|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Site Search: Use the search box to find an artiste, composer, title, or venue on this site |
|
|
Listening position:
Relax with your choice(s) of beverage, in a place of your choosing, alone, or with members of your household or your bubble |
|
|
|
|
Edwin York Bowen (1884-1961) Two duets for two violas in G major (1920) performed by: Ting-Ru Lai and Timothy Ridout Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767) Viola concerto in G major TWV 51:G9 (c.1716-21) Largo slow, stately Allegro fast Andante walking, moderately slow Presto very fast performed by Soloists of the Academia Bach de Buenos Aires Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) Sonata for viola in Eb major Op 120 No.2 (1894/95) Allegro amabile fast, pleasant Allegro appassionato fast, with passion Andante con moto - Allegro moderately slow, with movement - fast performed by Timothy Ridout, viola, and Anthony Hewitt, piano Rebecca Clarke (1886-1979) Morpheus (1917-18) performed by Jeremy Berry, viola, and Michael Refvem, piano ENCORE York Bowen Viola Sonata No 1 in C minor Op 18 (1905) (ii) Poco lento e cantabile a little slow, with a singing style performed by Timothy Ridout, viola, with Frank Dupree, piano |
Lynda Chang studied piano for four years with Kendall Taylor at the Royal College of Music where she achieved a 1st class honours BMus, and was awarded the Tagore gold medal, RCM’s annual nomination for the most outstanding student of the year.
Although her professional career was spent in the computer industry, Lynda has been able to return to music and is kept busy as soloist, accompanist, chamber musician, avid concert goer, opera fanatic and occasional reviewer. Lynda has been a regular at Leatherhead's Lunchtime Concerts since their first year, and has performed for us several times. Please welcome Lynda Chang as Guest Presenter, and curator, of today's concert. |
|
York Bowen was a prolific English composer who is sadly unfamiliar to many of today's listeners. His harmonic language largely followed the 'romantic' idiom and was much characterised by a dense chromaticism.
Here is a delightful and simple starter to whet the appetite - Timothy Ridout performs with fellow violist Ting-Ru Lai - a veritable 'two for the price of one'. The rich robust tones of the two violas are a joy (who needs violins after all) and the 2 short contrasting pieces - performed with such enjoyment and graceful agility - are a fitting appetizer for the rest of the concert. Timothy introduced Ting-Ru Lai to our audience while they were both still RAM students. While he has his international solo career, she is now a violist with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Seeing these young musicians launch into their professional careers is one of the delights of the lunchtime concert - although, these two violists have leapt somewhat further ahead than many. Timothy's first Leatherhead concert was an occasion in which the audience audibly relaxed after the first two notes, confident that here we were in the presence of genius. |
Edwin York Bowen (1884-1961)
Two duets for two violas in G major (1920) performed by: Ting-Ru Lai and Timothy Ridout during the 2020 Lockdown |
|
Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767)
Viola concerto in G major TWV 51:G9 (c.1716-21) Largo slow, stately Allegro fast Andante walking, moderately slow Presto very fast performed by Soloists of the Academia Bach de Buenos Aires: Pablo Saraví & Gabriel Pinette, violins • Kristine Bara, viola • José Araujo, cello • Fernando Fieiras, double bass • organ & direction: Mario Videla |
An exact contemporary of Bach and Handel, Telemann was another prolific composer who was highly regarded during his lifetime but whose works have periodically fallen from favour since his death.
The first known concerto written for the viola, it is scored for strings and continuo - and, as seen in the chosen clip, can easily fit as a chamber ensemble into our Leatherhead Methodist Church. The work is tuneful with elegant melodies as well as exciting rhythmic drive. No one can fail to be moved by the beautiful Andante, rightly earning the work a favourite place in the pantheon of viola music. This performance by soloists of the Academia Bach de Buenos Aires is searingly honest and heartfelt - I was spellbound and touched by it. A violist friend said of this clip that it felt as if he'd dropped into a group of friends playing together. Isn't that exactly what chamber music is all about? |
|
|
|
|
|
Moving into the 20th century, Rebecca Clarke was one of those rarities - a female composer and professional orchestral viola player. She often featured the viola in her chamber music compositions. She has been a sadly neglected composer whose timely revival is only partly down to the current fashion for all things 'female'.
