Heroes and Villains with Divertimento
On 7th July, the superb Divertimento singers performed a concert in the ballroom at the Jury Street Court House to a large and appreciative audience.
It was themed ‘Heroes and Villains’ with a wide range of songs and readings, ranging from the Agincourt Song to Ward the Pirate, and Jonah and the Whale to Macavity the Cat.
There were some readings by Jo Parkinson, including one about the notorious local highwayman Bendigo Mitchell, told from the point of view of his horse, ‘Skater’, who earned his name by galloping across a frozen pond to escape the pursuing officers.
Founded in Leamington in 1983, Divertimento is a group of around 25 singers.
Their programmes consist of mainly unaccompanied close harmony music, but also includes works accompanied by piano, organ or occasionally a small orchestra. The Musical Director, Sheila Koch, is a member of the Association of British Choral Directors.