The Clarinet Trio at The Assembly House

At lunchtime on Wednesday 22nd May 2013 I attended the last of this year's Royal Academy of Music Concerts at The Assembly House, Norwich as part of the Norfolk and Norwich Festival featuring the Clarinet Trio. This was another wonderful concert brought to us in the annual visit to the Festival by virtuosi from the Royal Academy of Music.

The Hommage a Schumann concert was played by Antanas Makstutis - clarinet, Ugne Tiskute - viola and Morta Grigaliunaite - piano. The programme consisted of Marchenerzahlungen Op.132 - Schumann, Hommage a Robert Schumann - Kurtag and Acht Stucke Op.83 (selection) - Bruch.

The Marchenerzahlungen (Fairy Tales) was composed by Robert Schumann in 1853 which was the year that saw his first meeting with Johannes Brahms. This piece has echoes of Schumann's earlier works. These Fairy Tales seem like an escape into musical fantasy.

Gyorgy Kurtag's Hommage a Schumann was composed in 1990 and is one of the most exciting pieces in the clarinet, viola and piano repertoire. It is directly linked to Schumann's Fairy Tales through its title and instrumentation. The final movement Farewell creates a procession like atmosphere that ends with a heavy bass drumbeat played by the clarinet.

The Acht Stucke was written by Max Bruch in 1910 and was dedicated to Princess zu Wied. His attention to the combination of viola and clarinet resulted in some wonderful repertoire. Bruch recognised that the instruments were in the same register. The composer's son Max Felix Bruch was an exceptionally talented clarinettist who was compared to Richard Muhlfeld.

This was a fantastic finish to this year's Royal Academy of Music Concert Series with a very enjoyable and strong performance from the Clarinet Trio. The Assembly House is full of life during the Festival and with brilliant music like this, it is always a joy to visit.

An evening of 19th century song at The Assembly House

I was back at The Assembly House, Norwich on the evening of Monday 20th May 2013 for the Sam Furness and Matthew Fletcher concert at the Norfolk and Norwich Festival. This concert was in the Royal Academy of Music Concert Series which has become a vital and much-loved feature of the Festival.

The programme consisted of An die Leier - Schubert, Dichterliebe - Schumann, Des Abends, Aufschwung (from Fantasiestucke Op.10) - Schumann, Chanson triste - Duparc, Oh quand je dors - Liszt, An die ferne Geliebte - Beethoven, Etude No.3 in E major Op.10 - Chopin and Three Petarch Sonnets - Liszt.

This varied programme of chanson and lieder provided a wonderful overview of 19th century song which featured works by the leading masters of the genre. Tenor Sam Furness and Pianist Matthew Fletcher opened the concert with Schubert's An die Leier, a song published in 1826 that is a setting of a poem by Franz von Bruchmann which is based on the sixth century BC Greek satirical poet Anacreon.

Robert Schumann's Dichterliebe song cycle was written in 1840 with texts taken from Lyrisches Intermezzo, a set of poems written in 1822-23 by Heinrich Heine. Schumann chose twenty to set to music with a dramatic narrative, however only sixteen of the resulting songs made it into the first edition. Fantasiestucke is a selection of eight solo piano pieces written by Schumann in 1837, inspired by the selection of short stories Fantasiestucke in Callots Manier by E.T.A. Hoffman.

Chason Triste was written by Henri Duparc in 1868 to a poem by Henri Cazalis. who wrote under the nom de plume Jean Lahor. Oh! Quand je dors was written in 1842 by Franz Liszt as a setting to a poem by Victor Hugo. The song calls for the singer's beloved to come to him while he sleeps.

An die Ferne Geliebte is widely considered to be the first ever song cycle. This set of songs was composed by Beethoven in 1816 to poems by Alois Isidor Jeitteles. It is a selection of reflections by the poet as he sits on a hill thinking of his beloved, from whom he is separated.

Etude No.3 was composed by Chopin in 1832 and was dedicated to his friend Franz Liszt. Chopin considered it to be his most beautiful composition. Franz Liszt's Three Petarch Sonnets were published in 1846 but were composed several years earlier. Liszt set sonnets by the Italian poet Petrarca who, having seen a woman called Laura in church, was inspired to write Rime Sparse. The songs were written in a very emotional, Italianate style to match the poetry.

This was a brilliant night to be at The Assembly House as the large audience in attendance were treated to a night of chanson and lieder in French, German and Italian. Sam Furness, who is already establishing an international profile and Matthew Fletcher, winner of numerous prizes at the Royal Academy of music put on a performance of the highest quality which was one of my musical highlights at this year's Festival.

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.

Piano fun at Norwich Assembly House!

On Friday 30th March 2012 I attended the UEA School of Music concert at Norwich Assembly House in their Music at One series featuring Simon Ireson on piano. The programme for this lunchtime concert was Cantata Die Seele Ruht in Jesu Handen - Bach arr Bauer, Kreisieriana - Schumann and Rondo Capriccioso Op.14 - Mendelssohn.

This was a very interesting programme for a Friday lunchtime in the Music Room which delighted the audience. I particularly enjoyed the Schumann's Kreisleriana. He write the following in a letter to his future bride, Clara Wieck about this piece. " How full of music I am now, and always such lovely melodies! Only fancy, since my last letter I have finished another whole book of new things. You and one of your ideas are the principal subject, and I shall call them " Kreisleriana," and dedicate them to you ; yes, to you, and to nobody else; and you will smile so sweetly when you see yourself in them."

