** Positive Notes about Various Concerts **
Season - 08/09
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Have you tried the new wind / brass
BreveEasy long note practice
software? You can download a free version of this product developed by Roger
Swann from here.
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Roger Swann
has a beautiful 2 bedroom holiday cottage called Swann Cottage in Derbyshire. You can get information about renting it
here.
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18th Dec 2008 - 7:30pm - Simply Cinderella
A new musical (music and lyrics by Grant Olding - book by Toby Davies)
for Leicester's new theatre. An ambitious way to start a major point of
cultural focus - for which the Curve deserves congratulating.
The evening was a lot of fun with some good jokes, frighteningly corney
rhymes and clever (without being unnecessarily showy) stage effects. Savannah
Stevenson sung sweetly as Cinderella and Dawn Hope (Helena) reminded your
reviewer of the fabulous Miss Shirley Bassey. There was also some enjoyable
flugal playing by Nathan Bray.
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12th Dec 2008 - 7:30pm - Kighton Chamber Orchestra - Paul Jenkins -
Anne-Marie Shaw (viola) - Stuart Johnson (violin)
Fraser Noble Hall, Leicester
Anne-Marie Shaw captured the heart of Vaughan William's Suite for Viola
- with the dark rich tone of the viola evoking an English pastoral feeling
throughout the work
Jo Wood (bassoon) seemed the only member of the orchestra not flustered
by the extaordinarily slow tempos adopted by Stuart Johnson in Beethoven's
Violin Concerto - the bassoon solos in the slow movement whilst not
particularly significant seemed lyrical and well paced.
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7th Dec 2008 - 6:30pm - Music & Verse for Samaritan's Purse
Christmas Child "Shoe Box Appeal"
St Mary Magdalen Church, Knighton, Leicester
Roger Swann = horn (Fanfare: Salute to Denis Brain - Peter Maxwell
Davies)
A very varied Christmas event in aid of a good cause effectively
organised by Margot Comar. Of all the many performers bass Robin Nottingham
particularly impressed. This young man had excellent diction and voice
projection, good intonation and also a very happy personal demeanor.
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3rd Dec 2008 - 7:00pm - Leicestershire Arts In Education - The Lord
Mayors Christmas Concert
de Montfort Hall, Leicester
An evening showcasing three of the bands run by Leicestershire Arts:
Junior Band (Jo Conquest & David Hartland <enthusiastic claves in El
Coqui>), Intermediate Band (Geoff Newman <Tidy playing in "The Great
Escape">) and Training Band (Patrick White who's dress sense for Mama Mia
was excellent).
The Junior Steel Band (directed by Patricia Munroe) gave a gently
seductive interpretation of In the Bleak Mid Winter (very sensitive drum kit
playing).
The splendor of the occasion was helped by the back drop of the Massed
Choirs, from various Leicestershire primary schools. Conductor Gillian Ramshaw,
being wise enough to choose piano accompaniment for "Animal Antics" by Rebecca
Lawrence, brought the singers to life: they were obviously enjoying every
moment.
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30th Nov 2008 - 3:00pm - Riders to the Sea -
English National Opera
The Coliseum, London.
Vaughan Williams short opera, here conducted by Edward Gardner as a
result of the unexpected demise of Richard Hickox. Director Fiona Shaw chose to
preface the work with Sibelius' Luonnotar sung by Susan Gritton, who then
appeared towards the end of the Vaughan Williams as if to make some kind of
link. Her cold dark gloomy grey set (lighting by Jean Kalman) matched the cold
dark gloomy feel of the work.
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de Montfort Hall, Leicester
Roger Swann = horn
A Gala Concert in support of Leicester's Bone Bank - Claus Efland
conducted every piece of this "popular" programme as if it was the most
important work of art he'd ever presented - and the orchestra responded
accordingly.
Two new faces in the orchestra (Mihkel Kerem, leader { devilishly good
Danse Macarbre} and John Bean, principle 'cello { ejoyable opening to Puccini's
Intermezzo from Manon Lescaut with Phil Hougton (viola) } both settled in to
their roles with ease.
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22nd Nov 2008 - 7:30pm - Market Harborough Choral Society - Anselm
Kersten - David Hubery (piano) - Roger Swann (horn) - Roy Herd (lighting)
Robert Smythe School, Market Harborough
Roger Swann = horn
Supporting the Brahm's German Requiem, MD Anselm Kersten included a
performance of the second movement of Shostokovich's second piano concerto and
also gave your reviewer the chance to work with Roy Herd in presenting
Hildegard Westerkamp's
Fantasie
for Horns II. One could argue that this proved an incongruous mix - but
variety is the spice of life! Roy Herd's skillfully controlled lighting
accurately followed the composers directions and added dramatic effect to the
Fantasie for Horns II. It was great to have a chance to work with him in
putting this piece together.
