For our third concert this season we welcome the Lisney Briggs Duo; two individually acclaimed concert pianists sharing the same keyboard. CD Review said of James Lisney that he "clearly has technique to spare, commendable unanimity of co-ordination, an enviable range of articulation and utilises a wide, though never exaggerated dynamic range. He also has the uncanny ability to hit on just the right tempo and conjuring up the appropriate mood" - just one of many glowing reviews of his work in the concert hall and the recording studio; read more of them and link to his recordings at www.jameslisney.com. Sarah Beth Briggs is similarly a celebrated artist at societies and festivals throughout the UK, acclaimed by promoters and critics for her performances and for her engaging and informative introductions to recital programmes. Her musical interpretations have been broadcast internationally on radio and television, while recital work has taken her to Germany, Switzerland, France, Italy and the USA. Read more and hear some of her music at sarahbethbriggspianist.co.uk Playing together their programme will include the popular Dolly Suite by Fauré, a Dvořák Slavonic Dance, Ravel's Ma Mère l’Oye, and duets by Mozart, Schubert and Gál - full details at Lisney Briggs Duo Tickets where you may also buy tickets for collection at the door. This sparkling evening will be at the Courtenay Centre, Newton Abbot (www.courtenaycentre.co.uk) on Friday 16th November at 7.30 pm and is sponsored by Buyrite Tyres, www.buyrite-tyres.co.uk.
Some will recall that one of our NADSA members, Don Frampton, sometimes organises trips to the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra concerts in Exeter: he writes to say "I have reserved 45 concert seats and coach travel for the BSO concert in Exeter Great Hall on THURSDAY 6TH DECEMBER. It is a superb 'Russian Winter' concert of music from three of Russia’s most brilliant composers - Mussorgsky, Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky." Programme details at www.bsolive.com
1. MUSSORGSKY - Khovanshchina Prelude; a superb gentle spacious piece of music depicting dawn over the Moscow river. It takes us through dawn and the rising sun revealing the church domes of Moscow
2. RACHMANINOV - Piano Concerto No.2. Pianist is Alexei Volodin. Rachmaninov overcame writer's block with this quite unforgettable, highly romantic concerto, loved by us all.
3. TCHAIKOVSKY - Symphony No 1. 'Winter Daydreams', the three-movement were given descriptive titles by Tchaikovsky as Winter Journey, Land of desolation and Land of mist.
Pick-up points will be: 5.45 p.m Torquay; 6.15 p.m Newton Abbot to arrive Exeter by 7.00 p.m. For more information contact Don Frampton directly on 01626 354580 or Email collepardo@btinternet.com Note that if you intend going, you need to contact Don in the next couple of days and certainly before 14th.
On Saturday 17th November at Exeter Cathedral, Exeter Music Group Symphony Orchestra will play Mahler's Symphony No.5 - the haunting music for Visconti's 1971 film of Thomas Mann's story 'Death in Venice'. Details and tickets available at www.emgsymphonyorchestra.org
Later, if you're shopping in Exeter on December 1st, EMG are holding a Coffee Concert (with cake!) from 10.30 to 12.00. This is an informal drop-in event with free admission: such a civilised way to take a break!
On this coming Friday, 9th November the young London-based Phase Saxophone quartet are at Powderham Castle - detail & tickets at musicinthecastle.co.uk.
The next day, Saturday 10th, Exeter Philharmonic Choir are singing Bruckner's E-minor Mass and John Rutter's Requiem at Exeter Cathedral; see exephil.org.uk for more information.
On Sunday November 18th the Haldon String Quartet are at Ashburton Arts with a programme of Haydn, Bridge & Beethoven - see www.facebook.com/events/219301692189909 for more information.
Devon Opera present Verdi's La Traviata at the Barnfield Theatre Exeter on Thursday 22nd November, and then at the Great Hall Dartington on Saturday 24th. This is a fully-staged production with professional singers accompanied by piano, cello and clarinet. Details and tickets from www.devonopera.co.uk
Musicians may be interested in 'A Romantic Weekend with Torbay Symphony Orchestra' (read on - this may not be what you think!) beginning on Saturday 24th November with a piano recital by Veronika Shoot followed in the afternoon by an open rehearsal with TSO and illustrated pre-concert talk, then in the evening a concert of Beethoven 'Eroica' and Brahms' Second Piano Concerto. The soloist, Irina Lyakhovskaya will give a masterclass the next morning; there's another open rehearsal in the afternoon on Sunday, and in the evening concert you can hear music from Wagner's Tristan and Isolde, the Strauss Four Last Songs, and Rachmaninov's Second Piano Concerto: overall, a feast of romantic-period music, all at the Ariel Centre, Totnes. Not what you thought it was going to be? never mind... www.torbaysymphony.org has all the details, where you may also buy tickets.
The Torbay Singers' next concert features "beautiful, indulgent 20th century gems with crunchy harmonies, edgy rhythms and unfamiliar languages." On Saturday 8th December at St Matthias Church Torquay they begin Advent with an exciting concert including Poulenc’s Gloria and Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms: powerful, modern works which both premiered in the 1960s, these pieces demonstrate the range of musical innovation in mid-century composition. For more information see www.torbaysingers.com
BSO are at the Great Hall again on Wednesday 19th December with their 'Last Night of the Christmas Proms' concert, featuring works from films and shows including Sunset Boulevard, The Snowman and Gremlins, plus music from Disney films and Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals, before moving on to a roller-coaster of seasonal favourites including Jingle Bells, White Christmas, Let it Snow, Merry Christmas Everybody and all the favourite festive arrangements by Ron Goodwin! See www.bsolive.com for details and tickets.
Exeter Cathedral has a full programme of Carol Concerts in December; www.exeter-cathedral.org.uk will tell you more. Before then though there are also two major choral works to capture your interest: first on Friday November 23rd when English Touring Opera will stage Bach's St. Matthew Passion, accompanied on period instruments by the Old Street Band and local choirs, (www.exeter-cathedral.org.uk). Then on Sunday 9th December the Cathedral Choir are accompanied by Devon Baroque in Handel's Messiah (www.exeter-cathedral.org.uk)
You'll find attached to this newsletter there's a poster for the next NADSA concert: if you could print it and display it somewhere that would be a lovely boost to our publicity, thanks!
That's all for now,
Happy Listening