And just to round the circle of this concert, Clarke studied at the Royal College of Music with Lionel Tertis - in whose name the international viola competition is held - who was considered by many as the greatest violist of the day. Her Sonata for Viola and Piano (1919) has become a staple of the modern viola repertoire. The piece I have chosen to end today's concert is Morpheus, written in 1917 when Clarke was pursuing a performing career in the US, where she spent the last 40 years of her life. It is a beautiful single movement work with a muted, reflective and dreamy character, full of the most amazing colours and intensity. After all, Morpheus was the god associated with sleep and dreams and I cannot imagine a more perfect depiction. Here is the link to the recording with Jeremy Berry, viola, and Michael Refvem, piano - both young American musicians with solid chamber music credentials. In particular, I commend Refvem's piano playing which enhances the performance with admirable subtlety and artistry. |
Rebecca Clarke (1886-1979) Morpheus (1917-18) performed by Jeremy Berry, viola, and Michael Refvem, piano |
|
My first acquaintance with York Bowen was the slow movement of his viola sonata no.1 in C minor, written in 1905 when he was only 20 years old. I was captivated from the first bar as I hope you will be too.
For this reason, plus the fact that Timothy Ridout rates himself as a great fan of Bowen's music, I nominate this movement as my encore item. It is marked poco lento e cantabile - a perfect description for its beautiful lyricism. But there is passion too, artfully suggested by his personal language of chromaticism as well as the rippling piano accompaniment in the middle and final sections. Bowen writes the most rewarding parts for the piano, and as a pianist, I thank him with all my heart. So here is Timothy, returning for one final appearance at our virtual concert. Producer, Curator & Presenter: Lynda Chang
Copy Typist: Peter Steadman |
York Bowen
Viola Sonata No 1 in C minor Op 18 (1905) (ii) Poco lento e cantabile a little slow, with a singing style performed by Timothy Ridout, viola with Frank Dupree, piano at the Wigmore Hall in February 2019 |
|
Never miss a concert . . .
Our weekly* newsletter tells you about upcoming concerts and other local music events *weekly - only during the weekly concert season, occasional at other times |
|
|
Music on Thursdays - Online
String Quartet Concert Beethoven & Haydn artistes: Alban Berg Quartett • Jasper String Quartet plus a Haydn encore piece performed by the Tetra String Quartet access concert: by clicking on the date or the pictures Venue: this website and a place of your choosing |
|
|
Music on Thursdays - Online
Cello Tango with 52 cellists music by Piazzolla • Albéniz • Carter Brey • Carlos Gardel • Villa-Lobos access concert: by clicking on the date or the picture Venue: this website and a place of your choosing |
Carter Brey, principal cellist, New York Symphonia
|
|
Music on Thursdays - Organs Online
Organs of Paris ♥ Les Orgues de Paris organs from the top three Parisian churches, from the concert hall, and from one other venue artistes: Olivier Latry, Daniel Roth, Thomas Ospital, Jean Guillou, Wayne Marshall, Aaron Shows music, including improvisations, by: Latry • Marcel Dupré • JS Bach • Debussy • Ron Goodwin • Michel-Maurice Lévy • Marshall • Katchaturian • Saint-Saëns access concert: by clicking on the date or the pictures - from Thursday 18th June onwards Venue: this website and a place of your choosing |
|
|
Music on Thursdays - Online
Flute Fest artistes: Sir James Galway ♦ Lady Jeanne Galway ♦ Paris Voxmusicorum Orchestra, conductor Ada Pelleg ♦ Icelandic Flute Ensemble David Antich, recorder ♦ Leonardo Luckert, cello ♦ Ignasi Jordà, harpsichord Gianluca Vanzelli, flute ♦ Kammerorchester Timisoara, conducter David Crescezi Shin-jung Oh, flute ♦ Heo Jung-hwa, piano ♦ Dave Valentin, jazz flute music by: Cimarosa • Boismortier • Händel • John Rutter • Pedro Flores access concert: by clicking on the date or the pictures Venue: this website and a place of your choosing |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Leatherhead Concert & Arts Society is a music charity registered in England & Wales No 1166764.
Please note: LCAS cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies in or amendments to the information on this website. Please check with the event organiser before you commit to any expenditure Registered address: 31 Elmer Cottages • Fetcham • KT22 9BU -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Specialists in property law, wills, probate and lasting powers of attorney. Julie West Solicitors are pleased to support Leatherhead’s lunchtime concerts 
|
|
