
** Positive Notes about Selected Concerts **
Season - 2018/2019
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21st Aug 2019 - 20:00 hrs - "The Perfect Wedding"
Manor Pavilion Theatre, Sidmouth, Devon
Robin Hawdon's play kept the audience laughing all the way through, complete with implausible plot and many tongue twisting one liners all delivered with comic timing by the cast of six.
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The Minster, Axminster, Devon
Roger Swann = horn
Marking a year since your reviewer's debut in Devon (with the same group, same time last year) this concert now found your reviewer playing with friends rather than strangers.
A repeat of yesterday's event with an equally enthusiastic audience was equally well received. Somehow we failed to get round to playing the encore ("Lullaby of Birdland") which was the audience's loss: it's a niffty arrangement!
( Photograph: Graham Godbeer - Aug 2019)
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14th Aug 2019 - 13:10 hrs - Lunchtime Concert - Woodbury Wind,
Crediton Congregational Church, Crediton, Devon
Roger Swann = horn
A very welcoming church (with first class apricot flap jacks enjoyed by (amongst others) both horn players) also had the perfect accoustic for a ten piece wind ensemble.
Complimenting arrangements of Mozart and Haydn, the group included an effective arrangement of Liadov's "Eight Russian Folk Songs" (complete with appropriately mournful cor-anglais solos (Jane Godbeer)) and Geoffrey Hartley's entertaining medly of tunes related to drinking, "The Listener's Guide to Drink".
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Donkey Sanctuary, Branscombe, Devon
A highlight of the Donkey Sanctuary Summer Fayre, Vikki Hewitt's enthusiastic band of followers (around eighty this time) were entertaining under very difficult conditions (high wind and no sound check!).
You can see them really cooking up a storm....
( Photograph: Roger - Aug 2019)
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8th Aug 2019 - 20:00 hrs - Sidmouth Folk Festival
- "Hey In The Hay" + Support
Manor Pavilion Theatre, Sidmouth, Devon
Great to be a (small) part of this vibrant festival (and to down some good cider prior to the gig).
Particularly impressive English dancing from "Star & Shadow Rapper" made an interesting contrast with equally excellent dancing in the Appalachian style from "Crooked Moon".
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7th Aug 2019 - 19:30 hrs - Music for a Summer's Evening
St Andrew's Church, Colyton, Devon
Roger Swann = horn
Your reviewer's debut as a performer in his relatively recently adopted home town presented the chance to perform Malcolm Arnold's challenging "Fantasy for Horn".
But this was mere support for the meat of the concert: Beethoven's Quintet (for oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn and piano) Op 16, played with good dynamics and appropriate moments of delicacy and power.
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Marine Parade, Lyme Regis, Dorset
Part of the week long Lyme Regis Carnival, Vikki Hewitt's combined forces drew a large crowd on a sunny afternoon in Lyme. The choir's obvious enjoyment at what they do had the whole sea front clapping along!
You can see Vikki coaxing a great performance out of her followers....
( Photograph: Roger - Aug 2019)
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31st July 2019 - 19:30 hrs - East Devon Folk Choir
- Men Sing
A pleasingly surreal experience in the fantastic caves listening to the two choirs by candle light.
Both choirs took full advantage of the generous acoustic and responded well to the musical shaping demanded by their musical directors (Sarah Owen (EDFC) and Paul Wilson (Men Sing)).
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28th July 2019 - 19:30 hrs - BBC Prom
13 - BBC Symphony Orchestra - Sakari Oramo - Nicolas Hodges (piano)
Royal Albert Hall, London
A rare chance to hear Messiaen's Des Canyons Aux Etoiles is what the BBC Proms season is all about. What a gripping but complex score this is, pushing pianistic birdsong to (and beyond) the limit and including virtuosic moments for David Hockings (Xylorimba) and Alex Neal (glockenspiel). It's not always clear which colours are bird song, which are the divine space of the canyon or the universe and which are inspired by the composer's deep catholic faith. But it is fascinating to enjoy the exquisite way all these aspects juggle for attention, all under the taught control of Sakari Oramo.
Martin Owen "sold" his huge solo section "Appel Interstellaire" to the audience with his combination of technically flawless horn playing and theatrically articulated presentation, jumping to and from menacing to flirtatious almost instantaneously.
