Shropshire Music Trust - 11-12 Concerts

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PROGRAMME DETAILS

Sat 29 Oct
St. Chad's Church, Shrewsbury, 7.30pm
ACADEMY OF ST MARTIN IN THE FIELDS

ELGAR - Serenade
FINZI - Romance
MOZART - Symphony No.17 in G K129
WALTON - Two Pieces from Henry V
MOZART - Symphony No.29 in A K201

The Academy of St Martin in the Fields return to Shrewsbury with an exquisite string programme which perfectly showcases the Academy's world-famous string sound and their enthusiasm for fresh, brilliant interpretation of the world's most loved classical music.

One of the finest chamber orchestras in the world – it is renowned for its polished and refined sound rooted in outstanding musicianship and performs some 100 concerts around the world each year, becoming in 1993 the first and only orchestra to be awarded the Queen's Award for Export. Originally directed by Sir Neville Marriner from the leader's chair, the collegiate spirit and flexibility of the original small, conductorless ensemble remains an Academy hallmark.

This concert marks Kenneth Sillito's final performance as Music Director with the Academy. First asked to perform with the Academy in 1980, Ken has had a long and distinguished international career, leading the Academy and its Chamber Ensemble in an annual programme of inspirational and inventive programmes, as well as founding the Gabrieli String Quartet.

'The string sound is just gorgeous, big and pliant and vibrant, and the ensemble level defies all expectations - every note, every attack, precisely in the right place. Incisive, committed playing brings every measure to life.' Sunday Times

'The musicianship that streamed from the stage last night was beyond superlatives…This legendary conductor-less orchestra coupled all the grandeur of epic classical playing with the flawless intimacy of seasoned chamber musicians' Glasgow Herald
In association with

Sun 6 Nov - Afternoon
Concord College, Acton Burnell, 3.00pm
INNOVATION ENSEMBLE
Chamber Players from CBSO

Mark O'Brien - Clarinet
Zoe Beyers - Violin
Richard Jenkinson - 'Cello
Benjamin Frith - Piano

French 20th Century Masterpieces
Debussy - Cello Sonata (1915)
Debussy - Violin Sonata (1917)
Ravel - Sonata for Violin & Cello (1922)
Messiaen - The Quartet for the End of Time (1941)

Another specially designed glorious programme by this amazing ensemble featuring music written in France during the World Wars. The Debussy sonatas from the end of his life were written in war-torn Paris. The Ravel Sonata, in memory of Debussy, shows a unique use of the instruments, the second movement describing a tennis match - his favourite sport!

Messiaen wrote the Quartet for the End of Time based on texts from the Book of Revelation whilst interred at the Stalag VIII-A concentration camp. First performed to an audience of about four hundred fellow prisoners of war and prison guards the composer himself wrote "Never was I listened to with such rapt attention and comprehension."

Extended Interval - includes 'mini-masterclass'on the Messaien (10-15mins)

In association with Concord College

Fri 11 Nov
St. Mary's Church, Shrewsbury 7.30pm
CLAIRE JONES - harp & IEUAN JONES - harp

Programme includes works by John Thomas, JS Bach, Krumpholtz, Schubert, Tournier
Return by popular demand from last season, Claire Jones - Official Harpist to HRH Prince of Wales, this time in partnership with another distinguished colleague, Ieuan Jones who has been the only ever Harpist to the House of Commons and is credited as having done most to change the perception of the harp world-wide.

Don't miss this special evening of luscious music-making.

'Pure wizardry'(Duo) - Music & Musicians
'The Golden Girl of the harp world'(Claire) - Financial Times
'Outstandingly gifted'(Ieuan) - Sir George Solti

Mon 21 Nov - Lunchtime
St. Mary's Church, Shrewsbury, 1.00 - 2.00pm
DUNYA DUO

Music from the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East

Kalia (voice, nay) & Vasilis Sarikis (percussion)

'Dunya Duo' perform music from their native Greece, as well as Turkey and the Arab world - a rich tapestry of sound with melismatic singing, breathy tones on Arabic reed flute and organic and powerful rhythms on frame drums.

