German visitors at Dunblane concert

Oct 30 2009 by Caroline Boxer, Strathearn Herald

DUNBLANE-based choir, the Rosenethe Singers will be hosting several important visitors at their next performance, in Dunblane Cathedral at 8pm on Sunday, November 8.

The choir are presenting Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem, on the evening of Remembrance Sunday.

Eighteen singers from two German choirs, the Berlin Konzert Chor and Berlin Embassy Singers, are making an exchange visit to sing in Dunblane, after Rosenethe members travelled to Berlin to perform the same work with them in April.

The German Consul, Consul General Wolfgang Moessinger, will be travelling from Edinburgh to attend, and Provost Fergus Wood will be hosting a reception for the German visitors after the concert.

The performance will also include members of Morrison’s Academy Chamber Choir and the Scottish Bach Players.

Rosenethe Singers have been working hard to raise the funds to put on such an ambitious performance. Recent efforts have included a Cathedral coffee morning and baking stall, and car boot sale.

Bridge of Allan based Gordon Fraser Charitable Trust have made a generous donation of £2,000, and the choir have also been selling instrument sponsorship to support the large number of orchestral players involved.

“Britten’s War Requiem is a spectacular and very moving piece of music, and this will be a rare opportunity to hear the piece performed in Scotland,” says Matthew Beetschen, Rosenethe’s conductor.

“Having our German guests with us on Remembrance Sunday will make it a very special occasion.”

The concert is approaching a sell-out, with a few tickets left priced at £15/£12. They are available via the Rosenethe website (www.rosenethesingers.co.uk).