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27th July 2019 - 19:30 hrs - BBC Prom
12 - National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain - Mark Wigglesworth - Nicola Benedetti (violin)
Royal Albert Hall, London
Lera Auerbach's Icarus (having it's Londong premier) was enjoyed by this huge orchestra (nine horns, eight trombones and three tubas). What an excellent choice to programme: the work has great rhythmic challenges (handled with ease under secure conductor, Mark Wigglesworth) but also some lovely gentle lyrical passages.
Prokofiev's Romeo & Juliet also showed the orchestra in a good light. The strings sounded tight through the many fast sections. The horns didn't miss a note (bravo!).
Throughout, the infectious enthusiasm of the musicians came across, never more so than in the Encore: Bernstein's Mambo from West Side Story.
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27th July 2019 - 15:00 hrs - BBC Prom's At...
Battersea Arts Centre is an amazing place and the Grand Hall's organ proved a highlight in the hands (and feet) of Kit Downes. Not frightened to use the huge dynamic range available and taking advantage of some curious "not quite finished?" features his creative work had the whole audience's attention.
These day's it's easy to gauge how well a piece is going down. Gone are the times when you had to study an audience carefully to catch the odd disguised yawn. Now, when bored, the whole audience can be seen checking their smart phones. There was a lot of this going on in this patchy concert. Other than Kit Downes it was Neil Luck's music that did not fall into the "surface but no substance" category. He had some interesting ideas and used the space and theatrical effects in ways that kept you hooked....
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14th July 2019 - 15:30 hrs - Gloria! Beautiful Songs for Summertime - Cantamus
- Nicholas Brown
St Andrew's Church, Colyton, Devon
A very wide ranging programme (Russion Orthodox Chant to Lennon & McCartney) including some excellent harmonic singing in Bruckner's Locus Iste and Ave Maria.
It was good to hear Elgar's charming (and rarely performed) "Songs from the Bavarian Highlands".
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13th July 2019 - 12:00 hrs - ISCA String Ensemble
- Roger Hendy
St Peter's Church, Budleigh Salterton, Devon
Part of the Budleigh Salterton Classical Music Festival, this concert gave Roger Hendy and his fine set of string players the chance to play in the beautiful (and beautiful sounding) church of St Peters, to a good sized, attentative and enthusiastic audience.
As well as including several traditional favourites (Elgar's Serenade Op 20 and the Dag Wiren Serenade for example) the orchestra also performed an early concerto by Vivaldi RV 156. What a quirky little piece this turned out to be!
The string sound was luscious throughout; good intonation and neat, tidy execution. A very enjoyable way to spend a lunch time.
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6th July 2019 - Dalwood Music Day
Village Hall / The Tuckers Arms / Marquee / St Peter's Church - Dalwood
, Devon
A very very wide range of performers playing a very full programme spread across four venues. All in the attractive village of Dalwood, bathed in sunshine.
Your reviewer enjoyed every minute but (as is so often the case) found the heavy amplication and prominent percussion of some of the bands less engaging than those relying on acoustic presentation. Highlights included "Poisson Rouge" (Breton dance music from tight knit trio benefiting from some very subtle fretless bass playing by Martin Henning) and Shiraz (two ladies singing a lot of their own material).
....and the beefburgers cooked adjacent to the village hall were simply the best !
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20th June 2019 - 19:30 hrs - California Suite
Colyton Town Hall, Colyton, Devon
Neil Simon's play brought to life by director Emily Thomas proved an enjoyable (at times farcical) romp. Actually four short plays all taking part in the same hotel suite the characterisation was strong throughout. Much laughter from the full house.
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8th June 2019 - 19:30 hrs - ISCA Ensemble
- Roger Hendy - Luka Okros (piano)
Sidmouth Parish Church, Sidmouth, Devon
Roger Swann = horn
A sophisticated light touch by Luk Okras perfectly suited for Mozart's Piano Concerto No 21 in C major K 467 was perhaps the highlight of the evening.
Both orchestra and audience enjoyed a joyful (and loud) blast through Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4 with some excellent wood wind playing matching the strings enthusiasm for playing under guest leader Sergei Emelyanov from the State Symphony orchestra of Tatarstan.
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5th June 2019 - 19:45 hrs - The Diary of One Who Disappeared
The Linbury Theatre, The Royal Opera House
, Covent Garden, London.