Join them this lunchtime and be transported to the sunny shores of the Mediterranean and the exotic markets of the Middle East.
School parties welcome

Member of Yehudi Menuhin's Live Music Now! Scheme

Tickets on door or SMT postal Box Office only

Tue 29 Nov
St. Mary's Church, Shrewsbury, 7.30pm
INTERNATIONAL BAROQUE PLAYERS
"Baroque for Christmas"

VIOLINS - Johannes Pramsohler (director), George Clifford, Stephen Pedder, Kinga Uszjaszi
VIOLA - Aliye Cornish
CELLO - Jonathan Rees
HARPSICHORD - Masumi Yamamoto

A programme in celebration of Christmas explored through the medium of the Concerto.

Vivaldi, Torelli and Manfredini with some of the most extraordinarily beautiful works written for this time of year, give a flavour of Italy at Advent - and including the most famous of them all, Corelli's ever-popular Christmas Concerto (Op.6 No.8). From the pastoral scenes of the shepherds, to the moment of the birth of Christ, the various parts of the nativity story are illuminated through the music.

The International Baroque Players were formed in 2009, out of a mixture of the Britten-Pears Baroque Orchestra courses at Aldeburgh and the European Union Baroque Orchestra. Its members are drawn from the newest generation of professional string players, and they bring together a variety of diverse musical and cultural backgrounds. Since their inception they have performed in collaboration with Daniel Hope (at the 100 Club in London) and Emma Kirkby (as part of the Brighton Early Music Festival). They have also recorded their first CD (due for release in February 2012), made their debut on London’s South Bank and won a Deutsche Bank Award in Performance.

Future plans include a busy 2011-2012 season including an appearance at the London Handel Festival, and the recording of their second disc in 2013.

'The hottest young band around' - Sean Rafferty, BBC Radio 3

Programme:

Corelli - Concerto Grosso Op.6 No.8
I: Vivace II: Allegro III: Adagio - Allegro - Adagio IV: Vivace V: Allegro VI: Largo - Pastoral

Torelli - Christmas Concerto Op.8 No.6
I: Grave - Vivace II: Largo III: Vivace

Locatelli - Concerto Grosso in F minor Op.1 No.8
I: Largo - Grave - Vivace II: Grave III: Largo - Andante IV: Andante V: Pastorale

Francesco Scarlatti - Concerto grosso in A minor
I: Allegro II: Andante III: Larghetto IV: Allegro

Manfredini - Concerto Grosso Op.3 No.12 "For the holy birth"
I: Pastorale II: Largo III: Allegro

Vivaldi - Concerto for strings RV 270 "for the holy birth"
Allegro - Adagio - Allegro

Tue 6 Dec
St. Chad's Church, 7.30pm
EX CATHEDRA
"Christmas by Candlelight”

The always packed, now traditional and ever popular unique celebration of seasonal music with readings.
Book early!

Sponsored by
Lanyon Bowdler
SOLICITORS

Wed 25 Jan
Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 7.30pm
PLUCK 'Musical Arson'

What happens when great music falls into the hands of talented idiots? You get the world's most musically challenged string trio - PLUCK!
Pluck is the group of three hilarious musicians who compete, ridicule, argue and seduce their way through Bach to the Beatles. Since winning the prestigious Tap Water Award at the 2003 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, these crazy characters have astonished audiences in the UK, Europe, Australia and Asia with their unique combination of comedy and superb musicianship.

Now it's Shrewsbury's turn to enjoy Pluck's melodic buffoonery as they wreak havoc between harmonies - Bring the family and join them for an evening of totally unpredictable musical arson!

'Gloriously funny' - The Scotsman
'Classical music for all shoe sizes' - Sunday Times
'…a mix of sweet music and complete mayhem…' - Time Out

Sponsored by
Reprographix

Fri 10 Feb
St. Chad's Church, Shrewsbury, 7.30pm
Celebrity Recital
JOHN LILL piano
Don't miss!

