Have you booked for November 12th?
Hannah has just sent me full details of hers and Boyan’s super eclectic programme for November 12th – and it sounds like a blast! From Beethoven to contemporary French composer Guillaume Connesson, via Argentina, Spain, Serbia, Sweden and the English countryside!
Beethoven? Yes,Beethoven is in there – his Duet No. 3 in B-flat Major for Clarinet and Bassoon. How could that be missed?
But then we go travelling.
To Argentina with three pieces by Sebastián Tozzola, a bass clarinettist himself whose music ‘blends earthy Latin American rhythms with modern harmonic colours’.
Spain, in the person of Manuel de Falla, appears courtesy of Béla Kovács, a Hungarian clarinettist who composed a set of concert etudes for clarinet called ‘Hommages’ each written in the style of a different composer.
Then to Serbia where clarinettist-composer, Ante Grgin (born in 1945) ‘combines Balkan folk idioms with modern virtuosity’.
Back to Bexhill-on-Sea and Ruth Gipps (1921-99) – a Romantic, a pupil of Vaughan Williams and admirer of Arthur Bliss. Her Prelude for Solo Bass Clarinet ‘highlights her gift for lyricism and depth’ – and could not be more different from our next composer, Sweden’s Svante Henryson.
Cellist, bass guitarist, double bassist and composer, Henryson (born 1963) takes us on ‘a musical adventure down unpredictable slopes’ with Off Piste – ‘a work that lives up to its title’….
And finally to France and Guillaume Connesson (born 1970) – a widely performed French composer. ‘Connesson fuses Baroque brilliance with disco rhythms, creating glittering, high-octane music.’
How can you miss it?…
£30 for concert, supper and wine on tap – book here.
New concerto for percussion and Orchestra – 6th November
You may remember that back in April (see the bottom of this post) I was waxing lyrical about a new percussionist – James Larter – who had appeared with Figure in a very exciting version of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons.
Well, if, like me, you cannot resisit a fine percussionist, the first night of James’ new composition, Toros: Concerto for Percussion and Orchestra will happen on Thursday at the Smith Square Hall (aka St John’s Smith Square) – followed by Luigi Boccherini Symphony No. 6 in D minor.
If you are interested, book here.
The Protecting Veil in the St Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral
As predicted, Guy Johnston’s cello, the Britten Sinfonia and the members of the Hagia Sophia Choir were magnificent last week in John Taverner’s cello paean to the Virgin Mary. A magnificence only equalled by the acres of the cathedral’s golden mosaics that glowed through the haze of incense. Should you ever get the chance to visit St Sophia – or indeed to hear a performance of the Protecting Veil – grab them both.
However, be warned. The throne-like seats of the cathedral are even more uncomfortable than the wooden pews of the standard English church. Take a cushion.
Do not forget to look at our Upcoming Events page for other concerts not listed in this post.
