Belshazzar's Feast for choir and organ
Voce Chamber Choir is 20 years old in 2023! To celebrate, we've commissioned an extraordinary project: a new organ transcription of William Walton’s epic work Belshazzar’s Feast.
From Voce’s Artistic Director, Suzi Digby OBE: "Perhaps more than any other choral experience, performing Belshazzar’s Feast is life-changing. It’s joyous, profound and uplifting. It's also prohibitively expensive to put on! Thus, until now, this opportunity has been out of reach for almost all choral singers. But in 2018, Voce attempted a world first: Belshazzar with a choir of just thirty, and a church organ. And it worked! I am ecstatic that - with your generosity - we can make this experience a possibility for thousands of chamber choirs. What a wonderful gift for future generations of singers!"
David Briggs, courtesy of Michael Hudson.
We’ve received permission from the Walton Estate and the publishers (Oxford University Press), and we have commissioned the incomparably talented organist, David Briggs, to transcribe this enormous orchestral work, creating a piece that can be performed in any church with a half-decent organ. This huge endeavour will make it possible for small choirs like Voce, all over the world, to feel what it’s like to sing this exhilarating choral work.
The world premiere of our new arrangement takes place on 9 March 2024 at Our Lady of Victories church in London. We are thrilled to be joined by legendary bass-baritone Sir Willard White as soloist, and by David Briggs on organ.
We are aiming to raise £30,000, to cover the significant cost of this transcription; the world première of the new arrangement in London; and a recording, to be made in 2024 and released in early 2025.
We've already made a significant dent in our target, mostly as a result of our very special 20th Anniversary Gala Concert & Fundraiser, which took place on Saturday 14th October 2023 at the National Musicians' Church, Holy Sepulchre London. Generous contributions from the choir and our wonderful alumni, as well as ticket sales and our incredible fundraising auction, combined together to make a profit of over £14,000! We're so grateful to everyone involved for their benevolence and kindness.
We do still have a way to go though - please, if you feel able to contribute, click below to donate via our JustGiving crowdfunding page.