BEETHOVEN - Sonata in in D, Op 10 No3
BEETHOVEN - Sonata in C, Op 53 'Waldstein'
BRAHMS - Two Rhapsodies, Op 79 (B min, G min)
BRAHMS - Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Handel, Op 24

John Lill is known as a leading interpreter of Beethoven and Brahms and he returns to Shropshire with a programme to include the powerful 'Waldstein' Sonata.

Britain's most well known pianist, John first came to international attention when he won the coveted Tchaikovsky award in Moscow in 1970 and his concert career now spans over fifty years. Known for his aristocratic interpretations of Beethoven and the great masters of the nineteenth and twentieth century piano repertoire, he performs all over the world and was awarded a CBE in 2005.

His extensive recordings include with Deutsche Grammophon, EMI (Complete Beethoven Piano Concertos), ASV (Brahms Concertos), Pickwick, Nimbus, Signum, and Classics for Pleasure. He holds no less than eight Honorary Doctorates and several Fellowships from leading Universities and Music Academies.

John Lill is, without doubt, one of the finest pianists at work today and his undemonstrative appearance on stage belies a fiercely passionate and romantic temperament.' - Record Review

Driven by trenchant intellect, magisterial authority, technical suppleness and emotional fire - it is performances as good as this which makes concert going such a joy' - New York Times

Sat 25 Feb
Holy Trinity Church, Oswestry, 7.30pm
In association with
ENGLISH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
TASMIN LITTLE - violin / director
STEPHANIE GONLEY - director

HANDEL - Concerto Grosso Op.6 No.8
BARTOK - Divertimento
VIVALDI - The Four Seasons

The English Chamber Orchestra is the world's most recorded chamber orchestra and their illustrious history features many musical figures including Britten, Barenboim, Murray Perahia and Mitsuko Uchida. For this concert, together with Tasmin Little, one of our most popular and successful violin soloists, the ECO and its celebrated leader/director Stephanie Gonley offer an attractive and exciting programme. Bartok's charismatic and beguiling "Divertimento" is one of the ECO's favourite 20th century showpieces, and is flanked by two gems from the baroque period, culminating with Vivaldi's ever-popular Four Seasons.

'A thrillingly vibrant performance...the ECO's playing is world-class' - Evening Standard
'Playing of this standard transcends questions of style or authenticity...breathtaking beauty and fluency...nothing less than superb' - International Record Review
'A formidable talent!' - New York Times

Local Box Office: Music Makers, Albion Hill, Oswestry Tel: 01691 654510
In association with Oswestry School Recital Series Tel: 01691 681135
This will be a very popular event – Early booking advised

Sponsored by
Lanyon Bowdler
SOLICITORS

Sun 26 Feb - Afternoon
Maidment Hall, Shrewsbury School, 3.00pm
ENSEMBLE 360
with Narrator Polly Ives
THE CHIMPANZEES OF HAPPYTOWN
Children's Concert

Follow the story of Chutney the chimp as he and his beautiful tree help to spread colour and happiness throughout the town.

Following last year's sell-out tour, Ensemble 360 and Polly Ives present this brand new piece for 2 – 7 year olds.

Music in the Round's Children's Composer in Residence Paul Rissmann has written this imaginative and inspirational piece based on the children's book, The Chimpanzees of Happytown by Giles Andreae (illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees and published by Orchard Books). With projections of the images from the book and lots of audience participation, this concert is ideal for engaging young children in high quality music, as well as firing up their imaginations.

Have a look at a promotional video here - click on the picture of Mrs Blakemore in the school: http://www.musicintheround.co.uk/editorial.php?id=97

Join Ensemble 360 musicians for more musical fun in the foyer after the concert.
Funded by JG Graves Charitable, Garrick Charitable Trust, Foyle Foundation, Mayfield Valley Arts Trust, Garfield Weston Foundation, Church Burgesses Educational Foundation and Freshgate Trust Foundation

In association with Shrewsbury School www.shrewsburybookfest.co.uk

Sun 26 Feb - Evening
Maidment Theatre, Shrewsbury School, 7.30pm
ENSEMBLE 360
'INTIMATE LETTERS'