We were then treated to a bonus concert from Will Ferguson playing a programme of Liszt who once played at Norwich Assembly House and slept where the bar is situated at the present day. Complete in sunglasses and grey suit Will Ferguson to an exciting and fun performance. This was definitely one lunchtime well spent.

UEA Symphony Orchestra at Norwich Cathedral

On Saturday 24th March 2012 I attended the UEA Symphony Orchestra and Choir Spring Concert at Norwich Cathedral. This concert was dedicated to Dorothea and Rowan Hare. Conductors on the evening were Sharon Andrea Choa and Tom Primrose.

The programme consisted of Academic Festival Overture Op 80 - Brahms, Piano Concerto in A minor Op 54 - Schumann and Requiem K626 - Mozart. Denise Wijayaratne played piano on the Schumann Piano Concerto while the soloists on the Mozart Requiem were Billie Robson - Soprano, Rosie Middleton - Mezzo-Soprano, Nathan Vale - Tenor and Dhilan Gnanadurai - Bass.

There was a wonderful atmosphere at Norwich Cathedral with a capacity crowd in attendance on the night. The Mozart Requiem is a special piece of music and is always brilliant to experience live and with the UEA Symphony Orchestra and Choir on top form, this was a night to remember.

Brahms Festival Overture Op 80 was written as a thank you to Breslau University after he was given an honorary doctorate in 1879. This piece of music is by the side of Brahms who loved gypsy music and described the work as a merry potpourri of student songs a la Suppe.

In 1841 Schumann composed a fantasy for piano and orchestra that he had trouble getting published. His wife Clara asked him to turn the work into a conventional concerto. It was four years later that Schumann composed two additional movements. Clara performed the solo part at its premiere in Leipzig on New Year's Day 1846.

Count Franz Walsegg visited Mozart in 1791 to commission the Requiem to honour his wife who had died earlier that year. Work on the Requiem was delayed by the completion of Mozart's last two operas, La clemenza di Tito and The Magic Flute, and the concerto for his clarinettist friend Anton Stadler. He got down to serious work in October and was only ill enough to take to his bed towards the end of November. He died in December leaving only the Introit complete.

Mozart's widow Constanze was anxious to have the Requiem completed and turned first to Joseph Eybler who did some work on the orchestration and then turned to Mozart's assistant Franz Xaver Sussmayr. Let eternal light shine on them, Lord, as with Your Saints in eternity, because You are merciful.

Giants in the Sky at Norwich Assembly House

On Friday 24th February 2012 I attended the latest concert in the UEA School of Music concerts in the Music at One Series at Norwich Assembly House. The concert featured Ellen-May Shipp - Soprano, Alison Lincoln - piano and Meredydd Cheeseman - Bass/Baritone.

The programme consisted of Vergebliches Standchen - Brahms, La Zingara - Donizetti, Du Bist wie eine Blume - Schumann, Standchen - Schumann, Lost Is My Quiet - Purcell, All I Ask Of You - Lloyd-Webber, Stars - Schonberg, Giants In The Sky - Sondheim, Something's Coming - Bernstein, It Was A Lover And His Lass - Finzi and The Vagabond - Williams.

This was a wonderful way to spend a Friday lunchtime at this historic Norwich building full of splendid singing that lifted the spirits of everyone in attendance. There are giants in the sky from the musical Into The Woods composed by Stephen Sondheim was one of the highlights.  Dreams full of fairy tales are made from music that inspires to brighten all our lives.

Piano and Horn Concert at Norwich Assembly House

On Friday 25th November 2011 I attended the UEA Music at One series concert at The Assembly House, Norwich which featured Perez Kwong on piano and Steven Musk on horn. These are two of the UEA School of Music's most promising talents.

The programe consisted of Polonaise - Chopin, Reverie - Glazunov, Les Adieux, Romance - F Strauss, Aufschwung - Schumann, Nocturne - Gilere, Nocturno - F Strauss and Impromptu - Chopin. Both players gave excellent performances and provided the audience with a wonderful lunchtime treat of Classical Music.

Today the UEA Council announced that the School of Music would close which is very sad news. The Save UEA Music Campaign have vowed to fight on trying to save the School of Music.

Elena Kiseleva piano recital

Elena Kiseleva piano recital at
St. Peter Mancroft Church

On Saturday I attended the next in the Mancroft Music Summer Recitals 2011 series at St. Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich. This time featuring one of the stars of this year's Norfolk and Norwich Festival, pianist Elena Kiseleva who after completing her studies at the Central Special Music School of the Moscow Conservatory moved to London in 2004.

The programme for the recital was Sonata in C minor K 457 - Mozart, Novelletten Op.21 No.8 (F sharp minor) - Schumann, From 12 Lieder von Franz Schubert S.558 No.2 Auf dem Wasser zu Singen - Liszt and Rigoletto Paraphrase de Concert S.434 (A transcription of the quartet from Act 3 of Verdi's Rigoletto) - Liszt.

Elena gave a wonderful performance that delighted everyone in attendance. Since the start of the Mancroft Music Recitals programme they have always wanted to put on a piano recital and due to a kind benefactor it was made possible.