Some good moments from the choir and orchestra in the Brahms German
Requiem were the result of Anselm Kersten's distinctive interpretation of the
work. Full marks to him also for the copious informative programme notes.
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21st Nov 2008 - 7:30pm - The
Philharmonia Orchestra - Charles Dutoit - Janine Janson (violin)
de Montfort Hall, Leicester
Every time Janine Janson plays she seems to make a piece of "standard
repetoire" come across as if it was a brand new work. This time it was
Beethoven's Violin Concerto that got the treatment. Straight from her opening
entry the fluidity of her playing was striking. Her first movement cadenza was
immaculate - It's great, too, that she is not frightened of using breathtaking
pianissimo levels, keeping the audience well and truely hanging on her every
bow movement.
The Philharmonia clearly enjoyed demonstratingt their technical
virtuosity in Stravinsky's Rite of Spring.
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26th Oct 2008 - British Horn Society Concerts
Birmingham Conservatoire, Birmingham
A whole day of horn music - the BHS festival certainly represents
outstanding value for money for those inclined to this peculiar taste.
The students of the Birmingham Conservatoire did themselves proud in
the opening event - Ralph Hall's arrangement of Wagner's Rienzi overture being
particularly well played.
The headline artist, Alessio Allegrini demonstrated his virtuosity with
a solo horn fragment based on Rossini and also by playing the Interstellar Call
for solo horn from Messiaen's "Des Canyone aux Etoilles". Here is a player not
frightened of playing at the quietist possible end of the dynamic range. The
afternoon chamber music concert also featured the two british female stars
Angela Barnes (playing Joseph Holbrooke's trio with it's clear echos of the
well known Brahms trio) and Elspeth Dutch (playing Ethel Smythe's own piano
reduction of her concerto for violin and horn < together with Jane Wright
(violin) and Malcolm Wilson (piano) this ensemble played with noticable empathy
>). These ladies more than held there own throughout the day.
The grand finale concert included more rarities with Alession Allegrini
demonstrating grace and ellegance as well as imaculate articulation. Again the
girls impressed by choosing to play a curious work "St Paul's Sequenza" for 2
solo horns and horn quartet - credited in the remarkably brief programme to 3
composers - Robin Wetterburn, Peter Gritton and Ben Parry.
As always there was room for great spectacle as all the big names came
together (enjoying the advantage of Peter Dyson's rock solid bass playing) for
some of the most accuate horn ensemble playing ever. It was obvious that the
players were enjoying the chance to play well together as much as everyone in
the audience was taking pleasure in listening to them. Your reviewer is certain
that he was not the only horn playing in the country who went home full of
enthusiasm to practice more (and more effectively) as a result of this
event.
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24th Oct 2008 - 7:00pm - Don Giovanni - Paul Jenkins
Fraser Noble Hall, Leicester
A semi-staged performance of Mozart's Don Giovanni produced and
directed by Paul Jenkins using Dent's (OUP) translation of da Ponte's libretto
attracted a respectable audience.
With reasonable singing from all the cast - with, perhaps, the ladies
gaining the upper hand (Michelle Martin - Donna Anna, Sandra Roberts - Donna
Elvira and Nicky Bingham - Zerlina) the plot was held together by the excellent
narrator, Edward Bampton.
One highlight was Don Giovanni's (Alan Speight) aria accompanied by the
on-stage guitar minstrel (Yvonne Bloor).
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Royal Festival Hall, London
A concert including music by three major figures of 20th Centuary music
attracted an audience of all ages. Perhaps a fact that those worried about the
aging audiences of a typical symphony orchestra concerts should note.
Xenakis' Pithoprakta showed off the quality of the Philharmonia string
section - but the almost unnoticed pianissimo trombone playing deserves
recognition as well.
The whole orchestra shimmered beautifully in Ligeti's Atmospheres and
the block chords in Chronochromie had the unmistakable stamp of Messiaen.
Amongst such towering company Benjamin presented his own "Sudden Time"
which included a beautifully played viola solo (Jane Atkins).
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8th Oct 2008 - 7:45pm - Houghton Music Club Performers Evening
Houghton on the Hill, Leicestershire
Roger Swann = horn (Otto Nicolai duet with Roz Saunders)
A classic Houghton Music Club meeting - exactly epitomising what the
organisation is all about.
