Wednesday 22nd October 2008, 7:30 pm
James Lancelot
Durham Cathedral
James Lancelot is Master of the Choristers and Cathedral Organist, a position he has held since 1985. Prior to this he was successively a chorister of St.Paul’s Cathedral, Organ Scholar at King’s College, Cambridge, and ten years Sub-Organist of Winchester Cathedral. He studied with Ralph Downes, Gillian Weir and Nicholas Danby.
James has been Conductor of Durham University Choral Society for the last twenty years; in 2002 he became a Lay Canon of Durham Cathedral, and was also made an Honorary Fellow of the Guild of Church Musicians. He received Honorary Fellowship of the Royal School of Church Music in May.
At Durham he takes responsibility for the cathedral’s musical ministry, at whose heart are the services sung daily in term-time by the cathedral choir. He has taken the cathedral choir on tour to Holland, Scandinavia, Germany, Brazil and the USA, and with them worked with the Northern Sinfonia, the London Festival Orchestra, the Yorkshire Baroque Soloists, the BT Scottish Ensemble, and BBC Philharmonic, and Stan Tracey and his orchestra. The choir has also recorded for Priory and made numerous broadcasts under his direction. He will be responsible for training the Cathedral’s twenty new girl Choristers from autumn 2009.
In addition to his work at the cathedral, James Lancelot pursues a recital career both in Britain and abroad. Recent years have seen visits to Holland, Belgium, Poland, Germany, Denmark, the USA, France, Russia, Norway and Sweden, as well as many British venues. Sabbatical leave from the Cathedral in 2006 will enable him to fulfil further engagements in Europe and the USA. There are several recordings available. As well as those previously on sale, including Vierne and Alain works, his recording of the complete organ works of Hubert Parryl his latest recording, a DVD of Elgar’s Sonata for Organ, has been acclaimed in reviews. Forthcoming engagements include a visit to Amsterdam in April 2009, the Southern Cathedrals Festival recital in Salisbury in July and St Giles’ Cripplegate in September.
Programme
J.S.BACH (1685 – 1750) ~ Fantasia & Fugue in G minor (BWV 542)
Samuel Sebastian Wesley (1810 – 1876) ~ Andante in F
Felix Mendelssohn (1809 – 1847) ~ Sonata in A, Opus 65 No 3
Cesar Franck (1822 – 1890) ~ Grande Piece Symphonique
Louis Vierne (1870 – 1937) ~ Allegro Vivace [ Scherzo ] from Symphony No 1, Opus 14
Samuel Sebastian Wesley ~ The National Anthem, with variations
