about this event
Please note that this concert will be held at St Nicolas Church, Cranleigh.
This special recital features two resident Cranleigh musicians - the sparkling voiced, British Canadian operatic soprano Rosanna Harris and international virtuoso organist Philip Scriven.
Philip is widely regarded as one of the finest organists of his generation, and is highly respected as a choral, orchestral and operatic conductor. Rosanna has performed roles for many opera companies including Grange Park Opera, Opera Holland Park and English Touring Opera as well as oratorio with RPO and the Philharmonia Chorus..
Their programme contrasts beautiful sacred arias by Mozart, Schubert, Handel and Fauré with organ music from France and the USA.
Programme and biographies for website:
Rosanna Harris (soprano), Philip Scriven (organ)
G.F. Handel ‘Rejoice greatly’ from Messiah
Gabriel Fauré ‘Pie Jesu’ from Requiem
Organ Music from France:
Alexandre Guilmant Grand Choeur in D major – alla Handel
Jeanne Demessieux Rorate Coeli
Alexandre Guilmant Verset in F major
Felix Mendelssohn ‘Hear ye Israel’ from Elijah
Organ Music from America:
Florence Price Adoration
David Johnson Trumpet Tune
Joel Martinson Aria on a Chaconne
Franz Schubert ‘Ave Maria’
W.A. Mozart ‘Alleluia’ from Exsultate Jubilate
Philip Scriven
Philip Scriven is widely regarded as one of the finest organists of his generation, and is highly respected as a choral, orchestral and operatic conductor. He is currently Organist-in-Residence at Cranleigh School, co-founder and Principal Conductor of the Darwin Ensemble Chamber Orchestra, and Assistant Conductor and Accompanist of the world-renowned Bach Choir, combining these posts with a freelance recital career which takes him all over the world. He regularly works with the top London orchestras, and has also conducted the Philharmonia Orchestra in concert.
He has made numerous recordings including works such as Holst’s The Planets which he has transcribed for the organ. His CD Piping Hot was praised in Gramophone magazine for ‘the outstanding quality of his playing ... good-humoured and sparkling ... a joy to listen to’. From 2002-10 Philip was Organist and Master of the Choristers at Lichfield Cathedral and Musical Director of the Lichfield Cathedral Chorus, having held previous positions at Westminster Abbey, St. George’s Chapel Windsor Castle, St. John’s College Cambridge and Winchester Cathedral.
Rosanna Harris
British-Canadian soprano Rosanna Harris graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music with a Master’s Degree and Postgraduate Diploma in Voice, both with distinction. She currently studies with Gary Coward.
Oratorio/Concert/Musical Theatre engagements include: J S Bach St. John Passion, Walton Belshazzar’s Feast (Philharmonia Chorus/RPO), Handel Messiah, Brahms Requiem, Haydn The Creation, Fauré Requiem, Mendelssohn Elijah, Will Todd Mass in Blue, Viennese New Year’s Eve Gala (Raymond Gubbay), Thursford Christmas Spectacular.
Operatic engagements include: Page/Chorus Falstaff, Verdi (GPO), Offenbach La
Princesse de Trébizonde (Opera Rara/LPO), Sofiya/Yelena/KGB Officer Laika the
Spacedog, Hepplewhite & Yealland (English Touring Opera), Shopgirl c. Der Silbersee, Kurt Weill (ETO), Voice of Heaven Don Carlo (Grange Park Opera), Sandman c. Hansel & Gretel (GPO), Mab/Adelaide The Enchanted Pig (HGO), Zerlina Don Giovanni (Opera Loki), Bianca and Gabriela c. La Rondine (Opera Holland Park), Tytania A Midsummer Night’s Dream (RNCM), Valencienne The Merry Widow (RNCM), Giannetta L’elisir d’amore (RNCM), Phyllis Iolanthe and Rose-Maybud Ruddigore (NG&SOC).