Classical music

Colchester Classics – Classical Music Picks for April & May

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OUR CLASSICAL MUSIC COLUMNIST LIZ LEATHERDALE, FOUNDER AND OWNER OF COLCHESTER CLASSICS, BRINGS YOU HER PICK OF APRIL AND MAY’S CLASSICAL MUSIC EVENTS IN, AND AROUND, COLCHESTER.

Classics

 

Brahms’ German Requiem
Brahms’ German Requiem is not primarily a Mass for the dead but is rather intended as comfort for those who mourn and who feel pain at the death of others. This beautiful choral work will be heard Saturday 23 April at 3pm in Frinton in Frinton Parish Church performed by the Stour Choral Society plus a selection of songs for St George’s Day.

Tickets: £10 on the door (01206 271291)

The Colchester Waits

The Colchester Waits perform on reproductions of early wind instruments popular in the 15th century. This unique sound, along with dancing from the Colchester Historical Dance group, is on offer at a celebration of music and texts from Shakespeare’s time on Sunday 24 April at 2.30pm in St Andrew’s Church, Marks Tey.

Tickets: £8 on the door

Brush Up Your Shakespeare

The Pimlott Foundation presents ‘Brush Up Your Shakespeare’ with songs, sonnets and scenes associated with the Bard performed by soprano Daniela Bechly, pianist Christiane Behn and actors including Anthony Roberts. Sunday 24 April at 6pm.

Tickets: £10. Old House Barn, Old House Road, Great Horkesley. CO6 4EQ (01206 271291)

The Magic of Music

Also on Sunday 24 April, the Clacton Concert Orchestra presents a concert entitled “The Magic of Music” including both of Bizet’s L’Arlesienne Suites, and Gabriel’s Oboe, the haunting and evocative theme by Morricone from the 1986 film The Mission. Sunday 24 April at 3pm in St Bartholomew’s Church, Holland on Sea.

Tickets: £8.00 (01255 223455)

Vivaldi’s Gloria in D

On 30 April Vivaldi’s most famous choral work, his Gloria in D, will be performed in two contrasting performances. The work is popular because of its distinctive rhythms, joyful choral writing, especially for the altos in ‘Domine Fili unigenite’ and bright orchestral accompaniment showcasing the Piccolo Trumpet and Oboe.

The Kelvedon Singers celebrate their 50th anniversary, plus significant birthdays for two long-standing altos, with a concert including the Gloria. This chamber choir, now based in Coggeshall, was founded by the Rev. Peter Elers, then the Vicar of Kelvedon. Other joyous works by Schubert, Britten and Mozart will be performed by the choir and accompanied by a chamber orchestra.

Tickets: £10 – £12 (01376 561719). Saturday 30 April at 7.30pm at St Peter’s ad Vincula, Coggeshall

In contrast with the above, the large University of Essex Choir performs Vivaldi’s Gloria and Haydn’s ‘Nelson Mass’ accompanied by the London Mozart Players, no less.

Tickets: £8 – £24. www.universityofessexchoir.org Saturday 30 April at 7pm. Snape Maltings Concert Hall, Suffolk

Ashley Grote

The first anniversary series celebrating the renovation of the majestic Edwardian Organ housed in Colchester’s Town Hall begins this month with Ashley Grote (Master of Music at Norwich Cathedral). Thursday, May 26 at 7pm. Moot Hall, Colchester.

Tickets: £15 (01206 272908)

If you have a forthcoming concert of classical music, you would like previewed, contact Liz Leatherdale on 0800 999 6994.

Start your love affair with Classical Music at www.colchesterclassics.co.uk and take a minute to watch their company video: 

Liz Leatherdale

 

 

 

 

 

Liz Leatherdale

Colchester Classics – Classical Music Picks for the Remainder of January

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Our classical music columnist Liz Leatherdale, founder and owner of Colchester Classics, brings you her second lot of picks of January’s classical music events in and around Colchester

 

The Magic of the Musical

The WEA (Workers’ Educational Association), founded over one hundred years ago, provides education for adults on many topics including Music. Professor Bill Tamblyn is the tutor for “On the Shoulders of Giants”: composers who influenced music history with their large-scale symphonies, such as Havergal Brian, Shostakovich and Vaughan Williams. WEA West Bergholt Branch from January 12 (01206 240512).

Chris Green is the tutor for “The Magic of the Musical”, looking into music theatre from Greek antiquity to current hit musicals: their musical, social and economic place.

