English Seminar Choir joined by the Lupo Consort for 20th Jubilee concert
Basel, Tuesday 1st December, 2009. The English Seminar Choir (ESC), the four-part choir affiliated to the University of Basel, celebrates its 20th Jubilee anniversary on 8th December with an exciting concert, “Happy Birthday Henry!”, a homage to Henry Purcell and other birthday fellows. The choir will perform works from Purcell and other composers also sharing special birthday or related anniversaries in 2009, among them Handel, Haydn, Albrechtsberger, Mendelssohn and Berger. The concert will be on 8th December 2009, at the Peterskirche, Petersgasse 54, Basel, at 2015 hrs.
The choir will be joined by a special guest, the Lupo Consort: Christophe Coin, Guido Balestracci, Martin Zeller, for this special, multiple celebration. The evening’s program will be under the creative leadership of ESC Musical Director Michel Uhlmann, with organist Aline Koenig.
Michel Uhlmann studied organ and musicology in his native Strasbourg and continued his studies at the Basel Musik Akademie, where he has now been active as choir director and voice teacher for more than 25 years. He also leads the Research and Program division of the Ensemble Baroque of Limoges. The musical attributes he favours include language, rhetoric and poetry.
Aline Koenig studied piano at the Muisk-Akademie in Basel and took further studies at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, majoring in organ with Jean-Claude Zehnder. She was awarded her diploma with distinction in 2005. She works as an accompanist and organ soloist both in Switzerland and internationally. For several years she has been the organist in Pratteln and founded and developed the concert culture at the church there.
Christophe Coin studied cello first at the Paris Conservatory, and completed his studies in early music in Vienna , and viola da gamba at the Schola Cantorum in Basel. His recordings are widely recognized and critically acclaimed. Besides activities as a chamber musician, Christophe Coin is regularly invited as a soloist and conductor in France and internationally. He also teaches at both the Paris Conservatory and the Schola Cantorum in Basel.
Commenting on the concert Michel Uhlmann said: “Our repertoire for the concert, the first for me to take fully from concept to completion with the choir, is a delightful selection and we are excited and honored to be joined by the Lupo Consort. It will provide a wonderful counterpoint to the voices, and combine to deliver a joyous celebration”.
Patricia Turner, President of the Choir added: “Purcell has a special place in our hearts as a significant influence on English classical music. The lyricism and sophistication of his work was way before its time and has been in the meantime recognized widely, through influence and emulation, across the entire European canon. We are proud of Purcell! And glad to be singing his works at this special Jubilee event.”