All contributions were considered equal and were roundly applauded:
Margot, Kathleen and Liz playing Loeillet, Mike Hamiliton's excellent classical
guitar played from memory, Lucy's piano playing with accompaniment of a very
creaky sustain pedal, the debut of the appropriately dressed Ladybirds String
Quartet and the subset of Wysisyg folk group.
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5th Oct 2008 - 11:00am - Carducci String Quartet - Graham
Oppenheimer (viola)
de Montfort Hall, Leicester
The Carducci quartet joined with Graham Oppenheimer to give a
beautifully blended performance of Vaughan Williams' rarely heard Phantasy
Quintet. Very often an additional spoke in the wheel of an otherwise balanced
quartet can produce all sorts of tensions but this was strikingly not the case
here. The two violinists also blended excellently in the lower register that
Vaughan Williams uses extensively throughout.
It's good to see deMontfort Hall continuing to promote these coffee
morning concerts - and worth noting that the complimentary interval tipple (in
your reviewer's case a pleasant dry sherry) is much appreciated by all.
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4th Oct 2008 - 7:30pm - Rutland Sinfonia- Paul Hilliam -
Amy Littlewood (violin)
Oakham School Chapel, Oakham Rutland
Roger Swann = horn
A classic Rutland Sinfonia programme with a selection of excellent
works taken from "around the British Isles" and all just a fraction off the
beaten track
Fitting well within this concert theme was the world premier of George
Brown's Memories of Ulster. A substantial work, written especially for the
Rutland Sinfonia by the orchestra's long standing (but now retired) principal
oboeist, this piece draws on the composer's variety of experiences in Northern
Ireland. Passages make references to both bad (the troubles?) and good times
and the piece is soundly constructed, using a simple rising motif to hold the
listener's attention throughout. The orchestra enjoyed working at the music
(it's always challenging when you have the composer sitting in at rehearsals
offering suggestions as you concentrate on bringing his efforts to life). It
would be great to hear this work performed again or to have a chance to present
further work by George Brown.
Amy Littlewood impressed all present with her assured playing of
Vaughan Williams' The Lark Ascending. The orchestra responded to her delicate
interpretation with some sensitive accompaniment - the band showing that it
currently has a very competent set of four lead woodwind players.
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27th Sept 2008 - 7:30pm - The Bardi Symphony Orchestra and
Chorus- Claus Efland - Rita Cullis (soprano) - Alexandra Gibson (alto)
de Montfort Hall, Leicester
Roger Swann = horn
Schubert's Symphony No 8 (Unfinished) set the mood for this successful
opening concert for the Bardi Orchestra Season. Smooth 'cello playing (Maxine
McGinnes seems to have settled well into her role as section leader of the
'cellos and the security of pitch they provide gives the essential back bone to
the orchestra sound) in the opening theme was matched by well balanced woodwind
and horn playing.
The focus of the concert was always going to be Claus Efland's
interpretation of Mahler's Resurrection Symphony. All sections of the orchestra
rose to the occassion and the chorus sounded magnificent (full marks to chorus
master Giles Turner). The trombones and tuba seemed untroubled by the nervy
pianissimo writing (perfect section synchronisation and intonation) and clearly
enjoyed the moments where Mahler asks for controlled but overwhelming
power.
Horn Section Photo : From top left: Andrea Hemmett, Gill Colley, Edward
Turner, Robert Parker, Jo Chapman, David Leeder, Roz Saunders, Roger Swann,
Julian Haslam, Mark Penny
(Photograph: David Calow)
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21st Sept 2008 - 8:00pm - Leicester International Music Festival
Ensemble
Leicester Cathedral, Leicester
Event number 8 in the 2008 Leicester International Music Festival
opened with the festival director, Nick Daniel playing the Bach Partita in A
minor for solo oboe. If the audience appreciated the technical virtuosity on
display here they were (rightly) positively stunned by the performance of the
Rite of Spring in Stravinsky's own arrangement for piano with four hands. The
four hands here were supplied by Katya Apekisheva and Charles Owen - but they
really did sound like they belonged to a single person - such was the rhythmic
synchronisation. You are left with the feeling that Stravinsky was really
wringing out the orchestral colour from the piano.
Messiaen's Quartet for the End of Time made a contrasting second half.
Violinist Alexander Sitkovetsky and Pianist Katya Apekisheva seemed to really
understand the ethereal but still chilling atmosphere that is prevalent
throughout the work.
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