The phonecall you don’t want to receive from a duo partner on the morning of a concert is “I’m sorry, I’m not very well”, but having explored various contingency plans, James Turnbull and I went ahead with today’s recital, with a revised programme (removing the Howells Sonata, which even famed oboist Leon Goosens considered extraordinarily […]
Currently coaching on RAO’s imminent production of Die Dreigroschenoper (dir. John Ramster, cond. Dominic Wheeler). This Brecht/Weill tale of poverty and anger presents a completely different musical language for many of the singers, owing much more to the ‘musical’ style and to jazz influences; here it is performed in its original German (keeping the language […]
Very pleased to announce that the performers for June's Music at St Peter's concert will be Sara Lian Owen (soprano), and the Hampden Quartet (Alexandra Reid, Charlotte Reid, Ashley Stanfield, Tom Kelly). Regulars at the series will remember the Reid Sisters for their previous vibrant performances at the church, in Haydn's Creation, and then in […]
Great buzz at the Wigmore last night for the Ferrier final – delighted to have played for Marcus Farnsworth, who won the Song Prize. Congratulations also to Kitty Whately (winner), Jonathan McGovern (second prize) and Tim End (accompanist prize) – a great evening all round.
Looking forward to playing in the Ferrier Awards final at the Wigmore on Friday, accompanying Marcus Farnsworth. The others who got through from today's semi-final are Kitty Whately (with Gamal Khamis), Elena Sancho (with Yshani Perinpanayagam), Victor Sicard (with Anna Cardona), Jonathan McGovern (with Tim End) and Justina Gringyte (with Sergey Rybin). Good luck to all!
What a joy to spend an entire week playing cello music! This surely is one of the greatest sets of repertoire there is – composers over the centuries have clearly responded to the richness and intensity of what this instrument offers. Sue Lowe's Cello Gathering courses (known as the Gathering of the Clans!) have built a […]
Machynlleth, on the west coast of Wales, seems to be one of those places which has increasingly made its mark on the musical map of the UK recently, particularly as a result of its prestigious summer festival, directed by Julius Drake. Our concert last night was part of Machynlleth Music Club's year-round concert series, using […]
Beautiful weekend back in Oxford, teaching on the new Oundle for Organists course, 'Advance!'. This course is aimed at current and elected organ scholars, working at the whole broad range of skills they need to develop and use, from taking choir rehearsals and planning music lists to accompanying singers and playing for rehearsals. It was […]
Norden Farm Centre for the Arts is one of those rare theatre venues which is attractive to look at and well equipped but is also acoustically excellent and has a great piano! Having played here with Alexandra and Charlotte Reid a few years back, it was a pleasure to return with Marcus Farnsworth as part […]
Pleased to hear that I'll be playing in the Kathleen Ferrier Award semi-final with Marcus Farnsworth at the end of the month – a nice excuse to be back at the Wigmore!