A theatrical adaption (Muziektheater Transparant) of the song cycle by Janacek with additional music by Annelies Van Parys was always going to be a little experimental. There was some deliberate(?) ambiguity about where the actual narrative was taking the audience.
The two lead singers, Marie Hammard (Mezzo) and Ed Lyon (Tenor) were very convincing actors (enjoyed from the second row by your reviewer) as well as posessing powerful expressive voices.
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23rd May 2019 - 19:30 hrs - Thomas Bowes
- (violin)
St Michael's Church, Shute, Devon
The first time your reviewer has reached a concert venue by an hour long walk across fields. This was a concert well worth the effort. Playing J S Bach's Sonata no 1 in G minor BWV 1001, Partita no 1 in B Minor BWV 1002 and Sonata no 3 in C Major BWV 1005 well is a feat in itself. Playing the whole program from memory with power, nuance and colour was simply virtuosic.
Taking the country road route back on foot your reviewer was offered a lift (declined) by a passing motorist who had been at the church. "Cracking concert" was his accurate summary.
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19th May 2019 - 19:00 hrs - The Axe Vale Orchestra
- Arturo Serna - Lionel Handy ('cello)
The Minster, Axminster, Devon
Lionel Handy gave a spectacularly powerful, energetic and chilling account of the Cello Concerto No. 1 by Shostakovich, at the end of the first movement drawing an audible gasp of exhaustion from an audience member sitting immediately behind your reviewer. This was seriously intense.
The orchestra wisely sandwiched this emotional tour-de-force between two lighter works: the overture to Mozart's Cosi Fan Tutti (attractive wind solos throughout) and Beethoven's Symphony No. 8 with conductor Arturo Serna enjoying the weightier moments to the full.
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18th May 2019 - 13:15 hrs - The Chantry Buoys
Sidmouth Ham, Sidmouth, Devon
The Chantry Buoys (named after the Chantry in Colyton) performing sea shanties (their publicity states that they sing "in the quay of sea") and related repertoire as part of the Sidmouth Sea Fest day proved to be an excellent accompaniment to a pint of good cider!
As well as many of the reasonably well known sea shanties they also included songs such as "The Leaving of Liverpool" and provided good audience banter. Along with all the antics they can actually sing pretty well in tune too. Good fun!
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15th May 2019 - 19:30 hrs - Phaedra
The Linbury Theatre, The Royal Opera House
, Covent Garden, London.
Henze's penultimate work for the stage (premiered in 2007) seemed a somewhat rambling affair in this production with the audience being given little to help grasp the plot (for example in the first act both humans and Gods were dressed in blue - it took a while to work out even who was who.
Singers (members of the Jette Parker Young Artists programme) and the South Bank Sinfonia were universally excellent.
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11th May 2019 - 19:45 hrs - Claire Browne - "Magnificent Musicals"
Seaton Methodist Church, Seaton, Devon
An enjoyable romp through songs from musicals from "Swing Time" (1936) - "A Fine Romance" through to "The Greatest Showman" (2017) - "This is me".
Helpful introductions to each song were kept to a sensible length. Musical Director Claire Browne didn't bow (or even acknowledge the audience) once which was a little strange!
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29th April 2019 - 19:30 hrs - Billy Budd
Britten's dark tale of Captain Fairfax (Toby Spence) and Billy Budd (Jacques Imbrailo) given clever (dark) staging and some fine acting to match the quality singing.
Great picolo and bass clarinet playing in the pit.
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24th April 2019 - 19:30 hrs - Adriene Hesketh - Music and Poetry - "Shakespeare and St. George"
Collyford Memorial Hall, Colyford, Devon
An informal but most enjoyable evening, presented by the Colyford History Society (but not containing much history). Adriene Hesketh played the village hall piano mixed in with a bit of recorder and a bit or poetry reading along with snippets of information taken from her www based research. It was all very laid back and seemed a fairly random selection (including some of her own works).
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Southernhay United Reformed Church, Dix's Field, Exeter, Devon
The wonderful Margaret Fingerhut here giving a solo receital with each piece written by a composer who spent life in exile, or being closely related to this topic. The concert is being given on a series of dates around the UK in order to promote awareness of the "City of Sanctuary" scheme.
