Friday 12 September 2008
Eclipse and Spanish Spice – Moorish Spain comes to Portscatho
‘Spanish Spice’, the programme for the September concert of the Roseland Music Society, is described by the performers, Eclipse, as ‘lively early music with a modern twist, evoking the atmosphere of a gypsy encampment, with virtuoso improvisations on harps, recorders, viol, guitar, theorbo and percussion’, all combined with ‘exhilarating flamencos, lyrical ensemble pieces and the swirling passionate tarantella’. The result, to quote ‘In Tune’, BBC Radio 4, will be ‘truly wonderful’, beautifully’ transporting the audience to Moorish Spain.
Eclipse was founded by Joy Smith and Layil Barr. Joy was a pupil at Chethams School of Music in Manchester, read English at Oxford; and subsequently won a scholarship to attend the post-graduate harp course at Trinity College of Music, London. During her professional career Joy has played with groups such as the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and the Belfast Opera as well as performing at festivals such as the Cheltenham International Music Festival, the Britten-Pears Festival and the Edinburgh Festival. She has given a harp recital for the Queen, and played her electric harp at the Glastonbury Rock Festival.
Layil, who plays recorders and viol, studied at the Jerusalem Rubin Academy of Music and Trinity College of Music, London. As a soloist she has performed with various orchestras including The Royal Artillery Orchestra and The Israeli Chamber Orchestra, and has toured the USA, China, Korea, Israel, Egypt, Italy, Spain, France, Ireland and the UK.
For the Portscatho concert Joy and Layil will be joined by Andres Ticino, who studied Classical and Latin Percussion in Montevideo, Uruguay, and the flamenco dancer, Natalia Garcia-Huidobro. Andres is currently based in London, where he plays the cajon flamenco with the Alma Flamenco Dance Company. Natalia has studied flamenco in Mexico, Madrid and Seville, and is based in Madrid.
Spice of Life
by Roger Dettmer
Variety, versatility and improvisation were some of the keynotes of Spanish Spice, the recent concert by Eclipse in Portscatho. The inclusion of exotic dances, even incorporating a judiciously placed fan at times, could well have raised a few eyebrows, though flamenco is definitely considered classical these days!
The term ‘early music’ does not normally conjure up an image of passion and sensuality, but it is certainly what was delivered and it was variously referred to by the audience as ‘medieval jazz’, ‘completely unexpected’ and ‘sunshine from Spain on our faces’.
The three musicians played at least 12 instruments and these was augmented by the percussion of the dancer’s feet – an integral part of many of the pieces – as well as by cleverly syncopated clapping, which included audience participation in one piece.
Rarely was the same grouping of instruments used twice and the exotic dresses of the female artistes and the ever-changing positioning of the ensemble – usually on stage but at times promenading in the auditorium – added an air of drama to the music and dance. Unbelievably, the majority of the music originated from one source published in Madrid in 1677 but Spain’s position as the crossroads of the world at that time was evident and was further enhanced by the informative talks of performers from 4 different countries and instruments from even further afield. If this is what is meant by ‘fusion’, then bring it on!
Saturday 16 August 2008,
ST. PIRAN SINGERS – with soloist Sarah Beard
The August concert of the Roseland Music Society offers a chance to enjoy Cornish music making at its best, with a visit from the St Piran Singers. Formed in February 2006, and based in the beautiful South East Cornwall fishing port of Looe, this outstanding ladies choir is noted for its vibrant and fresh approach to music making.
The choir has a clear, dynamic sound, created under the leadership of musical director Danny Gill and accompanist Elizabeth Sidebotham., and offers a wide and thoroughly modern repertoire, covering everything from Westlife to Queen, and Les Miserables to Evita. Many of these pieces have been arranged by Elizabeth Sidebotham, who also composes for the choir. Her evocative piece – Cornwall “My Anthem” – is the title track of the the choir’s first CD, recorded in Riverside Church, West Looe, in March this year.
The choir has visited Bury in Lancashire as guest of the Besses Boys Brass Band, and will be travelling to Wales in November as guests of the Gwent Police Male Choir. They have performed at the 2007 Celtic Countries Congress, have been filmed for an edition of the television programme ‘A Place in the Sun’, and have made two appearances at the Eden Project.
