NEW! Interview with Bertrand Chamayou
04/11/2015
NEW! The Musical Loders of Bath – Study Day
23/10/2015
The Loder Family and their Music in Provincial Britain: The Picture Gallery, Holburne Museum, Bathwick, Bath, England 15.10.15 (RJW)
The Night Dancers – (c) The Richard Bonynge Archive, Switzerland
Bruce Dickey on the Cornetto and the Vespers
18/10/2015
Bruce Dickey on the Cornetto and the Vespers
Bruce Dickey
For four decades, Bruce Dickey has almost single-handedly pioneered the resurgence of the cornetto, an instrument forgotten for centuries but absolutely essential to faithful historical performance. He has been a fixture at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, leading new students of the instrument forward. In 2000, the Historic Brass Society awarded him the prestigious Christopher Monk Award for ‘his monumental work in cornetto performance, historical performance practice and musicological scholarship’. Read more
NCEM Young Composers Award 2016
18/10/2015
NCEM Young Composers Award 2016
The National Centre for Early Music and BBC Radio 3 are proud to present the 2016 NCEM Young Composers Award in partnership with Theatre of the Ayre, directed by one of Europe’s leading lutenists, Elizabeth Kenny, with mezzo soprano Clare Wilkinson and Nicholas Mulroy, tenor. The Award will be launched on BBC Radio 3’s Early Music Show on Sunday 1 November 2015. The broadcast includes performances of the winning pieces of the 2015 Award. Read more
Sir David Willcocks, CBE, MC. 30 December 1919 – 17 September 2015
18/09/2015
Sir David Willcocks, CBE, MC. 30 December 1919 – 17 September 2015
Sir David Willcocks, CBE, MC.
30 December 1919 – 17 September 2015
NEW! New Energy in Early Music in the Pacific Northwest: An Interview with Matthew White
10/09/2015
New Energy in Early Music in the Pacific Northwest: An Interview with Matthew White
Matthew White
NEW! Nicola Benedetti announces a UK & Ireland tour in September 2015: Italy and The Four Seasons
10/09/2015
Nicola Benedetti announces 11 date tour of the UK & Ireland in September 2015: Italy and The Four Seasons
Including the world premiere of a new work for violin and cello by Mark Anthony Turnage
17 September 2015, 7.30pm Concert Hall, Perth
18 September 2015, 7.30pm Eden Court, Inverness
19 September 2015, 7.30pm Usher Hall, Edinburgh
20 September 2015, 7.30pm Music Hall, Aberdeen
22 September 2015, 7.30pm The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
24 September 2015, 7.30pm Town Hall, Leeds
26 September 2015, 7.30pm Symphony Hall, Birmingham
27 September 2015, 3.00pm Royal Albert Hall, London
28 September 2015, 7.30pm Corn Exchange, Cambridge
29 September 2015, 7.30pm, Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow
30 September 2015, 8.00pm National Concert Hall, Dublin
Nicola Benedetti violin
Leonard Elschenbroich cello
Tchaikovsky: Souvenir de Florence
Mark-Anthony Turnage: New work for violin and cello
Vivaldi: Grosso Mogul in D major
Vivaldi: Four Seasons
From 17 – 30 September 2015, violinist Nicola Benedetti embarks on an eleven date tour of the UK and Ireland with cellist Leonard Elschenbroich and a group of first class ensemble musicians. The programme, specially curated by Benedetti, is inspired by the spirit of Italy and Nicola’s own Italian heritage.
Nicola Benedetti and Leonard Elschenbroich (c) Jane Lawrence
The concert features two seminal works from the classical repertoire – Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir de Florence – both works which have enjoyed unparalleled popularity for centuries. Benedetti and the entire ensemble also perform Vivaldi’s Grosso Mogul in D major as featured on her Italia album.
The concert will also include the world premiere of a work for violin and cello by Mark-Anthony Turnage written specially for Benedetti and Elschenbroich. The piece, which is also reminiscent of Italy, is inspired by the musicians’ relationship and comprises of five love duets.
Nicola Benedetti commented, ‘I am so looking forward to touring this incredible programme around the great halls of the UK and Ireland. Italy’s place in the cultural landscape of Europe is unparalleled. This is reason enough for it to be a central theme for this tour but my own personal heritage gives it extra poignancy for me.’
Mark Anthony Turnage commented, ‘I met Nicola and Leonard at a Prom last summer. Although we didn’t discuss a new piece I knew straight away that I wanted to write a new work for them. So when a few months later they asked me for a short work for Violin and Cello duet I jumped at it. Meantime, I did my research and read about their relationship. It was a very touching account of them meeting at music school and later falling in love. So I thought, why don’t I write a piece that celebrates them as a couple. Hence, five love duets. A few of them are a little fiery and passionate but most of them tender and lyrical.’
Nicola Benedetti is one of the most sought after violinists of her generation. Her ability to captivate audiences with her innate musicianship and dynamic presence, coupled with her wide appeal as a high profile advocate for classical music, has made her one of the most influential classical artists of today. Winner of Best Female Artist at both 2012 and 2013 Classical BRIT Awards, Nicola records exclusively for Decca (Universal Music). The enormous success of Nicola’s most recent recording, Homecoming; A Scottish Fantasy, made Nicola the first solo British violinist since the 1990s to enter the Top 20 of the Official UK Albums Chart. She is credited with broadening the appeal of classical music to young and new audiences through her extensive education work and appearances at events such the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony and iTunes Festival. Nicola was appointed as a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2013 New Year Honours, in recognition of her international music career and work with musical charities throughout the UK.
Raymond Weil UK’s brand director Craig Leach commented, ‘We are delighted to announce our involvement as Nicola Benedetti’s Official Tour Partner and Sponsor. For many years, we have watched and admired Nicola’s immense skill as a musician having first met her at the Classic BRIT AWARDS in 2011. After discovering details of the work that she undertakes for children at grass roots level through education, it seemed a natural step for us to combine forces.’
Tickets:
Concert Hall, Perth: www.horsecross.co.uk, 0173 862 1031
Eden Court, Inverness: www.eden-court.co.uk, 0146 323 4234
Usher Hall, Edinburgh: www.usherhall.co.uk, 0131 228 1155
Music Hall, Aberdeen: www.boxofficeaberdeen.com, 0122 463 2080
The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester: www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk, 0161 907 9000
Town Hall, Leeds: www.leedsconcertseason.com, 0113 224 3801
Symphony Hall, Birmingham: www.thsh.co.uk, 0121 345 0600
Royal Albert Hall, London: www.royalalberthall.com, 0845 401 5034
Corn Exchange, Cambridge: www.cornex.co.uk, 0122 333 5184
Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow: http://www.glasgowconcerthalls.com, 0141 353 8000
National Concert Hall, Dublin: www.nch.ie, 0141 70 000
Magnificent Schubert from Bernard Haitink and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe.
30/08/2015
Prom 57 – Schubert and Mozart: Maria João Pires (piano), Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Bernard Haitink (conductor). Royal Albert Hall, London, 28.8.2015 (MB)
Prom 57 CR BBC Chris Christodoulou 1
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