A brace of lunchtime concerts to enliven your working day next week; on Wednesday (10th Feb), the award-winning quintet, Total Brass, comes to Colyer-Fergusson Hall at 1.10pm; and then on Friday (12th Feb), Minerva Voices – the new upper-voices chamber choir – explores the dialogue between choral music and art in the new exhibition at Studio 3 Gallery over in the Jarman building as the #EarBox series returns.
More details about both events online here.
We’re still reeling from a perfectly-polished recital from the young players from the RAM who make up Total Brass at lunchtime.
Fiercely sodden weather conditions did not dissuade the public from gathering at the Gulbenkian Theatre this lunchtime to hear the new concert series launched in fine style, with some scintillating playing from a group clearly at the top of their game. A diverse programme, thoughtfully put together, took us from a lively arrangement of Gershwin’s I Got Rhythm to Anthony Plog’s Four Sketches, and some deft syncopation and seamless ensemble work in Crespo’s challenging Suite Americana. The players delivered a finely-crafted programme with real flair, including some fierce trumpet-duelling in the Crespo, lyrical melodic playing from the trombone, and punchy off-beat ducking and diving from the group as a whole that was both assured and dynamic.
Bravo to the group; this year’s series has been launched with terrific verve. We hope you canoe back up to London safely…
After an industrious summer of event and programme planning, not to mention the minor task of preparing to move to the new building, I’m delighted to say our new Concert Diary for the Autumn term has now been published online.
The Lunchtime Concert series continues, as we welcome musicians from Total Brass, sitarist Jonathan Mayer, and close-harmony group Sector7 in concerts throughout the term.
University Music Scholars will be giving an informal lunchtime concert in the first week of November – an exciting moment, as it will be the first event in the brand new Colyer-Fergusson music building and its wonderful new concert-hall!
We’ll also be gathering to raise money for Children in Need again this year; come and be part of a whacky world première with a difference, written by yours truly – all you will need is a donation and your mobile-phone, complete with three different ring-tones…
The world-famous Brodsky Quartet continue their fortieth-birthday celebrations in inimitable style, as they bring their ‘Wheel of Four Tunes’ to the Colyer-Fergusson hall. Armed with an array of forty pieces from their hugely eclectic repertoire, the pieces in this concert will be decided by the spin of a wheel in what promises to be a unique event.
Finally, the term comes to a grand finale with the inaugural Gala Concert, with the combined ranks of the Chorus, Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Choir, Concert Band and Big Band, in a spectacular evening celebrating the formal opening of the new Colyer-Fergusson music building, complete with two new works especially written for the occasion.
An exciting term ahead: find out more online here.