For the Portscatho concert the choir will be joined by its soloist Sarah Beard. Originally from Cornwall, Sarah has appeared in a number of West End Musicals and brings an added dimension to an already exciting sound.
AMY DICKSON and CATHERINE MILLEDGE 11th July 2008
By Mike Hitchings
Last Friday, a capacity audience at the Roseland Music Society’s concert in Portscatho, was thrilled by the playing of two young musicians who were a delight to watch and a joy to hear. Amy Dickson, the outstanding Australian saxophonist, and her brilliant piano accompanist, Catherine Milledge, kept everyone spellbound with a varied and thoroughly enjoyable programme.
The concert opened with a work by the French composer, Jules Demersseman, a contemporary of Adolph Sax, who invent the saxophone in 1846. The piece included lyrical and fast complex passages, which Amy played with great sensitivity and style. Works by Milhaud and Rachmaninov were followed by a saxophone sonata by the American composer Paul Creston, which displayed Amy’s extraordinary control of light and shade. Her mastery of fast passages in the third movement, was equalled by Catherine’s vigorous accompaniment.
After the interval, during which copies of Amy’s CD ‘Smile’ – recently Classic FM’s CD of the week –rapidly sold out, the concert continued with three preludes by Gershwin, delightfully exhibiting Gershwin’s inimitable use of blues and ragtime, and played with exuberant virtuosity. Following Six Studies in English Folk Songs, by Vaughan Williams, the programme concluded with works by two contemporary composers. In Search of Ecstasy, by the Australian composer Matthew Hindson, began with ethereal saxophone notes resonating with the piano strings, and climaxed with rapid phrases, echoed by the rhythmically energetic accompaniment. The final work, Pequeña Czarda, by the Spanish composer and jazz musician Pedro Iturralde, brought the concert to a thrilling finish, applauded and cheered by a very happy audience.
HARMONIEMUSIK Saturday 7th June 2008
Variety has long been a hallmark of the Roseland Music Society’s annual programme, and last Saturday’s concert by the wind ensemble Harmoniemusik provided variety in abundance. The programme delighted the audience with its ever-shifting variations in age of music, style and mood, with each new piece bringing a different combination of instruments.
The opening piece by Sammartini could well be used as incidental music for a film set in the Middle Ages, and this was cleverly juxtaposed against the far more darkly challenging ‘Divertimenti’ by Bridges, composed during the depression of the 1930s. One could hear the factories grinding to a halt with the yearning for the earlier rural idyll intermittently breaking through. To conclude the first half the audience were entertained by the sheer frivolity of Mendelssohn’s Trio in F, bringing a smile to everyone’s face.
The fun continued after the interval as we were transported back to childhood by Stephen Frost’s excitingly descriptive piece about a seaside funfair –‘Mr Marvels’, and from there, as if in some musical Tardis, to the baroque perfection of JS Bach’s Sonata in G, with the tune thrown effortlessly between flute and harpsichord. The final item in the printed programme, an entertaining conversational piece from Poulenc, varied from animated social banter, through discussions of weightier topics and parted back on a lighter note.
An encore brought all five musicians together for the first time with the delightful Irish dance, ‘Red-haired Boy’, which sent us all skipping merrily on our way.
ALISON STEPHENS AND STEVEN DEVINE Friday 16th May 2008
The May concert of the Roseland Music Society promises to be a real treat, but will have a special appeal for the many fans of Louis de Bernières’ 1993 novel Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. Making her first visit to Portscatho, the concert will feature Alison Stephens, widely regarded as the UK’s foremost classical mandolin player, accompanied by Steven Devine, co-principal keyboard player with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Alison was the first graduate of the mandolin from Trinity College of Music, London, and has been a teacher at Trinity since her graduation. She has toured widely, performing as soloist or chamber musician at many leading concert halls, including The Barbican, The Queen Elizabeth Hall, The Wigmore Hall and The Sydney Opera House. Her 1999 CD, ‘Music from the Novels of Louis de Bernières’, accompanied by guitarist Craig Ogden, was Chandos’ fastest ever selling classical CD. Other Captain Corelli projects include over 500 performances of a stage version of the novel, and playing on the sound track of the 2001film adaptation, staring Nicolas Cage and Penélope Cruz. In a review, the
BBC Music Magazine described Alison Stephens as someone who clearly loves the mandolin, playing it ‘with a passion and flair that Captain Corelli himself would doubtless have relished’.