This 10-week course is presented by the WEA Colchester Branch from January 14 (01206 502698)

 

On the Bright Side

Saturday 9 January – Chris Green conducts the Trianon Choir and Symphony Orchestra in a concert entitled On the Bright Side with toe-tapping music from Gilbert & Sullivan, Eric Idle, Eric Coates, Rodgers & Hammerstein and John Williams. Some choir and orchestra members will be busking outside the concert venue from 6.40pm in aid of charity. This concert starts at 7.30pm and is in the Ipswich Corn Exchange, IP1 1DH.

Tickets: from £9.50 (01394 283170)

 

Puccini

The Kingfisher Ensemble performs its first concert for 2016 in Lion Walk Church, Colchester at 2.45pm. Founder and leader Beth Spendlove will be joined by Greg Eaton, Wendy Poulston, Susie Davis & Chris Slatter performing Puccini’s  Crisantemi in C#minor, Beethoven’s  String Quartet in Bb No.6 op.18 No.6 and Schubert’s  String Quintet in C op.Posth with two ’cellos

 

Essex Chamber Orchestra

Many musicians based in Colchester and the surrounding area perform with the Essex Chamber Orchestra. This orchestra comes together three times a year for intensive weekend rehearsals followed by a series of concerts.  Its first intensive weekend course for 2016, culminating in a concert on Sunday 10 January 2016 at 7pm. This concert includes popular music including Waldteufel’s Skater’s Waltz, Johann Strauss’ Blue Danube and Khachaturian’s Masquerade Suite. Ingatestone & Fryerning Community Centre, 7 High Street, Ingatestone

 

Ian Ray and Geoff Harniess

Following last Tuesday’s lunchtiEssex Chamber Orchestrame concert in Colchester’s iconic Moot Hall, this Wednesday Ian Ray will be accompanying trumpeter Geoff Harniess in their debut lunchtime recital at the Cramphorn Studio in Chelmsford. January 13 at 1pm (01245 606505).

If you have a forthcoming concert of classical music, you would like previewed, contact Liz Leatherdale on 0800 999 6994.

Start your love affair with Classical Music at www.colchesterclassics.co.uk and take a minute to watch their company video:

 

Liz Leatherdale

 

 

 

 

Liz Leatherdale

Colchester Classics – Classical music picks for January

colchester101

Our classical music columnist Liz Leatherdale, founder and owner of Colchester Classics, brings you her pick of January’s classical music events in and around Colchester

 

Haydn’s Cello Concerto

In January 2016, Laura van der Heijden, BBC Young Musician of the Year 2012, performs Haydn’s Cello Concerto in D with the Colchester Symphony Orchestra conducted by Chris Phelps. Laura gave her debut performance with this orchestra in 2013 in a breath-taking reading of Dvorak’s Cello Concerto. The following year she returned to perform the achingly beautiful and emotionally demanding Cello Concerto by Elgar. Having heard her at both of these concerts I can imagine that there will be high demand for tickets. Saturday 16 January at 7.30pm in St Botolph’s Church, Colchester.

Laura van den Heijden began playing the recorder at the age of 4, achieving Grade 8 Distinction in both Cello and Piano by the age of 10!  Since becoming the BBC Young Musician of the Year, Laura has performed regularly as a soloist with a range of prestigious orchestras, including the Royal Philharmonic, the English Chamber Orchestra, and the London Mozart Players.

Tickets: £3 – £14. 01206 271128 or email amanda.arnold@lineone.net

 

Mozart’s Requiem

On Saturday 30 January, the University of Essex Choir accompanied by the London Handel Orchestra perform Mozart’s Requiem. Composed during the last year of Mozart’s life it is one of his most popular works, although the question of how much of the music Mozart managed to complete before his death and how much was later composed by Sussmayr or others is still debated. Ivor Crewe Lecture Hall, University of Essex. Saturday 30 January 2016 at 7pm.

Tickets: £5 – £20. 01206 393293

 

If you have a forthcoming concert of classical music, you would like previewed, contact Liz Leatherdale on 0800 999 6994.

Start your love affair with Classical Music at www.colchesterclassics.co.uk and take a minute to watch their company video:

Liz Leatherdale

Liz Leatherdale

 

Colchester Classics – Classical Music Picks for November

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Our classical music columnist Liz Leatherdale, founder and owner of Colchester Classics, brings you her pick of November’s classical music event in and around Colchester

Handel’s Messiah

Messiah is one of the best-known and most frequently performed choral works in Western music and is a set work for the current GCSE Music course. It includes much well-known music such as the Hallelujah Chorus, when the audience traditionally stands. The story goes that when King George II first heard this chorus, he was so inspired that he stood up. When everyone saw him standing, they stood too and so the tradition began!