From the gently persuasive opening notes of Handel this performance had all the hall marks of this pianist: Extensive (and thoughtful) musical preparation combined with ease of performance that allows the music to speak for itself. Unusually, Margaret chose to illuminate each piece with a well judged introduction. This was much appreciated by the many in the audience less familiar with piano recital repertoire.
The concert included a specially commisioned work "Memories from my Land" by Moutaz Arian and the wonderfully swirling "Farewell to Hirta" by Francis Pott.
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25th Mar 2019 - 20:00 hrs Honitor Rock Choir
- Vikki Hewitt
Honiton Community College, Honiton, Devon
Everyone was enjoying themselves whilst at the same time showing great concentration, responding to every one of director Vikki Hewitt's gestures. Very good intonation throughout (special credit to the ladies singing the high soprano line here).
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21st Mar 2019 - 19:30 hrs Seaton Music Concert:
Castalian Quartet / Trio
The Seaton Gateway, Seaton, Devon
With second violinist Daniel Roberts suddenly "indisposed" the Castalian Quartet had to reinvent themselves as the Castalian Trio.
This did give the audience a chance to enjoy some less familiar repertoire. It was especially wonderful to hear Charlotte Bonneton's glowing and bright viola tone in the Mozart duets K424 matching the violin sound of Sini Simonen.
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16th March 2019 - 19:30 hrs - ISCA Ensemble
- Roger Hendy - James Gilbert (clarinet)
Sidmouth Parish Church, Sidmouth, Devon
Your reviwer had attended several rehearsals for this concert before a minor injury from a cycle crash forced him to pull out at the last minute (many thanks to Tracey Alder for emergency cover!)
The ISCA ensemble is blessed with a very strong string section who sounded very comfortable in Wagner's Rienzi Overture. The same could also be said about James Gilbert's performance of Weber's second clarinet concerto (skillful control at the end of the slow movement)
The concert provided the rare chance to hear Shostakovich's Symphony No. 1 (op 10). Written when aged 19 it already has many of the hallmarks of his later and greater symphonies: Pleading stark desolate flute solos, extended orchestral crescendos supported by vigorous percussion and long loud ironic (or at least enigmatic) codas. Full marks to Roger Hendy both for the work he had done preparing the score and also for programming the work in the first place.
Here's your reviewer incapacitated with a broken radial head bone in the right elbow
( Photograph: Julie - March 2019)
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14th Mar 2019 - 19:30 hrs - Gilly's Gem - Chilli con Comedy
Colyton Town Hall, Colyton, Devon
Gin based cocktail (not too strong!) and a generous helping of chilli con carne ensured that the audience were ready for the play: Sandy Taylor's one act: "Gilly's Gem*
As the comic action unfolded it became clear that both gin and mincemeat were foundations of the depicted household.
With a stage impressively crammed full of domestic detail (stage design credited to the director: Maggie Smith) all five actors enjoyed their larger than life characters to the full. This was a most enjoyable evening.
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8th Mar 2019 - 19:30 hrs - Mnozil Brass
Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham
Your reviewer gave Mnozil brass gushing praise when he first heard them (4th July 2010) and four years later (17th Oct 2014).
So this is the third hearing and if anything it was the best yet!
Some clever gags mixed up with an endless stream of out of this world brass playing including a sparkling exerpt from Stravinsky's Firebird.
They also do the quiet cantabile playing with ease and charm. The gig of the year!
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7th Mar 2019 - 19:30 hrs - Steve Knightley
A laid back relaxed delivery with an up to date sound system perfectly set up so that you could savour the attractively constructed lyrics of Steve Knightley's compositions
An evening perfectly suited to this moderately sized welcoming venue.
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1st Mar 2019 - 19:30 hrs - The Glamour Girls
Colyton Town Hall, Colyton, Devon
Quite a remarkable evening organised by the Nunsford Nutters Carnival Committee featuring the three MAN "Glamour Girls" who are resident in Oludeniz, Turkey during the summer and tour England as their build up. Their "drag queen" show might have been jeopardised by one of the three being taken to hospital immediately prior to show, but they hid it well. Great fun, great innuendo and great great revealing outfits (and in one case spectacularly flexible breasts !).
Arriving with little time to spare, your reviewer got stuck on a front table and it took only a few moments before the act caught on to the "Roger" inevitable lines.....