Steven Devine received his early musical training at Chetham’s School of Music, Manchester and read music at Oxford University. He made his London conducting début at the Royal Albert Hall in in 2002,and has subsequently conducted in every major concert hall in the UK and also across Switzerland. Steven is Head of Education at the Finchcocks Collection of historic keyboard instruments in Kent,and was appointed Professor of piano at Trinity College of Music in 2003.
Alison and Steven first met at Finchcocks in 1986, and have been firm friends ever since, playing together with increasing frequencey over the past 10 years. They released their first CD together on the Naxos label: Calace Concertos in August last year.
The Roseland Music Society has been enjoying a run of outstanding concerts of late, and May looks set to continue this happy trend. Lovers of music and Captain Corelli should book early.
A near – capacity audience were treated to a most enjoyable concert by Alison Stephens, mandolin and Steven Devine, piano, last Friday. The concert opened with two “Sonatinas” by Beethoven, written in the composers 29th year which, whilst not being typical, contained passages which were unmistakably his. These pieces and the “Theme and Variations in D” by the same composer which opened the second half were the most familiar items on offer.
Alison Stephens played two 16th century pieces on a faithful copy of the type of instrument on which they would have originally been played with gut strings plucked by a quill. The first half closed with the “Grande Sonata in C” by Hummel, which showed the composer’s admiration for Beethoven , and Calace’s “Danza dei Nani”.
After the interval it was Steven’s turn to display his subtle skills as he played one of Mendelssohn’s numerous “Songs Without Words “with a warmth that captivated the audience.
The Duo finished with Calace’s “ Concerto No.1”, a virtuoso work providing much opportunity for Alison to display her formidable technique to its greatest advantage.
The audience’s reaction demanded an encore, a Calace tarantella, before the artistes were allowed to go back “up-country”. This was a delightful, if unusual concert, during which the audience were both informed and entertained by two wonderfully accomplished musicians.
Earlier in the day, Alison and Steven had performed for the children of Gerrans and St. Mawes schools as part of the Roseland Youth Music Scheme sponsored by the Music Society.
HIROKAI TAKENOUCHI Saturday 19th April 2008
Since coming to London in 1997, Hiroaki Takenouchi has studied piano with Yonty Solomon and Andrew Ball, composition with Edwin Roxburgh, and fortepiano with David Ward at the Royal College of Music. He has also studied with Noretta Conci and Frank Wibaut. During this time, he has appeared on numerous concert platforms including the Purcell Room, St-Martin-in-the-Fields, the Fairfield Halls, Hamburg Laeiszhalle, Tokyo and Steinway Halls in London, Hamburg and Tokyo.
In 2005, HRH Prince of Wales presented Japanese-born pianist Hiroaki Takenouchi with the Royal College of Music’s highest award, The Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Rosebowl for his “outstanding musical achievements”. In 2004, he participated in the Mozarteum Sommerakademie in Salzburg, where he also received an award for his remarkable performance and an invitation to play in a concert at the Salzburg Festival. He also made his South Bank Centre début with a solo recital supported by the Park Lane Group, and gave another début recital at the 2004 Cheltenham Music Festival. In March 2005, Hiroaki played two recitals at Steinway Hall in London and at the Sala Maffeiana in Verona, presented by The Keyboard Trust and L’Accademia Filarmonica di Verona to great acclaim. He also performed a number of recitals for The Keyboard Trust in October 2005 in Germany. His recent solo recitals at the Husum Piano Festival (Germany) and the Salzburg Mozarteum Sommerakademie (Austria) were both received with much enthusiasm.
Hiroaki has built a reputation for being a reliable recording artist. His CD recordings of Jeremy Dale Roberts’ Oggetti – Omaggio a Morandi (LORELT) and Edwin Roxburgh’s Six Etudes (NMC) have been released. He also participated in a recording project of Mozart’s own Thematic Catalogue for the British Library, which can be accessed on the British Library website from 2006. In 2007 he recorded his first solo CD, entitled “Japanese Contemporary Piano Music” (LORELT) as well as Black/Nebulae for two pianos by James Dillon with Noriko Kawai (NMC).