SCHUBERT - String Quintet in C D.956
JANÁČEK - String Quartet No.2 "Intimate Letters" - semi-staged with readings

Claudia Ajmone-Marsan - VIOLIN
Judith Busbridge - VIOLA
Laurène Durantel - DOUBLE BASS
Benjamin Nabarro - VIOLIN
Gemma Rosefield - CELLO

Music in the Round's resident group Ensemble 360 presents Janáček's stunning second quartet in a compelling new semi-staged version devised in collaboration with the actor Daniel Evans, Artistic Director of Sheffield Theatres. Janáček's letters to his young lover – here adapted by writer Paul Allen – form a remarkable commentary on the translation of a composer's inspiration into music. This quartet, Janáček's "manifesto on love”, is powerful, evocative and sweeps along on an irresistible tide of passion.

Set alongside Schubert's profound and radiant Quintet, this promises to be an evening of supreme beauty and intensity.
'With introductory talks and an informal atmosphere to the proceedings, these MinR concerts are essential listening' - The Times

In association with Shrewsbury School

Pre-concert Talk 6.45: 'Hidden Messages' - Judith and Claudia discuss how composers have hidden coded meaning in their works, in particular Janáček's Intimate Letters

Sun 4 Mar - Afternoon
St. Mary's Church, Shrewsbury, 3.00pm
NORTHERN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Nicholas Ward - Artistic Director
Raphael Wallfisch - Cello

Sibelius - Suite Mignonne
John Joubert - Cello Concerto (world première)
Delius - On hearing the first cuckoo in spring
Delius - Summer night on the river
Mozart - Symphony No.33 in B flat major

The Northern Chamber Orchestra has gained a formidable reputation performing music from Corelli to Stravinsky and beyond giving concerts throughout the west and north of England. They have made over thirty CDs with many outstanding reviews: their recording of Stravinsky's Soldier's Tale was considered by BBC Radio 3's CD Review programme to be the best English version. The orchestra's Patron is the distinguished internationally-renowned cellist, Raphael Wallfisch, and they have given many concerts and made several recordings together. Shrewsbury will hear the première of octogenarian composer, John Joubert's Cello Concerto written especially for Raphael Wallfisch.

The performance is part of Music Nation, the pre-Olympic music celebrations.

'The NCO show plenty of Italianate red corpuscles, bringing intensity and a fierce dramatic edge' - The Independent

Shropshire Music Trust, in association with , presents Northern Chamber Orchestra as part of Music Nation. Music Nation will be a Countdown Event for the London 2012 Festival and the finale of the Cultural Olympiad

Sun 11 Mar
Maidment Hall, Shrewsbury School, 7.30pm

Britten & his Inspirations : Series I

DANTE STRING QUARTET

Haydn - Quartet in D, Op 64 No 5 (The Lark)
Britten - Quartet No 1
Schubert - Quartet in A minor (Rosamunde)

Pre-Talk: 6:45pm with the Quartet

Notes for the three concerts in the Series:

Britten's fascinating set of three string quartets is heard alongside the great late works of Schubert and three of his other inspirations, Mozart, Haydn and Purcell.

Britten has emerged as one of the real "classic" composers of the 20th century. Always inventive and often startlingly original, his music is never just an intellectual exercise and is always strong on melody and dramatic development.

His lyrical side is perfectly complemented by the melodic magic of Schubert, while masterpieces by Purcell, Haydn and Mozart each throw a special light on different aspects of Britten's genius.

The Dante Quartet is well known for its imaginative programming and passionate, full-blooded performances.

Before each concert, members of the quartet will give a short talk about the programme, sharing their personal insights into the special world of Britten and his inspirations.

