Our February concert is on Sunday 17th at 3 pm in the Courtenay Centre and features the BBC Young Musician of the Year 2014, Martin James Bartlett. Although it was his talent as a pianist that won the day, Martin is also an accomplished wind player, achieving Distinction at Grade 8 in Bassoon and Recorder by the age of 12. His piano playing has brought numerous prizes and awards, and he has recently played in Japan with the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, in Poland at the International Chopin Festival, at the BBC Proms, and at the Queen’s 90th birthday celebration: we are indeed fortunate to have him now in Newton Abbot.
Martin’s programme will open with two Bach Cantatas: Jesu, Joy of Man’s desiring and I call to You, Lord Jesus Christ. This will be followed by two of Schumann’s Scenes from Childhood, and four of Liszt’s Petrarch Sonnetts and also his Liebestraum no.3. After the interval, we’ll hear one of Granados’ Goyescas, a Prokofiev Sonata (7 in B flat) .and Liszt’s transcription of Wagner’s Liebestod from Tristan and Isolde. In all, a very varied programme and one not to be missed. The concert is sponsored by the C & M Pike Trust, to whom we are very grateful.
Read more about James and hear extracts of his work at www.martinjamesbartlett.com and find out more about his coming concert here at Martin James Bartlett Tickets where you can also buy tickets for collection at the door, price £13.
You may recall that NADSA member Don Frampton has organised a bus to BSO concerts in Exeter in the past: the good news is, he’s doing it again! He writes I have reserved 30 seats for the last Exeter concert of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra 2018/19 programme on Thursday 11th April. They certainly plan to end the season with a magnificent flourish. A concert of music painting on a grand scale.
It starts with Vltava from Smetana's masterful landscape of his homeland; “Ma Vlast” The vivid swirling colouring in this.... scenes and sounds of the river.... as it moves from the Mountains to Prague never ceases to give immense pleasure.
Tchaikovsky takes 2nd place with his first Piano Concerto with pianist Denis Kozhukhin. Despite its huge popularity, it’s a concerto that retains its freshness, excitement, virtuosity and lyricism.
After the interval the 2nd half will be Jean Sibelius, Symphony No 1. composed when he was 31 and first played in its final version in 1900. Much has been written of the poetry of his remarkable 7 symphonies, that he was the last of the great Romantic composers might be questioned. That his music soars and tighten the strings of the heart, there is no doubt; that its spacious sounds offers a blissful stillness that is almost precious is our reward.
Mid stall seats, coach and discounted concert tickets price - £29.50. To book, send a cheque payable to NADSA member M D Frampton 3 Keyberry Park Newton Abbot TQ12 1BZ. For more information - email collepardo@btinternet.com or Tel 01626 354580
If you’re in Exeter on Saturday 16th there is an informal concert from the stellar Exeter Recorder Orchestra, who play a range of music, enjoying arrangements of orchestral works, and modern works written specifically for recorder orchestra of which there are an increasing number, by composers like Steve Marshall, Dietrich Schnabel and John Hawkes. This concert is free with admission to the Cathedral.
Advance notice now of the Teignmouth Classical Music Festival in March it opens on Friday 8th with a concert ‘Stargazing’, hosted by South Devon Singers and featuring Exeter percussionist Alfie Pugh and the trio Flute Cake exploring the cosmos. The next day, 9th is International Women’s Day and is celebrated with a packed programme: at mid-day a concert of operatic arias sung by Jane Anderson-Brown and Iryna Ilnytska; then in the afternoon Alfie Pugh and Rebecca Wilson present arrangements for tuned percussion and piano, to include items from Grieg's Lyric Pieces, Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition and Ravel's Ma Mère L'Oye suite for piano duet. Exeter Youth Orchestra is in Teignmouth on Sunday 10th, and the next weekend Torbay Symphony Orchestra are playing works by Debussy, Schumann and Lutoslawski.
Full information for all of these events can be found at www.facebook.com/pg/teignmouthclassicalmusicfestival/events where you can also book tickets. This little corner of Devon really is alive with the sound of music!
That’s all for now; happy listening
John R