This wonderful work is often performed and can be heard in Witham and Chelmsford over the coming weeks.

Patrick McCarthy celebrates 20 seasons as conductor of the Witham Choral Society with a full scale performance of Messiah including some of Handel’s alternative solos. Patrick will also be the bass soloist with Gill Wilson (soprano) and Elaine Henson (mezzo) and the Colchester Bach Orchestra. November 7, 7.30pm, Witham Public Hall, Collingwood Road, Witham.

Tickets from £10 (0345 017 8717 or 01621 854621)

Harlow Chorus

This year Harlow Chorus, a highly successful amateur choir of some 100 members, celebrates 40 years of choral singing. Its opening anniversary season will be a Remembrance concert including Benjamin Britten’s Agnus Dei from his War Requiem, Bob Chilcott’s Requiem and a gift commission from Paul Ayres of Bless this house, made famous by Perry Como in the 40’s. Saturday, 7 November at 7pm. St John’s Church, Epping. Next month the choir also performs Handel’s Messiah. Saturday 12 December, 7pm, Chelmsford Cathedral.

Tickets from £15 (01277 362440)

Remembrance and Thanksgiving Concert

On Sunday 8 and Wednesday 11 November our nation will pause for thought at 11am to remember and honour those who have sacrificed themselves to secure and protect our freedom.

A Remembrance and Thanksgiving Concert will take place on November 7 with the main choral work being Duruflé’s Requiem. The mood of this work, as befits a Mass for the Dead, is largely reflective and solemn with moments of great beauty. Taking a plainsong chant as a starting point Durufle used Fauré’s Requiem as a model by including important solo parts for organ, mezzo-soprano and baritone. The up and coming mezzo on this occasion will be Joanna Arnold (I recall her being the soloist in the same work with the Colchester Bach Choir in her parents’ Mayoral year).  This time Joanna will be performing with the Lexden Choral Society accompanied by the Kingfisher Sinfonietta conducted by John Chillingworth. Other works in this concert include music by Parry and Holst. St Botolph’s Church, Colchester Saturday 7 November 2015, 7.30pm.

Tickets £12

Moot Hall Organ Recital

‘We will remember them’ is the title of the next Colchester Moot Hall organ recital by Honorary Borough organist, Ian Ray. Music associated with the annual observance of Remembrance Day will be performed including the stirring Dam Buster’s March by Eric Coates and Elgar’s Nimrod from his Enigma Variations. Tuesday November 10, at 1pm, Colchester Moot Hall.

Admission is free with retiring collection in aid of The Mayor’s Charities

Halstead & District Choral Society

In which pieces of music can Handel’s most famous Hallelujah Chorus be heard? Yes, in the most well-known and frequently performed oratorio, Messiah, but he also used it in another choral work – the Foundling Hospital Anthem. Handel conducted the first performance at a benefit concert in aid of the children’s Foundling Hospital (now known as the Great Ormond Street Hospital.)

Zadok the Priest, by far the most popular of the Handel’s four Coronation Anthems, was also used in another oratorio, Esther, and it has been performed at every British Coronation since its first performance for King George II. Both the Foundling Hospital Anthem and Zadok the Priest will be sung by the Halstead & District Choral Society on Saturday November 14 at 7.30pm in St Andrew’s Church, Halstead. Tickets: £10 in advance (01787 473002) or £12 on the door

Patrick McCarthy will conduct another Handel oratorio, Judas Maccabaeus, later in the month.  Soloists Gill Wilson and Elaine Henson will perform with the Ipswich Bach Choir and Ipswich Chamber Orchestra at 7.00pm on November 21, 2015 at Ipswich School.

Tickets: £5 – £12 www.ipswichbachchoir.co.uk

If you have a forthcoming concert of classical music, you would like previewed, contact Liz Leatherdale on 0800 999 6994.

Start your love affair with Classical Music at www.colchesterclassics.co.uk and take a minute to watch their company video:

Liz Leatherdale

 

 

 

 

 

Liz Leatherdale

Colchester Classics – Classical Music Picks for September

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Our Classical Music columnist Liz Leatherdale, founder and owner of Colchester Classics, brings you her pick of August’s Classical Music events in, and around, Colchester.

