Have you booked yet for the Bellot Ensemble on 12th January? 16th century Venice – in both music and in food!! Book here.
And have you also made note of our Jazz Harp and guitar session at the Highgate Society on Sunday 18th? Book here.
Meanwhile…. A very happy and prosperous New Year to you all.
I am not usually very good at New Year resolutions, but this year there is one that I am definitely going to keep – and that is to take full advantage of the Royal Academy of Music’s amazing master class and concert offerings.
Every week across the year the academy offers master classes with international artists – February’s calendar includes Nicky Spence, the BBC Singers, James Ehnes, Imogen Cooper and Claude Michel Schonberg. As master classes, these are of course designed for professional musicians, but for a token payment of £5, anyone of us can can go along. And, I am told by regular attendees, that they are absolutely fascinating.
And if you don’t fancy the master classes, then the Academy also offers a huge range of concerts showcasing their students’ talents – most of which, as far as I can see, are free.
Depending on your tastes you could choose a new orchestration of Orfeo ed Euridice; WITCHCRAFT ‘uniting four female singers, a dancer and flautist, to creating mystical soundscapes to escape our usual surroundings’; a piano recital ‘fusing the sonorities of European classical music with refined Eastern influences’; Trial by Jury; a concert focused on French contemporary harp and voice duets – or Trending: Mashups, Memes and Media. Four dynamic works that offer sharp, creative perspectives on pop culture through contemporary classical, electronic, theatrical, and multimedia styles’. And that is only the start…
Check out what is on and book here.
The Wicked Witches….
Do you like panto? I have always been a sucker for a good boo and hiss so was intrigued by the Wicked Witches showing at the Pleasance Theatre in Islington over Christmas.
This turned out to be a hilariously camp, queer, non binary and indeed anything else you fancy show flipping the Wizard of Oz on its head – while a non binary Dor (Dorothy) and Tin (Tinman? Tinwoman?) negotiated a feud between the Witches of the East and the West.
Glitter, glamour, high kicks, one liners, bubbles, innuedo, drag, song and dance – it was all on offer. Plus cameo filmed appearances from Jeremy Corbyn (as the Wizard of Oz-lington) and Sir Ian McKellan (as Toto the washed up rock star). In theory there was the ‘adult’ show which we saw and a ‘family show’ for the kids – although quite how they turned what we saw into a family show is a little baffling.
Sadly, it all came to an end on 28th December so I cannot suggest you go and check it out for yourselves. But if you are up for a bit of booing and hissing and a good laugh – maybe next year?
Looking more soberly ahead…
Don’t forget to check out our March and April offerings – I fear Nathaniel’s concert on February 26th is now sold out. But you can put yourself on the waiting list for returns.
Saturday 14th February – Hampstead Lane
Fundraising concert for the Shakespeare in Music Festival. More details to come very soon.
Wednesday 11th March – Hampstead Lane
Joana Ly, Kirsten Jenson and Dorothea Vogel play Beethoven string trios – followed by buffet supper and wine. Go here for more details and to book.
Monday 23rd March – Hampstead Lane
An hour with Noel Coward. William Godfree will be bringing ‘the Master’ to life with his songs and tales from his star spangled life. Go here for more details and to book.
Tuesday 28th April – Hampstead Lane
Harpist Hugh Webb and oboist Melinda Maxwell will take us from the aulos, the ancient Greek double pipe and the Apollo’s lyre up through the ages to arrive in the 21st century with a new work for harp and oboe by Simon Holt.
Go here for more details and to book.
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