Organ Recital at Eaton

On the afternoon of Sunday 7th October 2012 I attended the Neil Ricketts Organ Recital at St. Andrew's Church, Eaton, Norwich which was the latest concert in the Eaton Concert Series for the 2012/13 season. Neil Ricketts served as organist at St. Andrew's Church from 1998 to 2008. He is a freelance organist and accompanist who continues to conduct the Eaton Parishes Choir and Orchestra.

The programme consisted of Fantasia and Fugue in G minor BWV 542 - Bach, Trio Sonata No.5 BWV 529 - Bach, Sonate No.2 fur Orgel ED 2558 - Hindemith, Prelude and Fugue in C minor (Op 37 No.1) - Mendelssohn, Suite Gothique Op 25 - Boellmann, In Paradisum (from Douze Pieces Nouvelles) - Dubois, Bolero de Concert - Lefebure-Wely and Variations sur un Noel (Op 20) - Dupre.

This was a well though out concert with the first half being made up of German composers while after the interval we were given a programme of French composers. It was interesting to compare the different styles. Neil Ricketts played wonderfully and along with the interval apple juice this made for a splendid Sunday afternoon

Blue skies over Eaton

On Sunday 2nd September 2012 I attended The Jay Singers concert in the Eaton Concert Series at St. Andrew's Church, Eaton, Norwich. This was a wonderful afternoon to be in Eaton at the first concert in the 2012/13 Series. The Jay Singers were directed by Neil MacKenzie who was a founder member of The Sixteen. Piano accompaniment was provided by Neil Ricketts.

The programme consisted of Full fathom five (from The Tempest) - Shakespeare, Full fathom five - Charles Wood, Look, stranger - W H Auden, Just as the tide - Ralph Vaughan Williams, The Lover's ghost - Ralph Vaughan Williams, Neither out far nor in deep - Robert Frost, Break, break, break - Alfred, Lord Tennyson, There rolls the deep - Hubert Parry, The sea hath its pearls - Ciro Pinsuti, Walking Across the Atlantic - Billy Collins, Fear of Falling - Jehane Markham, Seal Lullaby - Eric Whitacre and Three Shakespeare songs - Ralph Vaughan Williams. There was an interval of 20 minutes and time for a refreshing apple juice before an exciting second half to the concert.

After the interval the programme consisted of Sea Fever - John Masefield, Cargoes - John Masefield, I love my love - Gustav Holst, Matelot - Noel Coward, arr Vlasto, Blue Skies - Irving Berlin, arr Woods, Not waving but drowning - Stevie Smith, The Last Swim - Michael Laskey, Meerfey - Robert Schumann, Der traumende See - Robert Schumann, In Meeres Mitten - Robert Schumann, The Owl and The Pussycat - Edward Lear, Shallow Brown - Percy Grainger and I'm seventeen come Sunday - Percy Grainger.

This was a splendid afternoon of music and poetry with the theme of the Sea as The Jay Singers took us on a journey to the seaside. It was brilliant to hear a couple of Percy Grainger songs along with a reading of The Owl and The Pussycat. A fun and enjoyable concert from The Jay Singers which proved to be the perfect opening to the 2012/13 Eaton Concert Series.

Singing fun at Eaton!

On Sunday 1st April 2012 I attended the final concert in the Eaton Concert Series 2011/12 season at St. Andrew's Church, Eaton, Norwich with Gerard Carey and Neil Ricketts bringing us The Great American Songbook. They were performing at very short notice and had to put together their programme just before the start of the concert.

Gerard Carey graduated from London's famous Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and is currently appearing with Broadway legend Tyne Daly in Terrence McNally's Master Class at London's Vaudeville Theatre. Neil Ricketts has accompanied and conducted various choral societies and choirs in numerous concerts over the past 25 years.

When October Goes is a ballad based on lyrics by Johnny Mercer with music by Barry Manilow which was sung brilliantly by Gerard Carey. Neil Ricketts treated us to a wonderful version of Gershwin's Summertime before the concert finished with Gerard Carey dressed in a kilt gave us a Scottish version of Andrew Lloyd Webber songs including Jesus Christ Superstar. This was a fun finish to this season's Eaton Concert Series.

Adrian Adlam at the Eaton Concert Series

On Sunday 4th March 2012 it was the lateat concert in the Eaton Concert Series at St. Andrew's Church, Eaton, Norwich this time featuring Adrian Adlam in a solo violin recital. I made my way through the rain to join a large audience who had gathered in great anticipation for this event.

The programme for the afternoon was Partita in D minor - Bach, Ballade Sonata No.3 - Ysaye, Solo Sonata - Bartok and Ferdinand the Bull - Ridout. This was a wonderful in which Adrian Adlam could show all his technical abilities on the violin.

Adrian Adlam put on an amazing show for everyone in attendance which was greatly appreciated by us all. before the interval he played the pieces by Bach and Ysaye without the music while after the interval the music for Bartok's Solo Sonata was beamed onto a big screen therefore it was only fair that if we had the music he should have it as well.

For an encore Adrain Adlam played Alan Ridout's Ferdinand the Bull doing the speaking part in a Spanish accent which raised plenty of laughter in the audience. This was a fun way to bring this brilliant solo violin recital to an end. Afterwards he gave a masterclass to the children in attendance.

The Cavick Quartet at Eaton

We were promised Turina and we were not disappointed as The Cavick Quartet turned a cold winter afternoon into sunny Spain in the latest Eaton Concert Series concert at St. Andrew's Church, Eaton, Norwich. Me and the others who made their way through the snow were well rewarded with a concert of wonderful music.

