Rush Hour Concerts
How would you fancy a relaxing glass of wine in the garden and an hour’s gentle music at the end of a busy day? We thought that sounded rather a nice idea so decided try it out over the summer.
So – for our first Rush Hour Recital on September 4th…
Zadie Loft is a poet, essayist and novelist and has just finished her debut novel. Zadie is also guitarist Declan Hickey’s girlfriend. And for her birthday last year, Declan commissioned his composer friend Jonty Lefroy Watt to put two of Zadie’s poems to music. So successful were the first two that Jonty went on to set all ten of Zadie’s cycle of poems.
‘The cycle,’ says Jonty, ‘explores the place of women in a history that has been written and constructed by men. Zadie’s poems were written during a month-long stay in Rome, during which she was struck by the awe-inspiring history of the place, but also her apparent exclusion from it. Her words capture this complex relationship, vacillating between rage, reverence, loss, and hope for the future. The poems betray a subtlety of approach which I aim to reflect in the songs.’
This cycle will be played and sung by Declan and mezzo Mia Serracino-Inglott as part of our first Rush House Recital on the 4th September. Declan you will remember gave us a lovely solo guitar recital back in May – which was when he told me all about this project and we decided to give the song cycle its first public airing.
Also on the menu will be songs by Fauré, South African-British composer Priaulx Rainier who died in 1986 and folksong arrangements by Benjamin Britten.
6pm 4th September – £15 to include a glass of wine – you can book here.
Aurora and the Moving Machines
Last weekend my son, toddler grandson and I joined The Aurora Orchestra at King’s Place for Mendelssohn and the Moving Machines – a family show for 0 to 5 year olds. And how delightful was that!
A clarinet, a bassoon, a piano, a narrator and Fanny Mendelssohn (adapted) – plus a train, a car, a bicycle, a hot air balloon and a space rocket led the children in a merry dance for 30 minutes of magic. The children were entranced. My grandson, at the great age of 20 months, was not quite sure what to make of it but loved the floating lights – and the clapping, one of his favourite occupations.
To hear about future shows sign up to Aurora’s mailing list – and be sure to book as soon as you see them advertised as the shows fill up very quickly.
The extra benefit of going to the shows at King’s Place is that you are right beside the King’s Cross piazza fountains – hours of squealing delight for any small child. And, for accompanying soggy footed parents, there is an excellent coffee shop just through those doors behind the fountains.
And don’t forget….
Monday 8th July – Flanders and Swann live again!
There are still a couple of tickets left if you would like to join us. More details here.
£30 to include an appropriate 1950s supper afterwards – Book here.
Sunday 14th July – Highgate Society lunchtime concert – Hannah Shilvock & Viola Lenzi – bass clarinet and piano duo. Traditional Jewish melodies, Hungarian folk dances, Argentinian Tangos and the Gymnopédies of Eric Satie. Book here.
For other happenings in July, at Hampstead Lane and elsewhere – see our Upcoming Events page.
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Nela Marcus says
What a great selection of concerts. You are all spoiled in London under Michelle’s guidance