• Brahms' 'German Requiem'
• Christ Church Swindon, April 3rd 7.30pm

This year's season has focused on exploring some of the many aspects of Brahms' compositional genius. As Brahms died on April 3rd 1897 and this year Good Friday falls on April 3rd, it seems a fitting end to the series to present his 'German Requiem' in his own chamber music version. We particularly welcome soprano Andrea Tweedale, who was prevented by illness from singing at the Wyvern concert in January. Now recovered, Andrea and baritone Matthew Palmer will be accompanied by piano duettists Clare Toomer and Paul Turner. We are pleased to announce that, supporting them all, will be AVE, the Avebury Vocal Ensemble. AVE is conducted by Peter Tims, himself a former Eton choral scholar.

Brahms' stated intention was to write a Requiem to comfort the living. You are cordially invited to join us for a rare chance to hear this masterpiece in a lovely church setting, a glorious way to crown our season!

Andrea Tweedale soprano, Matthew Palmer baritone, Clare Toomer and Paul Turner piano duet with the Avebury Vocal Ensemble will be performing at Christ Church, Cricklade Road, Swindon on Friday April 3rd at 7.30pm.

Tickets are only available on the door. All Adult tickets are £18 with concessions for Senior Citizens / Unwaged £15. Students aged 15-18 £5; accompanied children aged 14 years and under are admitted free.

Andrea Tweedale graduated from the RNCM in 2013 (Mmus distinction, PGdip distinction). Her studies were kindly supported by the Worshipful Company of Musicians and Independent Opera at Saddler's Wells, who continued their support after Andrea's graduation, awarding her a Fellowship. Andrea is now based in London and sings opera, oratorio and recitals across the UK and Europe. Independent Opera Scholarship 2011/2012; Independent Opera Fellowship 2013/2014. Musicians' Company Busenhart Morgan Evans Award 2012

Matthew Palmer is a highly experienced opera singer, who trained at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama on the prestigious Opera Course under Robert Dean. He has since worked all over the UK for companies, including English National Opera, Opera North, Garsington Opera, Royal Opera House, Glyndebourne Education and has appeared in shows nominated for Olivier awards and won Opera Awards and Off West End awards. He is also passionate about theatre for children and enjoys a long-standing association with the Royal Opera House's Opera Dots programme where he leads immersive Opera workshops for babies and children ages 0 to 5.

Clare Toomer was born in Swindon and began her piano studies here at the age of six before going on to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She had a long and successful performing career around the concert halls around Great Britain, Europe and the Far East, won many prizes and recorded for both Classic fm and BBC Radio 3. After having children, she decided to settle down to a career in teaching but likes to perform occasionally to keep her mind and fingers alert. As an academic music and piano teacher at Marlborough College she finds herself fully occupied and a good proportion of her time is spent performing with the students.

Paul Turner is an Honours graduate and an elected Associate of the Royal Academy of Music where his many prizes and awards culminated in the Queen's Commendation for Excellence and the Peter Pears Accompaniment Prize. An experienced recitalist he has appeared at London's leading venues and major UK festivals. He has given concerts in Europe and South America and worked with eminent singers and instrumentalists. "For his part, Turner offered…intricate piano writing rendered with exemplary clarity and poise" (Richard Whitehouse - St. Johns Smith Square)

AVE - often known just by the Latin pronunciation of their acronym AVE, the Avebury Vocal Ensemble is a group of experienced local singers who mainly live in North Wiltshire and South Gloucestershire. They enjoy coming together for just a few weeks perhaps four times a year to prepare for each concert. Their repertoire is extensive and varied creating a blend of new and familiar, sacred and secular works either accompanied or a capella.

The ensemble was founded in 2000 by Sir Peter Beale and last year proudly celebrated the 25th anniversary of their first concert. Many of the singers, including their current director, Peter Tims, have been involved from the start. Initially the group was associated with the short-lived Swindon campus of the University of Bath, hence their original name of NUBISS (New University of Bath in Swindon Singers), but we have been AVE since 2007.

AVE make a point of singing in a variety of different churches and other venues each year, mainly around their local area although they have also ventured as far as the French Alps!

Swindon Recital Series was founded 27 years ago by Paul Turner. The Recital Series is committed to providing world-class chamber music in the Swindon area by presenting regular concerts of chamber music given by professional musicians. The Series takes place between September and April each year at various venues in and around Swindon, including the Wyvern Theatre and the Arts Centre.

For more information contact either Artistic Director Paul Turner at turner.paul@virgin.net, recitals@hotmail.co.uk or on 01793 531316 or 07989 397372 or SRS Secretary Julia Singleton at juliaesingleton@gmail.com or on 01793 644660 or 07718185518

Information about the recital series can be found at www.swindonrecitalseries.org