburgh Fringe, London Handel, and Brandenburg Festivals.

James works extensively as a choral accompanist and has collaborated with many professional and amateur choirs. Currently, he is the accompanist for the Thames Philharmonic Choir and the London Pro Arte Choir. He works regularly with the London Choral Sinfonia, London Chamber Choir, The Strand Consort, The Laudate Choir, and the Sloane Square Choral Society and has also worked with many prominent conductors, including David Hill, John Rutter, Patrick Russell, and Jeremy Summerly. Engagements as an accompanist have taken him to many venues in the UK, France, Germany, Sweden, Canada, the USA, and Nigeria. He has played for services and concerts in such venues as the Royal Festival Hall, Chartres Cathedral, France, Neresheim Abbey, Germany, Lund Cathedral, Sweden, and Christchurch Cathedral, Montreal. He has played for broadcasts on BBC Radio 3 and appears on two recordings with the Chapel Choir of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, and one with King’s College, London.

COVID notes for those attending the live concert

  • Our number one priority is the health and wellbeing of our visitors and staff. We’re following the official government guidance on working safely during coronavirus to make sure we’re COVID-secure.
  • Most importantly we ask that you stay at home if you have had any symptoms of illness such as a cough, sore throat, or fever (or have been in contact with someone with these symptoms) in the 14 days before attending this event. If you have any questions, you can call our box office on 020 3289 5347 or email James at james@taitmemorialrust.org.

To keep our guests and staff safe we have introduced the following measures:

  • Reduced patron numbers
  • Clear signage and one-way systems where necessary
  • Hand sanitiser stations
  • Thorough cleaning in an enhanced cleansing regime
  • Providing personal protective equipment to our staff

We’ll continue to review and manage any risks and to respond to any changes in the guidance, keeping our staff trained and up to date as we go.

We ask that you:

  • Wear a face-covering inside the venue, except when eating or drinking*.
  • Download the NHS Test and Trace app ready to scan yourself into the venue when you arrive.
  • Use our hand sanitiser stations when you enter and exit the venue.
  • Show your ticket to staff members rather than passing it to them. If possible, please show your ticket on a mobile device
  • Keep two metres away from other visitors and staff
  • Follow the one-way signs
  • Wash your hands for 20 seconds after you use our facilities and use hand sanitiser when necessary
  • Show patience whenever queuing is required
  • Keep your belongings to a minimum and with you at all times. We are not offering cloakroom facilities and we cannot allow large bags inside the auditorium or to be left unattended.

*For more information on face coverings, particularly exemptions, please see the Government guidance.

Test and Trace

  • If you display COVID-19 symptoms, you will be required to inform your point of purchase. Please download the NHS Test and Trace app and be ready to scan yourself into the Hall when you enter the building.
  • Thank you so much for your support of the Tait Memorial Trust. We look forward to welcoming you for your visit.

This concert is presented in support of the Tait Emergency Relief Fund for Australian & New Zealand Artists

To support the fund

Credit our UK bank account at any time:

CAF Bank Ltd
Tait Memorial Trust
Sort Code: 40 52 40
Account Number: 00028428

Directly into our account via CAF Donate. If eligible GiftAid is added to your donation

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If eligible, GiftAid will be added.

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