Archive for year: 2010

 

Today's double-whammy piano dress for Così seemed to go well; both casts are going to be fantastic, and set and costumes look brilliant. Having played every note of the opera twice in a day, once for each cast (no mean feat!), it will be a relief to add orchestra into the equation tomorrow and therefore no longer have to play their role as well as playing recits..  Only have to think about recitative now, and pleased to confirm that we have fortepiano rather than harpsichord for these!

 

Just been asked to play on 'In Tune' live on BBC Radio 3 on Tuesday (16^th), in a promotional slot for RAO's Così, which opens on 22nd. Ruth Jenkins, Katie Bray, Roberto Ortiz and Freddy Long will song arias and ensembles from the opera, and director John Cox and conductor Jane Glover will discuss the production. Listen in – 'In Tune' starts at 5pm, and we should be on c.6.15pm.

 

What a wonderful weekend at the Oxford Lieder Festival! It was an absolute delight to be back at my old stomping ground (I was heavily involved with the admin of the festival in its earlier days when I was in Oxford – a real eye-opener to the way such things run, and a truly formative experience in terms of living and breathing the song repertoire!). It was an inspiration this weekend to see Stefan Loges, James Gilchrist, Anna Grevelius, Sophie Daneman and festival director Sholto Kynoch performing Wolf's complete Mörike-Lieder – a rare treat and quite superlatively done. Well done to all the team there – this is a truly fantastic project, and now so firmly established as one of Europe's top centres of song.  The festival runs until next weekend so head over to the Holywell Music Room if you find yourself in Oxford!

 

It was a delight to perform Schumann's Piano Quintet with the Hampden Quartet this weekend. For me this piece (and perhaps especially its haunting slow movement) encapsulates the whole character of Schumann more completely and succinctly than any other – the deeply troubled soul, yet so capable of joy and love. It was a rare delight to perform this in the 'chamber' setting for which it was intended; Emile Woolf hosts several concerts a year in his beautiful drawing room (using his superb Steinway, one of their concert hire instruments last century and apparently Rachaninov's instrument of choice for his own performances in London!). We were delighted to hear that a hefty cheque was sent to Maxability Limited, the charitable company that raises money to enhance the lives of disabled adults living in the London Borough of Barnet, by providing tuition in art, pottery, computing skills and holding exhibitions of their work.

 

As ever it was a pleasure to be back at St Peter's Ardingly, kick-starting the second year of the 'Music at St Peter's' series. It's been fantastic to see this series build up such a loyal following; to see audience members return time after time (even those who self-confessedly never usually go to concerts!) and to raise yet again a significant amount of money for charity (on this occasion for the Pakistan Flood Relief Appeal; given the severity of the situation there it seemed cold-hearted not to break away from our usual focus of supporting local organisations).  Flautist Fiona Slominska and baritone Sam Queen were both extremely popular with the audience and join the prestigious ranks of those who have been to perform at this humble venue!