Roll up, Madeleine Mitchell fans! And roll up the ‘send up’…

But first….. Have you booked for:

Tuesday evening – 15th – Dani Sicari and James Girling with their pared down New Orleans Jazz? Book here.

Saturday 26th – Vermeer Chamber Concerts visit Hampstead Lane – Richard Eggar and Sijie Chen play Schubert Sonatinas? Book here.

May and June – great months for violinist Madeleine Mitchell fans

Sunday May 18th – 6.30pm – with the London Chamber Ensemble – book here

First up, Madeleine will be back in Hampstead Lane on Sunday May 18th with her London Chamber Ensemble – Gordon Mackay (violin), Bridget Carey (viola) and Joseph Spooner (cello).

They will be playing Haydn’s delightful Bird Quartet. This is number 3 of Haydn’s quartets written in the summer and autumn of 1781 after a break of some 10 years and in a very different style to his earlier quartets. Their publication coincided with Mozart’s arrival in Vienna, and catalysed Mozart into returning to string quartets himself, leading to the wonderful set of six quartets that he dedicated to Haydn.

This will be followed by Charles Wood’s Highgate Quartet (what could be more appropriate!) which the ensemble are hoping to record later in the year, and Wood’s Variations on an Irish Tune.

For those who do not know his music, Charles Wood (1866 – 1926) was an Irish composer and teacher. He was one of fifty inaugural class members of the Royal College of Music, studying with both Charles Villiers Stanford and Charles Hubert Parry. In due course he moved on to Cambridge becoming, on Stanford’s death in 1924, Professor of Music at the University of Cambridge where his pupils included Ralph Vaughan Williams and Herbert Howells.

Book here for Sunday May 18th – £30 to include wine and supper.

Next up – 14th June – 4pm – Craxton Studios

Madeleine Mitchell with Elektra Schmidt

Madeleine joins forces with pianist Elektra Schmidt to perform Beethoven’s Violin Sonata No. 10 in G Major, the last of Beethoven’s violin sonatas, and Brahms’ Violin Sonata No. 3 in D Minor, the most dramatic and technically demanding of his three violin sonatas

The concert at 4pm will be followed by refreshments in the garden. Cost £20.

To book go here.

Tuesday 24th June – 6.30pm – the wonderful Leighton House – book here

If you have never been to Leighton House that is an excellent reason to include this concert in your June bookings – especially as the concert will be followed by drinks in Leighton House’s lovely garden and a chance to meet the artists.

Madeleine will be joined by Julian Milford (piano) and Kirsten Jenson (cello) to play:

Mélanie Bonis – Soir – Matin for piano trio
Sir George Dyson – Revery & Arabesque, Melody, Intermezzo
Johannes Brahms – Piano Trio in B major

Doors open 6.30pm for a free private view of Leighton House and gallery. Performance 7-8.15pm
Wine, soft drinks and snacks available in the adjacent café following the recital, meet the artists and enjoy the garden on this midsummer evening 8.15-9.30pm.

Book here for Leighton House on 24th June.

Roll up the send ups…

Just a quick mention for two recent wonderfully ‘sent up’ operas.

The HGO’s La Cenerentola

The HGO’s La Cenerentola which had its last night on Saturday at Jackson’s Lane in Highgate. For those who don’t know them, the HGO is an amazing volunteer organisation which provides unique opportunities for young singers – the professionals of the future – to perform in a theatre, before audiences, roles which, early in their careers, they would not be given in the big opera companies. For more about the HGO and what they do go here.

Never intended to be taken that seriously, the HGO’s Cenerentola had the audience rocking with laughter – which detracted not at all from the fine singing and the muscular performance of the tiny orchestra. For more go here.

The Charles Court Opera’s Magic Flute at Wilton’s Music Hall

Treated with a similar combination of respect and disrespect last month’s Magic Flute at Wilton’s Music Hall was equally hilarious. Featuring a jungle exploring Tamino in a solar topee and a furry green parrot, it also had the audience rocking in the aisles – while admiring the excellent music making. For more on the production go here; for more on Charles Court Opera’s imaginative productions go here.

For future happenings in at Hampstead Lane and elsewhere – see our Upcoming Events page.