Music of Les Miserables at the Lowther Pavilion

Autumn is approaching, the leaves are dropping from the trees and the season of festivals and partying has passed.  It is time perhaps to experience something more reflective and poignant. And Lytham’s Lowther Pavilion is obliging on 18 September with The Music of Les Miserables, sung by the internationally renowned Tideswell Male Voice Choir and guests.

Tideswell is in the Peak District in Derbyshire. Its’ choir was formed in the 1950s when membership was drawn largely from the village itself. Whilst the group still rehearses in Tideswell the sixty plus members are now drawn from a broad catchment including Staffordshire, Cheshire and Greater Manchester.  This ability to call on a wide talent pool reflects the award winning reputation of the group, and gifted young choristers continue to come forward into the ranks.

The choir’s Director of Music is Dennis Kay. Dennis is a renowned choral director who has been with Tideswell for over a decade. Prior to that he won the Best Musical Director award at the prestigious Prague International Music Festival. Several of those who have been under his tutelage in the choir have gone on to professional success in the West End. He is supported by Christopher Ellis, Principal Accompanist and Assistant Director, a graduate of Chetham’s School of Music and the Royal Academy of Music.

Les Miserables is of course one of the most successful musicals of all time, indeed it is the longest running production in the world. Now in its 31^st year in London, ‘Les Mis’ is adapted from the novel by Victor Hugo. Set in nineteenth century France, it features a French peasant Jean Valjean. He is seeking redemption after a long prison sentence for stealing bread to feed his sister’s starving child. He breaks his parole, and is pursued tirelessly by the police inspector Javert. This pursuit takes place against the backdrop of revolutionary period France, where a group of young idealists are manning a street barricade.

This performance is approved by Cameron Mackintosh Ltd, and commenced touring this month with a sell-out performance in Macclesfield with other sell out concerts following in three counties. A number of guest male and female soloists will join the choir in this performance.

The concert is at 7.30pm on Sunday September 18 and tickets are £18.50. Tickets can be bought online at www.lowtherpavilion.co.uk or you can contact the box office on [email protected] or 01253 794221.  Further details of the Tideswell Male Voice Choir can be found at http://tideswellmvc.co.uk