Past events
The Yorke Trust has run and summer opera courses since 1994 and many of the conductors have had their first choral courses opportunity to train combined orchestral and choral forces in Norfolk. The list grows every year and some of those who worked as senior students have since made their way onto the international concert platform or are enjoying careers in opera houses throughout the world.
Handel features regularly in the repertoire, as does the great choral music of Bach, both composers offering opportunities for young solo voices to gain experience without fear of damaging the voice.
Without the generous help of Jennifer Hamilton who has directed all the Trust’s operas without a fee, and also without the advice and assistance of Alexander Crowe who has directed the Easter choral courses on a regular basis since 1998, the standards achieved over the years would not have reached the levels for which they are now universally respected.
July 2009
Rameau Castor et Pollux
Conductor: Robert Houssart
Director: Jennifer Hamilton
April 2009
Handel Israel in Egypt
Handel Concerto Grosso Opus 6 No.2 in F
Conductor: Robert Houssart
Course Director: Alexander Crowe
July 2008
Handel Theodora
Conductor: Robert Houssart
Director: Jennifer Hamilton
April 2008
Bach Magnificat
Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 5
Bach Cantata 67 Halt im Gedächtnis Jesus Christ
Conductor: Robert Houssart
Course Director: Alexander Crowe
July 2007
Purcell Dido & Aeneas
John Frederick Lampe Pyramus & Thisbe
Conductor: Nicholas Achten
Director: Jennifer Hamilton
April 2007
Thomas Tomkins What David Heard
John Adams Shaker Loops
Handel Dixit Dominus
Conductor: Robert Houssart
Course Director: Alexander Crowe
April 2006
Bach Cantatas
No.9 Es ist das Heil uns kommen her
No.23 Du wahrer Gott und Davids Sohn
No.93 Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten
Bach Concerto for oboe and violin in C minor BWV1060a
Soloists: Mathieu Loux oboe, Rebecca Eves violin
Conductor: Darren Hargan
Course Director: Alexander Crowe
July 2005
World Première – Norfolk and London - Yorke Trust commission
Jonathan Keates & Gerard McBurney The Airman’s Tale
Conductor: Darren Hargan
Director: Jennifer Hamilton
Designer: Graham Merriam
April 2005
Handel Messiah
Conductor: Darren Hargan
Course Director: Alexander Crowe
July 2004
Houghton Hall performance in the presence of HRH The Prince of Wales
Handel Samson
Director: Julian Podger
Designer: Graham Merriam
April 2004
Vivaldi Gloria
Vivaldi Magnificat
Vivaldi Four Seasons
Soloists: Ayako Matsunaga (Spring & Winter), Jodie Killingsworth (Summer), Antonia Beattie (Winter)
Scarlatti Dixit Dominus
Conductor: Darren Hargan
Course Director: Alexander Crowe
July 2003
Monteverdi The Coronation of Poppea
Conductor: Eva Hallberg
Director Designer: Jennifer Hamilton
April 2003
Handel Alexander’s Feast
Conductor: Philip Simms
Course Director: Alexander Crowe
July 2002
World Première – Yorke Trust commission
The Sailor’s Tale
Kevin Crossley-Holland & Rupert Bawden
Musical Director: Rupert Bawden
Director Designer: Jennifer Hamilton
Recorded NMC, Musical Director Gary Cheung
April 2002
Bach
Cantata No.5 Wo soll ich fliehen hin?
Cantata No.105 Herr, gehe nicht ins Gericht
Violin Concerto in A minor BWV 1041
Soloist: Ingrid Button
Cantata No.75 Die Elenden sollen essen
Conductor David Watkin
Course Director Alexander Crowe
July 2001
Handel Julius Caesar
Conductor: Gary Cooper
Director Designer: Jennifer Hamilton
April 2001
Great English Choral Music
An 80th birthday tribute for Sir Malcolm Arnold, CBE – performed in the presence of the composer
Arnold, Britten, Byrd, Handel, Howells, Purcell, Tallis and Walton
Conductor: Ralph Allwood
Course Director: Alexander Crowe
July 2000
Rameau Hippolytus and Aricia
Conductor: Eva Hallberg
Director Designer: Jennifer Hamilton
April 2000
Bach Matthäus-Passion
Conductor: Garry Walker
July 1999 Norfolk & October 1999 Manchester
Claudio Monteverdi The Return of Ulysses
Conductor: Eva Hallberg
Director Designer: Jennifer Hamilton
Easter 1999
Bach St John Passion
Conductor: Malcolm layfield
April 1998
Bach Cantatas
No.50 Nun ist das Heil und der Kraft
No.51 Jauchzet Gott
No.80 Ein feste Burg
Conductor: Garry Walker
Course Director: Alexander Crowe
July 1998
Handel Semele
Conductor: Nicholas Logie
Director Designer: Jennifer Hamilton
July 1997
Purcell King Arthur
Conductor: Nicholas Logie
Director Designer: Jennifer Hamilton
Easter 1997
Haydn Creation
Conductor: Gregory Rose
Easter 1996
Mozart Requiem
Haydn Nelson Mass
Purcell Funeral Music
Conductor: Matthew Owens
Easter 1995
Bach Mass in B minor
Conductor: Gregory Rose
March 1994
Handel Messiah
Conductor: Simon Carrington
