April sees the seventh and final concert in this our 72nd season and we are grateful to Austins Department Store http://www.austins-uk.com/ for their support throughout the season. Without our sponsors, both corporate and individual, it would not be possible to present such a varied programme of artists, each of whom is at the top of their field, here in Newton Abbot. The season will be drawn to a close with a slightly Welsh flavour on Friday 20th April by Lesley Hatfield (Violin) and Huw Watkins (Piano) at 7.30 pm in the Courtenay Centre, and our thanks go to one of our members, Colin Power, for his sponsorship of the evening.
Lesley Hatfield is the Leader of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and also enjoys a distinguished career as a soloist and chamber musician as well as teaching. After gaining her Recital Diploma at the Royal College of Music she has played with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, going on to the leadership of the Northern Sinfonia and the Ulster Orchestra. Described as "One of the most rounded composer-musicians in the UK", Huw Watkins teaches composition at the Royal Academy of Music and has many works to his credit; orchestral, chamber and song. He is also in great demand from orchestras and festivals as a pianist and has performed throughout the UK and in North America.
Their programme for us will include works by Prokofiev, Beethoven, Schumann and Ravel as well as one of Huw's, written two years ago as a companion piece to partner the Beethoven. Look at Lesley Hatfield Huw Watkins for the full programme details, then follow the on-page link to book your ticket for collection at the door.
While you have your diary out, make a note of NADSA's concert dates for next season. They are - 21st September, 19th October, 16th November, 20th January 2019, 17th February, 15th March and 13th April. All are in the Courtenay Centre except April's, which will be at Teignmouth School. Members will also want to make a note of the Annual General Meeting on Sunday 10th June at 2.30 pm - but secretary Gill will write to you about that nearer the time. Suffice it to say for now that the business will be followed by a cream tea, and then a short recital of handmade traditional flutes by a local artist: this will be somewhat different to our usual run of performers but he comes highly recommended! Enough, before I disclose too much...
What else is going on?
Starting at 2.30 on Sunday 15th April The English Concert makes their first visit to Exeter's Northcott Theatre with a Baroque programme of Handel, Purcell, Rameau, Vivaldi, Tartini and Bach. See https://exeternorthcott.co.uk/calendar/the-english-concert/ for more about this exciting programme from one of the leading orchestras specialising in music of the baroque and early classical periods.
The Divertimento String Quartet is playing at Lustleigh Village Hall on Saturday 21st April at 3 pm; their concert will include works by Haydn and Brahms. See http://www.lustleighvillagehall.co.uk/event/divertimenti-3 for further details and to book tickets. If that's too much string for one weekend you can hear them again at Totnes on Sunday 29th. (http://www.divertimento.uk.com/calendar/)
Again in Exeter, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra are at the Cathedral on Thursday 26th, 7.30 pm with their 'Notes of Nostalgia' concert. https://www.bsolive.com/ gives details of their programme which includes Britten's Four Sea Interludes, Dvorak Cello Concerto and Richard Strauss's Death and Transfiguration.
This April it all happens in Exeter! At the Cathedral, this time on Saturday 28th, there is a concert at 7.30 by Exeter Music Group called 'Night at the Museum', in support of the 150th anniversary of the city's Royal Albert Memorial Museum. The programme includes excerpts from Saint-Saens' Carnival of the Animals and Mussorgsky's Pictures at an exhibition, plus works by Weber, Silvestri and Vaughan Williams. Details and bookings at http://www.emgsymphonyorchestra.org/.
A little early to book perhaps, but in May the Exeter Philharmonic Choir present an evening of French and English music in Buckfast Abbey on Saturday 19th - take a look at http://exephil.org.uk/ if you're interested.
There we have it for April: share this with your friends, and happy listening,
John R