 

Colne Valley Youth Orchestra

Launched in 1981, the Colne Valley Youth Orchestra provides young Essex musicians opportunities to perform in our region and also tour in Europe. On Sunday the orchestra will perform music by Brahms, Dvorak and Bizet. Special guest Will Quince MP will sing music from Les Miserables and also Nessun Dorma, the famous tenor aria from Puccini’s Turandot. Free admission with retiring collection. Sunday September 6, 3pm. Firstsite, Colchester.
Another performance at Colchester’s contemporary art gallery has been chosen by BBC Music Magazine as one of 20 unmissable events in September. The young and exciting Sacconi Quartet will give the world premiere of a string quartet by pianist and composer Gwilym Simcock within an exhibition of new canvasses by the Roman River Festival artist John Doubleday at Firstsite. Quartets by Nielsen and Sibelius complete the programme. Friday 25 September at 7.30pm Firstsite, Colchester.

Tickets from £12 (01206 729356)

 

Belmont Ensemble of London and the English Chamber Choir

Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and other baroque favourites will be performed by the Belmont Ensemble of London and the English Chamber Choir in Chelmsford Cathedral. Saturday, September 5 at 7pm. Tickets are available for this charity concert for a suggested £20 donation to the Essex Clergy Charity.

Email nigel@garden-shows.com for details

 

Another Breath of Fresh Air

‘Another Breath of Fresh Air’ is the title of a concert featuring music for wind and brass instruments composed by Peter Thorne, pianist, conductor and composer based in Frinton. Peter’s recent composition, Paean, was a runner-up in Pipeworks, Colchester’s Moot Hall Organ composition competition and the work was performed last month at a lunchtime concert during Organ Fest. Saturday’s concert includes Peter’s Showtime for Brass Quintet and Romances for flute and piano, and also unaccompanied recorder music by Van Eyck. Saturday September 5 at 4pm. Colchester Institute, Swinburne Hall, Colchester.

Tickets: £10 (01255 852502)

 

Roman River Festival

This month the Roman River Festival opens in an idyllic new venue in Mistley. Piano trios by Rachmaninov, Shostakovich and Brahms plus Alissa Firsova’s Fantasy for Cello & Piano will be performed by Roman Simović and Tim Hugh (both London Symphony Orchestra Principals) with composer, pianist and conductor, Alissa Firsova. Thursday, September 17, 8pm. St Mary and St Michael’s Church, Mistley. Tickets: £18 (01206 241027). Alissa’s debut CD, Russian Emigres, is now available and was recently reviewed in the Colchester Gazette.

Freephone 0800 999 6994 for further details

 

University of Essex Choir

Open rehearsals offer potential new members the chance to sing with a choir, see how it works and meet current members. Next month the University of Essex Choir has an open rehearsal on Thursday 8 October at 7pm at the University. (Email members@universityofessexchoir.org This month Witham Choral Society will be rehearsing Handel’s Messiah on Tuesdays starting 8 September at the United Reformed Church, Newland Street, Witham at 7.45pm and all singers are very welcome

(01621 854621) www.withamchoralsociety.org.uk

 

Come and Sing

The first Come and Sing event in September is Faure’s Requiem hosted by the Halstead & District Choral Society. It is one of the composer’s best known works and includes the popular soprano aria Pie Jesu. Come and Sing events often offer the opportunity to rehearse a large-scale choral work in the afternoon and present a concert in the evening. Admission for singers for this event is £8 and £5 for the audience. If you would like to join the choir for both the afternoon rehearsal (from 3pm) and the choral concert (at 7.30pm), please register asap.

Further details by ‘phone (01787 473002) or visit www.halsteadchoral.co.uk . Saturday, September 26 at St Andrew’s Church, Halstead

 

The Glories of the Moot Hall Organ

The Glories of the Moot Hall organ is the title of the Roman River Festival’s first ever organ recital. Young organist Tom Bell presents a varied programme including music by Bliss, Bridge, Duruflé and the winners from the Pipeworks competition (John Furse’s Moot Points and Mark Bellis’ Graduation Toccata). During the concert Tom will accompany the Colchester Chamber Choir in some popular music including Fauré’s Cantique de Jean Racine. Sunday 27 September, 5pm, Colchester Town Hall. Tickets: £12 (01206 729356). The Roman River Festival (17 September – 4 October) covers a wide range of music and actively encourages anyone under the age of 30 to enjoy concerts.

Tickets priced from £3 www.romanrivermusic.org.uk

 

If you have a forthcoming concert of classical music, you would like previewed, contact Liz Leatherdale on 0800 999 6994.

Start your love affair with Classical Music at www.colchesterclassics.co.uk and take a minute to watch their company video:

 

Liz Leatherdale

 

 

 

Liz Leatherdale

Colchester Classics – Classical Music Picks

colchester101

Our Classical Music columnist Liz Leatherdale, founder and owner of Colchester Classics, brings you her pick of August’s Classical Music events in, and around, Colchester.


