Big names at the Broadway theatre!

Two spectacular evenings of world-class music within weeks of each other can’t be a bad thing for Peterborough – and that’s exactly what’s on offer at the Broadway Theatre this spring...

With their highly successful residency at the city’s much-loved theatre continuing into 2015, Peterborough Male Voice Choir, Peterborough Voices and Peterborough Youth Choir are delighted to be bringing two world-class acts to the venue to work with them: Black Dyke Band – the world’s most famous brass band – on Saturday, 11 April, followed by the globally renowned, double Grammy Award-winning King’s Singers on Saturday, 30 May.

Having performed with Grimethorpe Colliery Band (of Brassed Off! fame) to a capacity audience of over 1,000 people at Kings Gate in 2013, the choirs are very much looking forward to working with Black Dyke Band who – with a musical heritage of over 150 years and more than 350 recordings to their name – are not only the world’s most recorded band but also the world’s most successful contesting band, and reigning National Champions for a record-breaking 23rd time! Black Dyke Band has recorded with Paul McCartney and Wings, Evelyn Glennie, Peter Gabriel, Tori Amos and Beautiful South, and appeared on The Beatles’ hit record Yellow Submarine as well as performing the theme music for the BBC’s Ground Force. They have performed nationally and internationally with stellar artists including Lesley Garret, Elton John, James Morrison, Hayley Westenra and many more. Renowned worldwide for their virtuosity, their collaboration with the choirs promises to provide a truly spectacular evening of musical entertainment.

Instantly recognisable for their immaculate intonation, impeccable vocal blend, flawless diction and incisive timing, the double Grammy Award-winning King’s Singers are a global phenomenon. Their work represents the very best in vocal ensemble performance and appeals to a vast international audience: among Britain’s greatest musical exports, they sing over 120 concerts annually to capacity audiences around the globe, touring regularly to Europe, the United States, Asia and Australasia. Their repertoire is breathtakingly diverse, including everything from jazz standards to pop chart hits, mediaeval motets to Renaissance madrigals and landmark pieces from leading contemporary composers: their unique discography of over 150 albums includes more than 2,000 pieces of music. Dubbed ‘the superlative vocal sextet’ by The Times, they are consummate entertainers, acclaimed for their life-affirming energy, irresistible charisma and seemingly magical ability to move audiences with their spellbinding performances.

The city’s award-winning choirs are no strangers to working with big names and in recent years Peterborough Male Voice Choir, Peterborough Voices and Peterborough Youth Choir have between them appeared with a host of stars including legendary soprano Lesley Garrett, the late Bernie Nolan, classical crossover band Blake, folk legend Jon Boden of Bellowhead, Grimethorpe Colliery Band and the multi award-winning Aurin Girls’ Choir, not to mention featuring in the national tours of Joseph and Evita – with Marti Pellow and Madelena Alberto – during the Bill Kenwright Ltd season at the Broadway Theatre in 2013.

And the list doesn’t end there, with exciting plans in place to bring more big name acts to the city to perform with them at the spectacular venue they are privileged to call home. Will Prideaux, director of the choirs and their associated charity Peterborough Sings!, says ‘These really are exciting times! To have the Broadway Theatre open again and in use by the people of Peterborough is a major cultural win for the city. It’s thrilling for us to work with such musical greats while at the same time improving the city’s cultural offer and breathing new life into this wonderful building. The fact that we are able to attract truly world-class talent to work with us here is a great achievement and I’m proud that we are putting Peterborough on the cultural map of the UK.’

Voices and Brass with Black Dyke Band is at the Broadway Theatre at 7.30pm on Saturday, 11 April.

The King’s Singers is at the Broadway Theatre at 7.30pm on Saturday, 30 May.

Tickets are available from £12 at Peterborough Visitor Information Centre, by phone on 0333 666 3366 or online at www.peterboroughmvchoir.org.uk

The Broadway Theatre is home to the city’s unique music education charity Peterborough Sings! which works weekly with over 250 members in the Peterborough Male Voice Choir, Peterborough Voices and Peterborough Youth Choir as well as with hundreds of schoolchildren through its Arts Council England-funded Singing Strategy.