FREE Young People Concert Tickets (8-22 years) See Booking Form
CAVATINA Chamber Music Trust - taking Chamber Music to Young People and Young People to Chamber Music

In association with Shrewsbury School

Supported by
Friends of the SHROPSHIRE MUSIC TRUST

Fri 23 Mar
Berrington Church, nr Shrewsbury, 7.30pm
THE ROSE TRIO

Suzanne Thorn - Oboe
Rebecca Thorn - Clarinet
Tamsin Thorn - Bassoon

Programme includes: Mozart, Tansman, Britten, Poulenc, Farkas arr. Thorn, Ibert, Jolliffe, Francaix, Gordon Jacob, Gerschwin

An attractive programme of works from over the centuries ranging from Mozart's delightful Divertimenti to Call Me (On Hold / Breaking up / Crossed Lines) written for the Rose Trio in 2011 and Gerschwin (arr. Thorn) 'Walking the Dog' - informally introduced by the players.

Sisters Becky, Suzie and Tammy have been making music together since Tammy, the youngest, was just 5 years old. All former members of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain they started to seriously explore the mixed reed trio repertoire, performing as The Rose Trio, in 2006 when they were all studying in London.

First prize-winners in the 2010 Royal Over-Seas League Competition, they were also invited to take part in the Countess of Munster Recital Scheme and now have a busy concert schedule which takes them throughout the UK.

The sisters regularly collaborate with other young wind players and pianists to form chamber music groups of varying sizes and made their Wigmore Hall debut on June 2011.

Tickets from SMT Box Office

Sponsored by
Reprographix

Sat 31 Mar
Festival Drayton Centre, Market Drayton, 7.30pm
CBSO STRING QUARTET

Zoe Beyers - violin I
Jane Wright - violin II
Adam Romer - viola
Richard Jenkinson – cello

Great String Quartets
Haydn - Quartet in Eb maj, Op 33 No.2 (The Joke)
Barber - Quartet Op 11
Beethoven - Quartet No.7 in F, Op 59 No.1 (Rasumovsky)

Introducing the String Quartet: In this evening of delicious classic contrasts, Haydn is shown at his wittiest, while the early Barber quartet has the famous and sublime Adagio at its core, and Beethoven's first Rasumovsky quartet shows off this master craftsman.

Informally introduced by the players

Local Box Office: Festival Centre Tel: 01630 654444
In association with the Festival Centre Drayton Management

Sun 19 Apr
Lion Hotel, Shrewsbury, 7.30pm

Britten & his Inspirations : Series II

DANTE STRING QUARTET

Purcell - Chacony (arr. Britten)
Britten - Quartet No 2
Schubert - Quartet in G

Pre-Talk: 6:45pm with the Quartet

Notes for the three concerts in the Series:

In association with The Lion Hotel

Supported by
Friends of the SHROPSHIRE MUSIC TRUST

Sat 21 Apr

NB new Date and Venue (Rescheduled from 7 Oct 2011)
Maidment Hall, Shrewsbury School, 7:30pm

Claire Martin and Richard Rodney Bennett (75th Birthday Tour) present the Irving Berlin Songbook
"A COUPLE OF SWELLS"

Book quickly to avoid disappointment

This brand new show, with classy arrangements by Richard, includes such classics as 'Let's face the Music and Dance', 'How Deep is the Ocean', 'What'll I Do?', 'Cheek to Cheek' and 'Let yourself Go', all delivered with the style and panache that you would expect from these two great friends and world-class artists.

Claire and Richard both share a great love of the American composer and lyricist Irving Berlin, one of the greatest songwriters of all time. Berlin wrote hundreds of songs and many major hits, which made him a legend before he turned thirty.
'The albums and shows of this special song-and-piano partnership between a notably feisty jazz vocalist and an esteemed composer, set the standard for classic interpretations of popular songs.' The Observer

Sir Richard Rodney Bennett: One of Britain's most respected and versatile musicians, Bennett has produced over two hundred works for the concert hall, and fifty scores for film and television, as well as being a writer and performer of jazz songs for fifty years. Among present-day musicians, there can be few more versatile, and none better at everything he does.
'Bennett thrills with his easy charm and lightly worn brilliance. And as a performer and entertainer, there are few who can match him.' Guardian