Hiroaki Takenouchi has received guidance from many eminent artists such as Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Emanuel Ax, Imogen Cooper, Helmut Lachenmann, Elisabeth Leonskaja, Robert Levin, Sir Roger Norrington, Bernard Roberts and Howard Shelley. He is also an active chamber musician and regularly collaborates with fellow musicians in a wide range of repertoire.
Hiroaki is grateful to Martin Musical Scholarship Trust, Myra Hess Trust, Tillett Trust, The Wall Trust, and the RCM (Michael Whittaker Scholarship) for their generous support. He is currently a Constant & Kit Lambert Junior Fellow (RCM) supported by the Worshipful Company of Musicians.
.ATRIUM STRING QUARTET Saturday 15th March 2008
The Atrium String Quartet is the first Quartet from Russia which has won the two most important International Competitions for String Quartets. They first rose to international prominence in April 2003 when they won the First Prize and the Audience Prize in the London International String Quartet Competition which was held at the prestigious Wigmore Hall, when they made their debut on BBC Radio 3 with a performance of the Fifth String Quartet of Shostakovich. On top of that they made their debut CD recording for EMI Classics. Recently the jury of the 5th International String Quartet Competition in Bordeaux 2007 in France unanimously awarded them the Premier Grand Prix and the Prix MMSG.
The Quartet was founded in the autumn of 2000 in the St Petersburg Conservatoire under the inspiration of Professor Joseph Levinson, cellist of the celebrated Taneyev Quartet. They received coaching from members of the Alban Berg Quartet, the Vermeer Quartet, and the Danel Quartet and also from Professor Eberhard Feltz, Berlin. Important steps of Atrium Quartet's development were second prizes at International Competitions in Moscow (2001), Cremona (2002) and Weimar (2002). Resulting from the Weimar competition the Atrium quartet realized the recording of Quartets by Shostakovich and Debussy for MDR in Leipzig.
Since winning the London International String Quartet Competition, their international career has blossomed with recitals at the Beethoven Festival, Schwetzingen Festival, Aix-en-Provence Festival and Orlando Festival. Concert tours are taking place in Germany, Italy, France, Denmark, Spain, the Netherlands and in the UK.
Since February 2006 till March 2007, the Atrium Quartet was resident at the Dutch String Quartet Academy, where they have received coaching from Stefan Metz, founder and cellist of the Orlando Quartet.
Alexey Naumenko(Violin)
Alexey Naumenko was born in 1979 in Leningrad where he began playing violin at the age of 5. From the age of seven and during Music School and Rimsky-Korsakov Music College his violin teacher was Tatiana Korchmar, one of the best violin teachers in St. Petersburg.
In 1999 he entered the Saint-Petersburg State Conservatoire in the class of Honored Artist of Russia, Professor V. Ovcharek (founder of the famous Russian Taneev State Quartet), where he graduated in 2004.
As a soloist, Alexey performed with Russian orchestras and took part in International music festivals and master-classes in Germany, Austria, Italy and Russia. He won Second prize in the Young Musicians International Competition "Virtuosi of 2000."
In 2000, together with colleagues, Alexey founded the Atrium Quartet. Since April 2007, Alexey has continued post graduate studies at the Hochschule fur Musik Hanns Eisler in Berlin with Prof. E. Feltz.
Anton Ilyunin (violin)
Anton was born in 1979 into a musical family in the beautiful Central Asian City of Ashkhabad in Turkmenistan. He began studying violin with his mother and soon entered the Music School for Gifted Children. He began appearing as a soloist with orchestras at the age of 9. In 1995, 1996, 1997 he won several International Competitions for Young Musicians in Turkmenistan.
From 1996 until 2000, he studied at Turkmenistan National Conservatoire. During this period, he performed a series of recitals with the Turkmen State Symphony Orchestra and premiered contemporary violin concertos by Turkmen composers. In 2000, he moved to Russia and continued his education at the Saint-Petersburg State Conservatoire in the class of Honored Artist of Russia, Professor Alexander Stang (violinist of the famous Taneev Quartet). In 2002, he graduated from the Conservatoire with highest departmental honors in violin.
