Any of you who have read the ‘About us’ page on this blog will know that it was at one of Madeleine’s Mitchell’s Loft Concerts three years ago that the idea for Salon Music was born.
Some years ago Madeleine got permission to add an extra floor to her top floor flat in Bayswater. Not only does this mean that she has a wonderful view over the tree tops in the adjoining gardens but, once they had managed to manhandle her small grand up several flights of stairs, she has a noise proof studio as she is way above all of those neighbours who she might disturb – or who might disturb her. This meant that she could fulfill a long held dream born when she had visited Sasha Schnieder’s loft in New York when she was there as a Fulbright Scholar.
So every few months she opens up her loft eyrie and invites her friends in. Some playing friends to play – and the rest of us to listen. After an hour’s worth of delightful music – encompassing anything from Brahms to Flanders and Swann – we clear away the chairs, pour a glass of wine (everyone brings a bottle) and help ourselves to a delicious selection of food and some great conversation. What is not to like!
The last concert happened just a few weeks ago and included not only Madeleine and long term fellow member of the London Chamber Ensemble, cellist Joseph Spooner but pianists Nicholas Bosworth and William Godfree, saxophonist Gerard McChrystal and American based poet Robert Keith Coleman. And what a splendidly eclectic mix of music we had.
Madeleine and Joseph played Kodaly’s Duo for Violin and Cello and were then joined by Nicholas (making a fine job of impersonating a full orchestra) ) for the Andante from Brahms double concerto. A very small tasting snippet below – with apologies for the poor sound from my iPhone….
Joseph and Nicholas played a Lullaby by Viktor Kosenko and two William Alwyn folk tunes, and Madeleine and William played Rachmaninov’s Vocalise before William was joined by Gerard and his sax to play Rudy Weidoft’s wonderful Deep Purple.
Gerard then joined forces with Madeleine and William for Madeleine’s own version of Gershwin’s American in Paris. Who can fail to love that – especially when you have a saxophonist who is up for doubling as a car horn!!
Continuing the American theme, Robert was inspired by an article in the Times about Madeleine’s salons – and Madeleine was inspired by Robert’s poesy….
To complete the evening, William, who combines a serious career as a composer with a rather more lighthearted one as a cabaret artist (he and Gerard showcase their multiple talents in irrestible McSax evenings) celebrated Tom Lehrer’s 95th birthday* with a rendering of ‘Poisoning Pigeons in the Park’. Those of you who are not old enough to remember Tom Lehrer may need to listen a couple of times to get the full effect. But for anyone like me who used to while away whole car journeys by singing my way through a full Tom Lehrer album – this was nostalgia magic!
Thank you Madeleine – and friends – for a fab evening! May there be many more.
Anyone who would like to hear more of Madeleine’s playing should make a diary note to buy her new album Violin Conversations which will be released on June 23rd on Naxos; 8 premiere recordings, 6 pieces written for Madeleine and 4 recorded with the composers as pianist.
The cover is a painting by her late mother which hangs in her loft.
* For a real flavour of Tom’s Lehrer’s acerbic wit and originality see his own 2022 site – Songs and Lyrics by Tom Lehrer relinquishing the copyright of all of his songs and ending with this notice:
THIS WEBSITE WILL BE SHUT DOWN AT SOME DATE IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE, SO IF YOU WANT TO DOWNLOAD ANYTHING, DON’T WAIT TOO LONG.
Leave a Reply