Portsmouth Choral Union News

Saturday 29 October 2022 - All night Vigil by Rachmaninov sung at Portsmouth Cathedral and conducted by Peter Gambie Following the performance Peter wrote to choir members - here are some of his heartfelt remarks: There were so many marvellous moments which the two...

In conjunction with The Hampshire County Youth Orchestra, Portsmouth Choral Union will be holding their annual Christmas concert on Saturday 10th December beginning at the early time of 5.30pm.  As well as a selection of well-known carols and seasonal music –...

David Gostick our amazing Musical Director celebrated 20 year with PCU last night. He has been accompanist for 10 year and then conductor for 10 years. Thank you David for all the wonderful music you have created over the last 20 years! Celebrations were held at The...

We are very excited to be singing Rachmaninov’s sumptuous Vespers with The Portsmouth Choral Union. With a glorious tapestry of wide-ranging vocal textures including soaring sopranos and subterranean basses, and rich harmonies supporting wonderful melodies based on...

For the first concert of their new season, Portsmouth Choral will be joining forces with the Emsworth based ‘Renaissance Choir’ to perform Rachmaninov’s sumptuous Vespers.  With a glorious tapestry of wide ranging vocal textures including soaring sopranos and...

For this year’s ‘Come and Sing’ event, Portsmouth Choral Union will be presenting a concert style sing through of Gilbert and Sullivan’s ‘HMS Pinafore’ – featuring, from D’Oyly Carte Opera – Philip Blake-Jones, as special guest soloist.  This will take place at St....

The Seven Last Words of Christ at St Mary’s Church on 2 April 2022 – A Review Performances of Haydn’s Seven Last Words with orchestral accompaniment are rare, so that given by Portsmouth Choral Union and accompanied by Southern Pro Musica on Saturday was especially...

The Seven Last Words Of Our Saviour On The Cross - Preview For their first concert of 2022, Portsmouth Choral Union will be performing Haydn’s ‘The Seven Last Words Of Our Saviour On The Cross’.  This is the shortest of Haydn’s four oratorios.  Composed for...

Review: Portsmouth Choral Union, Christmas Oratorio, St. Mary’s, Fratton, 11.12.21 David Green, 12.12.21 Bach is big. One might contrast him with Pergolesi, composer of the luminous Stabat Mater by which he is almost only known with the unfortunate corollary that he...

Following their first ‘post-Covid’, concert – in which Portsmouth Choral Union gave a successful and well attended performance of Faure’s Requiem, the choir is now looking forward to their annual Christmas Concert.  This year, they will give a rare Portsmouth...

Portsmouth Choral Union, Fauré Requiem, St. Mary's Fratton, Nov 6 – a review Portsmouth Choral Union and David Gostick were so pleased to be back performing live that they began by applauding the audience. They deservedly got that back with interest at the end. They...

FAURE REQUIEM Rehearsals With regular, live rehearsals now well underway, Portsmouth Choral Union are looking forward to the first post lockdown concert.  This will be a performance of Faure’s ever popular Requiem, alongside the same composer’s beautiful Cantique de...

During ‘lockdown’ Portsmouth Choral Union continued to rehearse and keep in touch with one another in a variety of different ways.  Zoom rehearsals were enlivened by, amongst other events, quiz nights and ‘on-line’ wine tasting.  There was a brief return to...

Thank you to Mary at Northney Farm for your kindness and generosity. During June PCU was able to rehearse in a barn at Northney Farm Following this, instead of accepting the hire fees, Mary very kindly asked that we present the money to Cancer Research on her behalf/...

On the eve of their much anticipated first live practice for many months, Portsmouth Choral Union fell foul of the sudden change to government  guidelines concerning choirs, singing and rehearsal numbers.  With enthusiasm undiminished, it was decided that the weekly...

Covid Island Discs  with guest Jonathan Willcocks For much of the past year Portsmouth Choral Union has been holding weekly Zoom rehearsals, with a few live practices just before Christmas.  For their final session before the Easter Break a lively and informative...

PCU presents Covid Island Disks Join us on Zoom - Tuesday 30 March 2021 Guest: Jonathan Wilcocks    Interviewed by: David Gostick For Zoom details please email: PCURegistrar@gmail.com In these troubled times, there is one place Covid-19 hasn't reached - the island...

Are you looking for a friendly group to share your love of singing? Ever thought about joining PCU? If the answer is yes, then read on! If you have some experience of singing in a group and reading music, then you are welcome - even during lockdown. At the moment we...