Claire Martin (OBE): Winner of the 2010 British Jazz Awards for best female vocalist Claire has been a driving force of the UK jazz scene for the past 25 years, co-presents the BBC Radio 3 Programme - Jazz Line-Up, has appeared at The Proms, and won endless accolades including the British Jazz Awards no less than six times.
'The most gifted jazz singer this country has produced in 20 years'
'She ranks among the few finest female jazz vocalists on the planet' Jazz Times USA

Sponsored by
James, Holyoak & Parker
Chartered Accountants

Fri 4 May
Maidment Hall, Shrewsbury School, 7.30pm
JAMES GILCHRIST - tenor

CHRIS SYMONS - piano

'DIE WINTERREISE' - Schubert

One of the UK's most acclaimed lyric tenors, James Gilchrist, partnered at the piano by Christopher Symons, will perform one of the greatest song-cycles ever composed by that pre-eminent of all song-writers, Franz Schubert. The 24 songs which comprise 'Die Winterreise' trace a deep and bleak journey for voice and piano, leading the listener through the brilliantly observed emotions of the spurned lover making his way through the winter landscape towards a life of loneliness - and yet it is a profound and spiritually uplifting experience. Written in his final year of life, this cycle was his own favourite.

He wrote to a friend 'I like these songs more than all the others, and you will get to like them too.'

James Gilchrist is recognised as one of the elite of English tenors (having started out in life as a doctor). He has appeared on the national and international concert platforms with most of the great orchestras and conductors. He is also renowned for his many operatic roles and recitals, and his huge recording output is greatly praised.

Christopher Symons is well-known in the region for his many musical involvements and collaborations including with Martin Roscoe, John Lill, Tasmin Little, Stephen Varcoe, the Allegri and Skampa String Quartets, and James Gilchrist. He is also the Director of the popular Oswestry School Recital Series.

Pre-Talk: 7.00pm Chris Symons talks about Schubert and 'Die Winterreise' - its place in Schubert's song legacy, the poems and the piano-writing: and a chance to grasp the context of Song Cycles, Leider, Art Song

In association with Shrewsbury School

Supported by
Friends of the SHROPSHIRE MUSIC TRUST

Mon May 14 - Lunchtime
St. Mary's Church, Shrewsbury, 1.00 - 2.00pm

HUW WIGGIN - saxophone
TIM ABEL - piano
look for their details on this website
(Artists are in alphabetical order, so Huw will be towards the end)
Including JS Bach (trans Harle), RR Bennett, Yoshimatsu ('Fuzzy Bird Sonata') , Monti 'Czardas', Gershwin 'I got Rhythm' , Bernstein 'West Side Story Suite'..

A wide-ranging repertoire of both arrangements and original works for the sax family.

'Liquid gold tones' - The Times

Huw is one of the finest British players to emerge in recent years having graduated in 2008 from RNCM with the highest mark ever awarded to a woodwind specialist.

Both multi award-winning artists have already performed with major orchestras internationally, as recitalists at venues such as Wigmore Hall, Purcell Room and Bridgewater Hall, and are members of flag-flying schemes such as the Park Lane Group.

School parties welcome
Countess of Munster Trust
Tickets on door or SMT postal Box Office only

Sun 20 May - Afternoon

Britten & his Inspirations : Series III

DANTE STRING QUARTET
Concord College, Acton Burnell, 3.00pm

Mozart - Quartet in F, K 590 (Prussian)
Schubert - Quartettsatz in C min
Wolf - Italian Serenade
Britten - Quartet No 3 (La Serenissima)

Pre-Talk: 2:45pm with the Quartet

Notes for the three concerts in the Series:

In association with Concord College

Supported by
Friends of the SHROPSHIRE MUSIC TRUST

Thu 24 May
St. Chad's Church, Shrewsbury, 7:30pm

The Choral Pilgrimage 2012

THE SIXTEEN
'The Earth Resounds' Brumel, Josquin and Lassus

Featuring the three most celebrated composers from the Franco-Flemish school of Renaissance, this programme is centred around movements from the staggering 12-part Earthquake Mass by Brumel. After Josquin, Brumel is considered one of the greatest composers of his generation. Lassus, writing some 30 years later was clearly influenced by both composers and is known to have performed as a singer in the Brumel mass.

