BROCKDISH, NORFOLK, UK (ANS) -- Rick Wakeman, the legendary keyboardist with the British super-group, YES, will again be performing his magnificent oratorio on the life of Christ called The New Gospels, this May.
But instead of staging it in one of England’s cathedrals, he will be performing it in a local Anglican parish church in Brockdish, Norfolk, close to where he lives.
He is doing it, he says, because of his friendship with the Rev. Trevor Riess, Priest in Charge of the Benefice.
“I live next door to the Rectory and the wonderful ‘Trev the Rev’ as we call him,” said Wakeman in a recent message. “We are doing the performances to benefit four of our local village churches.”
There will be two performances of The New Gospels on Saturday, May 27, when Rick will be joined by his son Adam on keyboards, Ramon Remedios (Tenor) and it will be narrated by Ian Lavender, who played Pike in Dad’s Army and Derek in Eastenders. Also performing will be The English Chamber Choir under the direction of Guy Protheroe.
“The setting will be far more intimate than the usual cathedral setting, so this will be a wonderful opportunity to hear this marvelous work performed live,” said a spokesperson for Wakeman. “A second performance has been added due to demand, so there is a 6pm and an 8:15pm performance.”
Between 1993 and 2000 Rick Wakeman performed The New Gospels more than 100 times to sell out audiences in churches and cathedrals around the UK, many of them with the renowned tenor Ramon Remedios, who apart from having the unique distinction of having sung with each of the UK’s opera houses, also starred for three years in Phantom of the Opera in London’s West End.
Wakeman also brought The New Gospels to Southern California in Easter Week of 1997 where he performed it in several large churches including Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa and Calvary Chapel of Downey to benefit ASSIST Ministries.
Wakeman usually only performed in cathedrals or large churches because of the size of production and also the demand for tickets but, because of his friendship with “Trev the Rev”, he says he will find a way of fitting it into the Brockdish church for these two performances.
In a story in the Norfolk Eastern Daily Press, UK, the writer explained how the idea for a festival came about.
“Over a cup of coffee the two men - who moved in on the same day - discussed the cost of keeping churches alive. They came up with a plan for a festival involving the four parishes covered by Mr. Riess - Scole, Brockdish, Billingford and Thorpe Abbotts.
“Mr. Wakeman, who has also starred in the [British] television series Grumpy Old Men, is to take part in two shows.
“First he will revive a show he performed more than 100 times with renowned tenor Ramon Remedios. The pair will present an evening of music and anecdotes in Brockdish Church on May 22.
“Then at the same venue on May 27, Mr. Wakeman and his son, Adam, will provide the accompaniment to the New Gospels oratorio featuring Mr. Remedios, and former Dad's Army actor Ian Lavender as the narrator.”
The Rev Ralph Barnett, the Diocese of Norwich's open churches project officer who also lives at Scole, told the newspaper that it was by complete coincidence that Mr. Wakeman and Mr. Riess moved into neighboring properties on the same day.
“He added: ‘We can only leave it to the imagination as to what went through Mr. Riess' mind upon discovering that his new neighbor was none other than a Grumpy Old Man and keyboard player from the super-group YES.
“Amazingly, the For Sale sign did not re-appear the following day - Rick decided to give ‘Trev the Rev’ a chance!”
The performances of The New Gospels will be part of what is being called The Four Churches Festival that will take place from May 22-27. The Four Churches of Billingford, Brockdish, Scole and Thorpe Abbots will host concerts of music and laughter featuring both professional artistes as well as home grown talent. The Festival is organized by Rick Wakeman who will perform on two of the evenings.
The complete schedule is:
Monday May 22, 7.30pm - Brockdish Church
An Evening with Rick Wakeman and Ramon Remedios
Tuesday May 23, 7.30pm - Thorpe Abbots
The Singer/ Songwriter with Paul Field
Paul has written for Cliff Richard and won an Ivor Novello award
Wednesday May 24, 7.30pm - Scole Church
Laughter in the Pews with Don Maclean
Don is one of Britain’s best loved comedians - familiar from Crackerjack
Thursday May 25, 7.30pm - Billingford Church
An Evening of Voices with Local Choirs
Friday May 26, 7.30pm - Scole Church
An Audience with Syd Little
Syd, of the Little and Large partnership, in conversation with Chris Gidney, pastor for Christians in Entertainment, and bringing you hits from '50s and '60s on his guitar. (Think Buddy Holly!)
Saturday May 27, 7.30pm - Brockdish Church
The New Gospels with Rick Wakeman and Ramon Remedios, narrated by Ian Lavender of Dad's Army fame
===>Click headline for Rick Wakeman’s website . . .
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