Ripieno Choir

The Ripieno Choir is an amateur chamber choir based in the Hampton Court area to the south west of London.

Founded in 1947, it has a membership of no more than 30 and has, since 1996, been directed by David Hansell, who specialised in Renaissance and Baroque music at Durham University, is an editor of music by Marc-Antoine Charpentier, plays continuo for the vocal chamber ensemble Sospiri and also conducts the St Albans Chamber Choir.

The Ripieno Choir has, since David Hansell's arrival, concentrated on giving authentic, distinctive performances of, in particular, early choral music, although its repertoire is wide and varied and includes a number of modern works.

Programmes performed during the last six years have included

Monteverdi's Vespers of 1610

J.S.Bach's Christmas Oratorio, St John Passion, Magnificat and Motets

Charpentier's Messe de Minuit and Pastorale sur la Naissance de Notre Seigneur Jésus-Christ

Handel's Messiah

Schütz's The Christmas Story

Byrd's Masses for Four and Five Voices

Victoria's Requiem

Haydn's Nelson Mass

Faure's Requiem

Britten's Festival Te Deum

Flower Songs

Choral Dances from "Gloriana" and Rejoice in the Lamb

Poulenc's Four Christmastide Motets and

Pärt's Magnificat.

The Ripieno Choir tours regularly, either in Spring or Summer, having in recent years performed in the Cathedral of St John the Divine in Manhattan, the Saint Michael and Saint Gudula Cathedral in Brussels, and the Abbaye de Valloires in the Picardie area of France.