All Night Prom
Have you ever seen the wonderful Bjarte Eike and his Barokksolistene – an early music group which explores not just humour and melancholy in 17th century music but the drinking songs of the pubs and the alehouses. But how would he deal with the vast spaces of the Albert Hall when he took part in the all night prom last Friday?
Sadly, I did not manage to go but my good friend Ruth Rosenthal did and she said that he was amazing; he had not only the Prommers but the occupants of the boxes on their feet dancing to his alehouse songs. Ruth is not a massive fan of organ music but was very impressed with organist and TikTok sensation Anna Lapwood whose project the all night prom had been. As resident organist at the Abert Hall the only time that Anna can practice is in the early hours of the morning along with the cleaners and the electricians – and she decided that she wanted to share that time.
Apart from the Barokksolistene, sharing it with her were the French cellist Anastasia Kobekina, the young Japanese pianist Hayato Sumino who, as Ruth said, split himself in two to play two pianos simultaneously…..
… and the choir of Pembroke College Cambridge where Anna is Director of Music. But at that point both Ruth and her 11 year old granddaughter (who, very impressively, had made it through to 4.15am) decided that they needed their beds and went home.
Aurora, Shostakovich 5th Symphony – and a free ticket!
I may have missed the all nighter but I was lucky enough to get to a dress rehearsal of the Aurora Orchestra’s Shostakovich 5th Symphony at Henry Wood Hall today.
This is playing in the Albert Hall on Saturday evening and again on Sunday morning and is getting the full Aurora treatment: a staged introduction to the symphony followed by the symphony itself, played from memory.
For anyone who does not know it, it is the most extraordinary piece: a triumphant peaon to success, to Mother Russia, to the Stalinist regime yet shot through with such angst, such anguish. The outpourings of a man writing to save his life after the disastrous reception of his opera, Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, had brought down on his head the condemnation not only of the party but of Stalin himself.
AND……. WE HAVE A FREE TICKET ON OFFER.
A friend has an extra ticket for Saturday 16th August at 7pm which she cannot use and does not want it to be wasted.
If you would like it please email me (first come first served) and I will put you in touch.
New Rush Hour concert – 22nd October
And on October 22nd we have a new Rush Hour concert.
Harpist Hugh Webb, violist Bridget Carey and flautist Nancy Ruffer, who we last heard in March playing that wonderful Debussy recital, will be playing two pieces by young composers, Declan Molloy and Phoenix Archbold.
Phoenix’s Meandering Shadows takes us through a forest which contains many shadows, represented by all three instruments, and by their melodic lines as they shadow each other.
In Declan’s piece, The Elements, each of the four movements captures one of the earth’s four main elements: water, wind, earth and fire.
£15 for the concert and a free glass of wine – or several!
Book here.
And do not forget…..
31st August – Jazz party in the garden
Please join us for as long or as short as you like, anytime from 1.30pm to 7pm. Sol Grimshaw and his group will be playing some gentle jazz at 3pm and again at 5pm.
Bread, cheese, snacks, fruits (maybe even some from our new ‘Growing Garden’ next door) wine, beers and soft drinks will be on tap all day.
Since this is a party we want to keep the cost as low as possible but we do want to be able to pay the musicians a decent fee – so we are asking for a donation of just £10 for each ticket booked. And please do book (you do not have to specify a time) so that we have some idea of how many people are coming!!
You can book right here.
5th October – Trio Notturno in the Salons of Vienna
Trio Notturno tune in at height of the 19th century passion for the guitar. Their guitarist, Jamie Akers plays both 6 string Viennese guitars and 9 and 10 stringed instruments, both of which were hugely popular. The combination with Eva Caballero’s flute and Rachel Stott’s viola is particularly delectable.
The programme for 5th October will include familiar names such as Beethoven and Diabelli as well as their lesser-known friends and compatriots – and a recent composition specially written for Trio Notturno.
It will be followed by an early 19th century supper – including the ever popular Cabbage and Caper Salad…
To book for 5th October – go here.
For other events see our Upcoming Events page.
Leave a Reply