This is a link (safe and more or less family friendly) which gives you an idea of what you are up against....
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21st Feb 2019 - 19:30 hrs Seaton Music Concert:
Joanna MacGregor (piano)
The Seaton Gateway, Seaton, Devon
A wide range of composer's music made up this varied receital by Joanna MacGregor. Ending with a powerful passionate performance of Beethoven's Op57 (Appassionata) sonata she was equally persuasive in the refined style of Chopin and the deliberately virtuosic music of Ginastera.
Two contrasting contemporary composers were also represented: Sofia Gubaidulina (Chaconne) (Ms MacGregor relishing some of the brutal passages) and Fazil Say with the extended technique sounds in his "Black Earth".
All the high quality playing was matched by her own clear informative concert programme notes.
It's always good to be reminded that great artists are normal people: Ms MacGregor looked like she was really enjoying her pint of ale immediately following her performance, and so she should: she deserved it!
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17th Feb 2019 - 15:00 hrs - The Axe Vale Orchestra
- Arturo Serna - Penelope Lee (narrator)
Seaton Methodist Church, Seaton, Devon
Roger Swann = horn
An enjoyable afternoon's music making in the comfortable and welcoming venue (followed by copious excellent cakes).
Arturo Serna, faultless throughout, chose workable but achievable tempi allowing the orchestra to perform to it's best. The strings showed their strength with valuable secure support being shown by leader Rachel Burrough.
Penelope Lee's declamations of extracts from Shakespear's Midsummer Night's Dream did the source more than justice and greatly illuminated Mendelssohn's music. A very imaginative piece of concert programming.
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9th Feb 2019 - 19:30 hrs - Helix Ensemble
- Toby Purser (Musical Director)
St Andrews Church, Countesthorpe, Leicestershire
Choosing a programming theme of "an early work and a late work" by two composers (Ravel and Haydn) proved an interesting idea of Toby Purser. For the first time ever your reviewer was struck by how Ravel's Pavane pour une Infante Defunte (op 19) occupies a very similar sound world to his contemporary, Deilus.
Both the Haydn symphonies (Numbers 1 and 104) positively fizzed with joy.
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2nd Feb 2019 - 19:30 hrs - ISCA Ensemble Light Orchestra
- Roger Hendy - Chris Gradwell (tenor sax) - Andrew Daldorph (piano) - Jim Rintoule (bass) - Steve Douglas (drums) - Jo Sharp (oboe)
Sidmouth Parish Church, Sidmouth, Devon
Roger Swann = horn
A sell out concert featuring some great tunes by Eric Coates, Robert Farnon, Leroy Anderson, Ennio Morricone etc.
The concert also gave East Devon audiences a second chance to hear Alphie Pugh's full length composition "Journey of the Feline Mind", conducted by the composer and featuring the excellent Chris Gradwell at the front and a talented jazz trio (names as above). The composer conjured up the sound worlds of sleazy jazz, luscious film scores and "Radio 2" schmoltz (do you remember the Mike Sammes Singers?) with ease as well as writing passages in 15/16 time that sounded not in the least bit contrived.
Clearly a talented composer, Alfie also had completed control of the orchestra with his baton as he navigated the many tricky corners of his complex score.
Roger Hendy's string section should be very proud of the full sound they make when presented with these rich flowing scores.
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31st Jan 2019 - 19:30 hrs - Sherlock Holmes - The Sign of the Four
Blackeyed Theatre's
adaption (script credit Nick Lane) of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's second full length Sherlock Holme's novel made for a challenging evening for the analytical minds in the audience.
A complex plot, but great theatre! All the actors doubled on instruments when they were not active on stage (Stephanie Rutherford seemed a master of bass trombone, tenor horn and violin as well as being a fine actress).
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22nd Dec 2018 - 19:30 hrs - ISCA Ensemble South West
- Roger Hendy - Emmanuel Bach (violin) - Joel Munday (violin)
Sidmouth Parish Church, Sidmouth, Devon
Roger Swann = horn
Joe Sharp's achingly beautiful opening oboe solo in Handel's Water Music set the standard: This was going to be a quality performance.
The hiqh quality was matched by the excellent team work from the two violin solists and continued through to the very happy last movement of Haydn's Symphony No. 88 (played as an encore).