On Sunday 5th February 2012 the programme from The Cavick Quartet was Quartet No.1 in G, opus 77 - Haydn, La Oracion del Torero - Turina, Serenata, opus 87 - Turina and Quartet in F, opus 96, American - Dvorak. Ben Lowe -violin, Anne Vallins - violin, Ben Payne - viola and Chris Lawrence - cello formed The Cavick Quartet in 2009 with a shared passion for chamber music.

It may have been cold outside but the splendid music and brilliant performance from The Cavick Quartet warmed us all and made this an afternoon to remember. Dvorak's American was a great piece to play and after an encore of Haydn we all showed our appreciation to The Cavick Quartet.

Dexterity Trio Delight

On Sunday 4th December 2011 I took the afternoon walk to St. Andrew's Church, Eaton, Norwich for the latest concert in the Eaton Concert Series with the Dexterity Trio featuring Anna Hopkins - flute, Maja Passchier - cello and David Morgan - piano.

The programme consisted of Trio no 30 in F major - Haydn, Trio Miniaturen - Juon, Trio - Steel, Sonata in G minor - Telemann, Sonate en Concert - Damase and Kleines Trio on Irish Themes - Rowley. A varied programme that made for an interesting afternoon of music.

All members of this Norfolk-based trio are highly respected musicians with successful careers devoted to teaching and performing. They provided a delightful concert for the enthusiastic audience which included informative commentary on the pieces from David Morgan.

Xenia Horne's musical journey

After the Adie Oboe and Harp Duo cancelled it was harpist Xenia Horne who stepped in to make sure that the show went on for the latest in the Eaton Concert Series at St. Andrew's Church, Eaton, Norwich on Sunday 6th November 2011. With a varied programme she delighted the large audience with help from flautist Lucy Marks.

With music from Vivaldi, Prokofiev and Debussy to Irish harpist Turlough O'Carolan on to modern work from Stewart Green this was truly a very varied programme that thrilled us all. Flautist Lucy Marks joined Xenia for Fantasia on a Theme of Greensleeves, My Love is Like a Red Red Rose and Scarborough Fair.

From The Burning of the Piper's Hut to Gershwin's Summertime Xenia Horne took us on a fantastic journey through several centuries of music. The Eaton Concert Series is always full of wonderful surprises and a delightful place to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Jocelyn Freeman at the Eaton Concert Series

On Sunday 2nd October 2011 I took an afternoon stroll down to St. Andrew's Church, Eaton, Norwich for the second of this season's Eaton Concert Series featuring London based Welsh pianist Jocelyn Freeman.

The programme consisted of Drei Klavierstucke D946 - Schubert, Lieder Transcriptions - Liszt, Consolation No.3 in D flat major - Liszt, Minute Waltz - Chopin, Nocturne Opus 36 No.4 in E flat major, Novelettes - Poulenc and La fille aux cheveux de lin - Debussy.

With wonderful descriptions of the music and the Composers between playing together with a brilliant performance that thrilled us all, Jocelyn Freeman showed us why she is in demand as an accompanist and duo partner.

She wants us to explore the music of Faure and showed great enthusiasm for all the pieces she played, which helped make this a very enjoyable concert as an alternative to the beach on a sunny Sunday afternoon. I'm sure we will be hearing a lot more of Jocelyn Freeman in the future.

The Brook Street Band at the Eaton Concert Series

On Sunday 4th September 2011 I made my way to St. Andrew's Church, Eaton, Norwich for the first of the Sunday afternoon concerts in the Eaton Concert Series for the 2011/12 season. The opening date saw a performance from The Brook Street Band performing a splendid programme of Baroque Music including works from Handel, Bach and Vivaldi.

The programme for the concert was Violin sonata in D major Op 5 No 1 - Corelli, Cello sonata in C major Op 3 No 10 - Jacchini, Lascia ch'io pianga - Handel, Cello sonata in B flat major No 1 RV 47 - Vivaldi, Violin sonata in F major HWV 370 - Handel, Allemande from Partita No 4 in D major BWV 828 - Bach, Cello sonata in D Major - Telemann and Violin sonata in D minor Op 5 No 12 La Follia - Corelli.

Farran Scott on Baroque violin, Tatty Theo on Baroque cello and Carolyn Gibley on Harpsichord provided us with wonderful performances of the highest quality which were greatly enjoyed by the audience. With great enthusiasm and expert commentary between works The Brook Street Band was an inspired choice to open this season's Eaton Concert Series.

Classical take on Folk at Eaton!

St Andrew's Church, Eaton

On Sunday afternoon I attended the latest concert in the Eaton Concert Series at St Andrew's Church, Eaton featuring Adrian Adlam - violin and Thomas Hell - piano.

The concert programme was Liebestod (piano solo) Wagner arr Liszt, Second violin sonata Bartok, Sonato no 1 in G, Opus 78 Brahms and Tzigane Concert Rhapsody Ravel.

Thomas Hell opened the concert with a piano solo of Liebestod. This is a transcript of a Wagner opera by Liszt. This was followed by Bartok's second violin sonata which thrilled and frightened us at the same time. Adrian Adlam demonstrated his fine violin playing. In this piece the piano and violin are treated as separate instruments with dramatic results.

After the interval where we were served delicious apple and orange juice we were taken to a more downbeat place in our heads with Brahms sonata no 1 in G, Opus 78 that was created in memory of his godson. This is a very moving piece of music.

The concert finished in dramatic fashion with Ravel's Tzigane with it's take on Eastern European Folk music. You can feel the Gypsy fiddle playing in the music. This was an excellent afternoon of music that made the audience think as well as being very entertaining.