First – let me wish everyone a very happy New Year – and hope that you all had a very enjoyable Christmas.
So, Salon Music’s ‘big event’ for January is:
The return of Nathaniel Mander and La Pompadour on January 30th .
Nathaniel and ‘La Pomp’ will be treating us to a feast of Bach – preludes, suites, rondeaux and minuets from the Anna Magdalena Bach books, the manuscript notebooks that Johann Sebastian presented to his second wife, the singer Anna Magdalena Wilcke.
And… a world premiere….
‘A brand new rondeau in the most elegant style suitable for music lovers, composed expressly for the harpsichord, spinet or piano by Mr Mander.’
Plus, of course, a suitably ‘antique’ supper with wine.
Book here for January 30th
And do not delay as the concert is already more than half sold out.
But before that…
Friday 24th January St Pancras Clock Tower.
The Islington Festival 2025 – Fundraising concert. Founders Joana Ly and Martin André play Brahms, Martinu and Moszkowski and introduce a surprise guest musician! Complimentary drinks plus fund raising raffle and auction.
Book NOW as space is limited and last year’s event sold out in 72 hours!! A snip at £35!
And….
Sunday 26th January – 12 noon – Highgate Society Lunchtime Concert
Flautist Yu-Wei Hu and ‘romantic’ guitar player Johan Löfving, the Flauguissimo Duo, will be giving us a taste of the flute, guitar and theorbo music which was so enjoyed in intimate settings of 19th century salons.
£15 to include a glass of Bucks Fizz. Book here or pay on the door.
And then…..
Well, actually nothing, as of now, in February but on…
Sunday 9th March at 6.30pm
A feast of Debussy – with a pinch of Archbold.
For his slightly unusual trio of harp, viola and flute, my lovely harpist friend Hugh Webb has put together a delightful programme of Debussy interspersed by short pieces by his good friend, the composer Paul Archbold. He is joined by Bridget Carey on the viola and Nancy Ruffer on the flute.
Go here for full details for the programme, the players and the composer, and to book.
Meanwhile, the other night I happened to catch on Radio 3….
Sir Michael Tippetts’ New Year
Sir Michael Tippett’s last opera, written in 1989 when he was 83, has just seen its first revival in 35 years. What sounds like an extraordinary production by the Birmingham City Opera happened last July in a ‘Dream Tent’ erected on the site of the former Smithfield Wholesale Markets in central Birmingham. It was, fortunately for all of us, recorded both by the BBC and by the wonderful NMC Records, promoters of all things musically British. So you can hear it on BBC Sounds (well you can until Monday 20th January) and then later in the year, you will be able to buy a CD.
The story embraces an agoraphobic child psychologist, her disruptive foster brother confused by his African roots, their tough minded Nan – and three visitors from ‘the future’ with whom they enact Shamanic New Year revelries. Through these they ultimately resolve many of their conflicts. Confusing – but sort of uplifting.
As for the music. I cannot do better than quote from a lengthy and illuminating review in the Edinburgh Music Review:
The music itself effectively visits all eras of Tippett’s output, from the lilting and lyrical to the sparse and spicy. The orchestration is rich, contrasting and textured. It includes a battery of percussion, lead and bass electric guitars, harp and electronics, alongside the familiar strings, woodwind and brass. The score features moments of intense lyricism, mosaic-like blocks of sound, contrapuntal complexity, atonality, and riffs drawing on rap, reggae and blues. There are moments of sheer musical futurism, the driving rhythms of the present, as well as a host of references and hints to both classical and popular traditions – from fleeting Mozart (echoes of Tippett’s acclaimed first opera, ‘The Midsummer Marriage’) to mangled Morricone.
That would definitely have been worth the trip to Birmingham! Do have a listen on BBC Sounds – but remember that it only runs till 20th January.
For future happenings in at Hampstead Lane and elsewhere – see our Upcoming Events page.
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