Following their triumphant Shropshire appearance in 2008 (recorded live by BBC Radio 3) Shrewsbury is fortunate to have been again invited to be a venue for the always 'sell-out' Choral Pilgrimage, the annual tour of our finest cathedrals - bringing music back to the buildings for which it was written.

After thirty years of world-wide performance, endless accolades which include being Associate Artists of Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, and 'The Voices of Classic FM', and a glittering catalogue of recordings, The Sixteen is recognised as one of the world's greatest vocal ensembles with its unique reputation for performing a diversity of masterpieces spanning the music of five hundred years - drawn from the passions of conductor and founder, Harry Christophers.

'Magical... vibrant .. wonderfully clear and unfailingly precise' - Daily Telegraph
'Exultant and agile singing… a triumph… takes the breath away' - Guardian
'Thrilling, dramatic and scintillating …an awe-inspiring, glorious sound' - The Times

Sponsored by
James, Holyoak & Parker
Chartered Accountants

Fri 1 Jun
Concord College, Acton Burnell, 7.30pm
ANTHONY HEWITT - OlymPianist

Re-Cycling Tour Concert
A Special Project to Celebrate the 2012 Olympic Games

Internationally renowned pianist and avid cyclist Anthony Hewitt is 'the Olympianist'.

To celebrate the London 2012 Olympics, he will cycle the length of Britain from Land's End to John O'Groats. At the end of each gruelling leg of the ride he will give a recital either outdoors on a van which will travel with him - aptly named 'Van Beethoven' - or in a venue where he is invited to perform. 'Van Beethoven' will function as both a piano transporter and moving stage, enabling the tour to reach remote and unusual locations including market squares and fields. Not content with putting his feet up on arrival in John O'Groats, Anthony is planning further performances as part of a 'recycling' en route home tour, including Shropshire!

Anthony is raising money for music and sports charities and aims to both broaden the appeal of classical music amongst sports enthusiasts, as well as to demonstrate the benefits of sport amongst classical musicians.

Schumann - Abegg Variations Op1
Schubert - Impromptus from Op90
Beethoven - Sonata No30 in E maj Op109
Chopin - Barcarolle in F# Op60, Polonaise in Ab Op53 'Heroic', Two Polonaises Op40
Saint-Saens - Danse Macabre Op40
Tchaikovsky - Chanson Triste Op40
Rachmaninov - Prelude in G min Op23 No.5
Liszt - Hungarian Rhapsody No.2

In association with Concord College

Sat 2 Jun
Much Wenlock Centre
THE OLYPIANIST IN MUCH WENLOCK
ANTHONY HEWITT - OlymPianist

A Special Project to Celebrate the 2012 Olympic Games

Internationally renowned pianist and avid cyclist Anthony Hewitt is 'the Olympianist'.

To celebrate the London 2012 Olympics, he will cycle the length of Britain from Land's End to John O'Groats. At the end of each gruelling leg of the ride he will give a recital either outdoors on a van which will travel with him - aptly named 'Van Beethoven' - or in a venue where he is invited to perform. 'Van Beethoven' will function as both a piano transporter and moving stage, enabling the tour to reach remote and unusual locations including market squares and fields. Not content with putting his feet up on arrival in John O'Groats, Anthony is planning further performances as part of a 'recycling' en route home tour, including Shropshire!

Anthony is raising money for music and sports charities and aims to both broaden the appeal of classical music amongst sports enthusiasts, as well as to demonstrate the benefits of sport amongst classical musicians.

Opening Fair of the Much Wenlock Festival 2012 (Birthplace of the modern Olympics)

Anthony will present assorted Piano works from his special Van Beethoven: items such as Van Beethoven - Moonlight Sonata / Janáček - Sonata I:X:1905 'From the Street' / TBC Cycle Studies / Chopin - Fantasie-Impromptu ... alongside Re-Cycling stories from his Olympianist Challenge

Presented in association with Much Wenlock Festival 2012