On Sunday 20th February the last of our ‘winter afternoon’ concerts takes place at 3pm at the Courtenay Centre; in March we revert to Friday evening at 7.30 for the remainder of the season. Who else will be there? Our friends Hatstand Opera, making a welcome return with their usual blend of seriously good music and humorously witty songs from our favourite operas. They are a small opera company of just four singers (each one a professional working with other major UK companies) and a pianist, and have been touring the country for more than 25 years, specialising now in small venues and rural locations. It is through the generosity of our sponsor for the afternoon, Buyrite tyres http://www.buyrite-tyres.co.uk/ that we are able to present such high-quality music, thank you.
Their programme has been put together just for us because they remember what we like in Newton Abbot. Expect to hear from Rossini’s Spanish Barber, a deeply serious Mozart’s flirty bride, two not-so-merry Wives of Windsor, Strauss handing out invitations to a Ball, and a Swiss miss – but who’s ever heard of an opera called La Wally? He must have been hiding somewhere… Sorry, it’s not possible to be serious here: go to https://www.hatstandopera.co.uk/2022/01/27/were-back-performing-live-in-devon-in-february-2022/ and read what the singers themselves say about their programme!
When you’ve done that, and maybe wandered around other parts of their website, find your flexible friend and book your tickets at https://nadsa.co.uk/event/hatstand-opera/ : there are still tickets available, but don’t delay – they sell out quickly once the word gets out, and there are only a limited number.
While you’re on the nadsa site, look at our offering for March: on 18th at 7.30 Onyx Brass will be entertaining us, and this concert will be supported by the TDC Councillors’ Community fund and the DCC Locality Budget fund. Another well-established ensemble, this quintet has been described by BBC Music Magazine as ‘easily the classiest brass ensemble in Britain’, and Gramophone hailed ‘some of the most thrilling chamber brass-playing of its kind’. There’s lots more information about the quintet at https://onyxbrass.co.uk/ where you can also hear some of their work.
Their varied programme will range from Rameau, Tallis and Bach right up to Holst, Arnold (a brass player himself) and Shostakovich – and those are just the big names. The page at https://nadsa.co.uk/event/onyx-brass/ lists their likely programme of early music, romantic arrangements and some lighter music, and while you’re there you can book your tickets.
Some general points to remember:
Finally, just two events a little farther afield: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra are at the Great Hall at Exeter University on Thursday 24th February with a programme of Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and Sibelius; more information at https://bsolive.com/events/life-over-death-exeter/
Then on Saturday 12th March Exeter Philharmonic Choir celebrate their 175th anniversary at Exeter Cathedral with a performance of Brahms Ein Deutsches Requiem, supported by Finzi’s Lo, The Full, Final Sacrifice. Details and tickets here: https://www.exeterphilharmonic.org.uk/dbpage.php?pg=view&dbase=events&id=118440/
That's it for now; see you on the 20th - oh and you probably won't need the opera glasses!
Cheers
John R