The church was packed, mince pies were enjoyed in the interval and a fair amount of cash was raised for Hospiscare.
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8th Dec 2018 - 19:30 hrs - A Christmas Carol
The Marine Theatre Players presented this adaption of Dickens' classic Christmas tale. It's a great story and the production made good use of spirited lighting to capture the four ghosts and Scrooge's "coming to see the light".
It was great to see many young people involved. Tiny Tim's solo (silent night) was very poignant.
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5th Dec 2018 - 20:00 hrs - Wednesday Orchestra - Stewart Stunell
Silver Street Baptist Church, Taunton
Roger Swann = horn
It was an honour to be invited to help out with the Taunton based "Wednesday Orchestra" and their "Christmas Playthrough"
This friendly group of players of a wide range of backgrounds and abilities have the advantage of a full sounding string section that particularly shone in the slow movement of Sibelius' Karelia Suite.
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1st Dec 2018 - 19:00 hrs - Martin Taylor and Martin Simpson
Two of Britain's greatest guitarists playing this delightfully intimate venue couldn't help but be a classic gig (and a sell-out one too).
No one left the hall disappointed! Martin Simpson's bottle neck guitar playing and Martin Taylor's awe inspiring virtuosity would be enough reason to be there alone. But what made it extra special was the total synchronisation between these great musicians.
It was so obvious that each respected the other. Rather than a battle to show off it was almost a battle to take the back seat. A remarkable concert.
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Axminster Guildhall, Axminster, Devon
Axminster Musical Theatre put on a great show for the sell out house. Director Jack Price kept the pace up on the stage and MD Ian Crew had a high quality band (sensitive tight percussion from Sam Felton) to back up the good strong singing on stage.
Laura Addy as Rita O'Grady was a star in the main role, but she was helped by strong acting by all her colleagues.
The show was thought provoking, powerful and very funny. Lyrics by Richard Thomas included such rhymes as "ought ta" and "shorter" and the even better "I need ya" and "Procedure" !
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15th Nov 2018 - 19:30 hrs - Nicholas Mogg (baritone) - Jams Coleman (piano)
The Seaton Gateway, Seaton, Devon
Nicholas Mogg (baritone) and Jams Coleman presented a range of songs for The Seaton Music Society's
Novemenber concert.
They included one or two well known ones of course but it was a real joy to hear Ivor Gurney's "Sleep" which your reviewer performed only five days previously in an orchestral version (see below).
It was a neat idea to include Carl Loewe's setting of Der Erlkonig alongside the much more frequently performed Schubert setting; different but equally effective with Nicholas Mogg bringing out the two conversationists to maximum effect.
A significant contribution to the success of the event was Jams Coleman's piano accompaniment: you really could hear the sunlight in his playing during Duparc's "L'invitation au voyage".
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14th Nov 2018 - 19:30 hrs - Musical Squares - Michael & Wendy Gluyas
St Andrews Church, Colyton, Devon
Presented by the enterprising "Friends of St. Andrews" this talk by Michael Gluyas (with quick moving technical support by Wendy Gluyas) covered a lot of material from the worlds of physics, biology, medicine and music in an 80 minute burst of wit and lucidity.
Excellent live demonstrations of both transverse and longitudinal waves as well as an audience member having their stomach amplified to the enjoyment of all present were typical of the range covered.
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10th Nov 2018 - 19:30 hrs - The Somerset County Orchestra
- David Hedges - Lorna Anderson (soprano)
St James Church, Taunton, Somerset
Roger Swann = horn
The highlight of this enjoyable event was Lorna Anderson's singing of seven songs by Ivor Gurney with the an accompaniment skillfully orchestrated by David Hedges.
This was expressive singing without histrionics, perfectly suited to these gentle but moving settings.
Including the suite from "Things to Come" by Arthur Bliss was an imaginative bit of concert programming appreciated by audience and members of the orchestra alike.
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3rd Nov 2018 - 17:00 hrs - The Axe Vale Orchestra (conductor: Leslie Baker) - La Croch'Coeur (conductor: Thierry Anquetil)
The Guildhall, Axminster, Devon
An enjoyable evening's music performed by the Axe Vale Orchestra in combination with a band from Axminster's twin french town of Douvres.
Music ranging from Barry Gibb's "Woman in Love" to extracts from Bizet's Carmen kept the audience engaged.
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