Recital – Thomas Hobbs

The recital begins with a solo cantata: Meine Seele ruhmt und preist (My soul extols and praises). Intriguingly this was originally accredited to J S Bach but more recent research suggests Melchior Hoffmann was the composer. Do you have an opinion?

Thomas continues with a programme which includes:

Mozart: Abendempfindung; Das Traumbild; An die Freude; An Chloe.

Gerald Finzi: A Young Man’s Exhortation

and the evening concludes with some of Benjamin Britten’s best-loved songs: Sally in our Alley, Oh Waly Waly and Foggy Foggy Dew.

Do come and join us for this unusual musical evening in a beautiful setting. You will not be disappointed.

Biography – Thomas Hobbs

Thomas Hobbs is in demand with many leading baroque and early music ensembles, appearing throughout Europe and the US as a soloist in key works from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. Hobbs works frequently with, among others, Philippe Herreweghe and his acclaimed ensemble Collegium Vocale Gent and Raphaël Pichon and his Ensemble Pygmalion.

Born in Exeter, Thomas Hobbs studied at the Royal College of Music under the tutelage of Neil Mackie, where he was awarded the RCM Peter Pears and Mason scholarships, and at the Royal Academy of Music under Ryland Davies, where he held a Kohn Bach Scholarship in addition to a full entrance scholarship. He was also awarded a Susan Chilcott Scholarship, has been made a Royal Philharmonic Society Young Artist and was an Associate Artist of the Classical Opera Company. He was also a member of the prestigous Académie at the Aix-en-Provence Festival, where he performed in concert with Louis Langrée and the Camerata Salzburg.

www.thomashobbs.co.uk

Biography – David Davies

David Davies was brought up in a small quarrying town in Snowdonia, North Wales, and has enjoyed a somewhat unusual career. Drawn by music at an early age, David was educated bilingually up to the age of 16 and, following a chance meeting with Alastair Sampson, organist at Eton College, he won a sixth form scholarship to Eton. He was awarded additionally a Music Scholarship there, together with prizes in performance, and, after two very rewarding years, David gained the organ scholarship to Magdalen College, Oxford. In addition to accompanying the College Chapel Choir, and touring with them to Japan and the USA, he began to train as a choral and orchestral conductor.

In 1999 David won a scholarship to study at the Institute of Sacred Music at Yale University, and spent two years concurrently as Fellow in Church Music at Christ Church, New Haven. He has worked at Guildford and Exeter Cathedrals in the UK, primarily as Assistant Director of Music, but he also held the Acting Director of Music position at both cathedrals multiple times. He conducted the Exeter Bach Society and Orchestra and accompanied Exeter Philharmonic Choir.

In addition to his interest and work in classical music in general, and liturgical music in particular, David writes and lectures on the intersection of liturgical visual art, cultural history and music.

www.davidjuliandavies.co.uk

Tenor: Thomas Hobbs

Piano: David Davies