Enrique Granados and Isaac Albeniz

Two of the most well-known composers of Catalan music from the last century are Enrique Granados and Isaac Albeniz.  On Thursday 6 August at 12.30pm, Peter Dollimore presents a concert of this style of piano music in St Peter ad Vincula, Coggeshall. Lunchtime concerts start at 12.30pm.. Light lunches available from 12 noon.

Admission is free – retiring collection

 

Gilbert and Sullivan’s – Iolanthe

On Sunday 9 August at 2.30pm Illyria Theatre Company returns to the beautiful walled gardens at The Minories, Colchester for Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic opera, Iolanthe, set half in Fairyland, half in Westminster will be performed. In typical G & S style, its surprisingly topical satire pokes fun at love, class, politics and how those from different backgrounds form uneasy relationships. All llyria productions are performed by a reduced cast with live piano accompaniment. Having seen Mikado at the The Minories a couple of years ago I can highly recommend Illyria Theatre productions of Gilbert and Sullivan. Iolanthe will be staged outside with some unreserved seating, so be prepared for an outdoor performance! Sunday August 9 at 2.30pm.

Tickets: £14 or £36.00 for a family ticket.  The Minories, 74, High Street, Colchester.  (01206) 712437

 

Organ Fest

Colchester Town Hall’s majestic Edwardian organ in the magnificent setting of the Moot Hall has been recently renovated to its former glory.  The inaugural ‘Organ Fest’ a series of four lunchtime concerts, began with organist Dr Gillian Ward Russell on Tuesday 21 July.  The final concert is on Tuesday 11 August when Andrew Cantrill performs Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on ‘Greensleeves’ and Walton’s Coronation March ‘Orb & Sceptre’. Full details on the restored organ and all the organists involved in this mini-festival can be found at www.moothallorgan.co.uk. Colchester Town Hall, High Street, Colchester.

Admission is free to the Organ Fest recital with a retiring collection for the Mayor’s Charities.

 

Summer Lunchtime – St Botolph’s

Summer Lunchtime concerts were recently launched at St Botolph’s, Colchester on 22 July and continue until 23 September. This month there is a Harp recital on Wednesday August 19 with performances by Louise Binks and Maria Creasey.

 

Roman River Festival – The Glories of the Moot Hall Organ

Tickets are now available for The Glories of the Moot Hall Organ – the Roman River Festival’s first ever organ recital. Young organist Tom Bell presents a varied programme including music by Bliss, Bridge, Duruflé and the winners from the Pipeworks competition (John Furse’s Moot Points and Mark Bellis’ Graduation Toccata). During the concert Tom will accompany the Colchester Chamber Choir in some popular music including Fauré’s Cantique de Jean Racine. Sunday 27 September, 5pm, Colchester Town Hall. Tickets: £12 (01206 729356). The Roman River Festival (17 September – 4 October) covers a wide range of music and actively encourages anyone under the age of 30 to enjoy concerts.

Tickets priced from £3 www.romanrivermusic.org.uk

 

BBC Proms

Last but not least, do dip into the greatest Classical Music festival on earth, the BBC Proms: an eight-week summer season of classical music concerts held predominantly in the glorious Royal Albert Hall and available on TV, Radio and the iPlayer.

Yasmin Rowe

Young international pianist Yasmin Rowe presents an eclectic mix of music from Bach to Piazolla in St Botolph’s Church, Colchester, later in August. Yasmin’s family is celebrating various significant birthdays and this free concert will make these events even more memorable.

Yasmin was last heard in Colchester in 2008 as soloist in Grieg’s Piano Concerto.  Since then she has performed at various concert venues worldwide and recovered from surgery to her left hand.   The first half of the concert will be solo piano music and after the interval Yasmin will be joined by the highly regarded international cellist, Yelian He.  Saturday 22 August at 7.30pm, St Botolph’s Church, Colchester.

Admission is free with a retiring collection.

 

The same venue continues its Summer Lunchtime Concert series with a recital of Harp Music with Louise Binks and Maria Creasey. Wednesday 19 August at 1pm.

Admission is free with a retiring collection.

 

If you have a forthcoming concert of classical music, you would like previewed, contact Liz Leatherdale on 0800 999 6994.

 

Start your love affair with Classical Music at www.colchesterclassics.co.uk and take a minute to watch their company video:

 

Liz Leatherdale

Liz Leatherdale