Between 2001 and 2006, Anton played in the Saint-Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra under Yuri Temirkanov where from 2004 until 2006, he was Associate Principal Second Violinist. Since April 2007, Anton has continued his violin studies at the Post Graduate Course of Hochschule fur Musik Hanns Eisler in Berlin under Professor E. Feltz.
Anton is one of the founders of Atrium String Quartet.
Dmitry Pitulko (viola)
Dmitry Putulko was born in 1978 in Leningrad into a musical family and at the age of 5 began playing violin. In 1994 he entered the Rimsky-Korsakov Music College, where he studied with Professor E. Panfilova (many years a viola player in the St.Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra).
In 1996 he won First Prize and Grand-Prix at the International Competition of Young Performers in Albena (Bulgaria).
As a soloist Dmitry has performed with many Saint-Petersburg Orchestras. Since 1999 until 2004, he was a member of the Mariinsky Theatre under Valery Gergiev and performed with the orchestra all over the world including the United States, Europe and Asia.
Since the beginning of 2004, he has been a member of the Atrium String Quartet.
In May 2004 he graduated from Saint-Petersburg State Conservatoire, where he studied with Professor V.Stopichev (violist of the Taneev Quartet).
Since February 2006 till March 2007 he studied at the Dutch String Quartet Academy under Prof. Stefan Metz and since April 2007, Dmitry has been pursuing post graduate studies at the Hochschule fur Musik Hanns Eisler in Berlin (Prof. E. Feltz).
Anna Gorelova (cello)
Anna Gorelova was born in 1978 in Leningrad and began to study the cello when she was 10. While still a pupil at Music School she was playing concerts with orchestras in Russia and Europe, winning many young musician competitions in Russia. She continued her musical education at the Rimsky-Korsakov Music College, where she studied with Leonid Schukaev the cellist of famous Saint-Petersburg String Quartet.
In 2003 she graduated from Rimsky-Korsakov State Conservatoire with Highest Departmental Honors in cello.
Her teachers were Sergey Chernyadiev ( former Principal of the St.Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra) and Professor Alexey Massarsky. She also has received coaching from Boris Pergamenshikov and Natalia Gutman.
Since February 2006 until March 2007 she studied at the Dutch String Quartet Academy under Prof. Stefan Metz and since April 2007 Anna has been continued her post graduate studies at the Hochschule fur Musik Hanns Eisler in Berlin (Prof. E. Feltz).
SERENADE Friday 9th November 2007
Madeleine Mitchell violin Craig Ogden guitar Michael Bennett tenor
The Roseland Music Society is proud to present a concert by this exciting group of three outstanding, internationally known musicians. Their programme combines an entertaining mix of classical, folk- song and popular pieces, delivered with consummate mastery as well as the ability to communicate with their audience.
Madeleine Mitchell is one of the UK’s most celebrated and eclectic violinists, performing in over 40 countries and regularly broadcasting for radio and TV.
‘An uncommonly intelligent and accomplished musician….one of Britain’s liveliest musical forces’ The Times
‘A violinist in a million…. Staggering virtuosity and unparalleled musicianship’ The Herald
Craig Ogden is fast becoming one of the new generation’s most prominent guitarists. Australian born, he was nominated for a Grammy Award for his debut disc and has played Rodrigo’s Spanish Concerto in the Royal Albert Hall with the Philharmonia Orchestra for Classic FM Live. His top-ten disc of music from Captain Corelli’s Mandolin was described by the Telegraph as ‘pure joy’. He is equally at home arranging light classics and in film – including featuring in the British hit ‘Notting Hill’. ‘Craig Ogden is a brilliant, persuasive advocate’ The Guardian
Michael Bennett has given many highly-praised recitals with Craig Ogden in classical and light music. He began his career as a chorister at Westminster Abbey and has since enjoyed an international career in opera and music theatre, from Cavalli to contemporary, performing in top venues all over Europe and USA. Based in Paris, Le Soir described him as ‘an English tenor of rare quality…. Magnificent.’
