Sunday 30 November 2014

2014 is another successful year for the boundless Two Moors Festival - A Message from Penny Adie

Penny Adie
Two Moors Festival Founder

"The Greatest of the Great"

"Two Moors Festival delivers £300,000 boost to the local economy"

Just two of the headlines that have appeared in the press following this year’s festival.

The level of artistry at this year's Two Moors Festival was astounding. The audience, regardless of age or musical knowledge went home uplifted as a result of listening to music played at a standard of performance that could not have been surpassed anywhere; people in the south-west were privileged to hear such sublime playing.

Public recognition for what the festival does each year for the local economy is also a major step forward and the fact that Classic FM chose to put this on air says much for the status and profile of an event that is increasingly known worldwide. It’s not just the music that makes the Two Moors Festival such a success. It’s the fact that tourism benefits by £300,000 in the ten days of operation.

The artists, without doubt, were inspired to give their best. Pianists Angela Hewitt and Imogen Cooper gave astonishing recitals, as did Mark Padmore and Trevor Pinnock. Kate Royal achieved miracles by choosing to sing Mahler and Strauss in an environment as far removed from the Wigmore Hall as one could imagine. The Doric Quartet’s performance of Beethoven’s Op. 130 quartet was mesmerizing, as was the playing by pianist Jayson Gillham with the Carducci Quartet of Schumann and Brahms’s (F minor) Piano Quintets.

The younger generation of artists came up trumps too with a corker of a concert given by Notus Winds, Eton’s music scholars revealed their supreme talent and the four Festival’s Young Musicians Platform Competition winners proved just how much fun can be had from making music.

An overriding opinion this year has been the unique atmosphere to be found at a Two Moors Festival concert. This came in the form of attentiveness of the audience together with a silence that was apparent at the end of a work or the performance itself. All the artists were affected by the intensity of this reaction, many remarking that it seldom happens in such a way.

One crucial thing to say is a big thank you to all those valiant volunteers who gave so much support. Without them the festival would not have operated. Thank you also to all those wonderful artists who, by their performances, gave so much pleasure to their listeners. Thank you to all the super people who came to the concerts – your rapturous applause after each concert said it all!

 ** CHRISTMAS CARDS FOR SALE **

This year’s cards are proving to be very popular! Do buy while stocks last. £4.50 for ten cards P&P £3.50 (up to £20): £4.00 over £20 Place an order Email: 2mf@onetel.com Phone: 01643 831370

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Christmas Concerts at Tiverton Parkway Station The concerts in the Ticket Office have been so popular that the Festival is putting on three festive concerts in December.

THE TWO MOORS FESTIVAL 2015 15 – 25 OCTOBER!

For more information see the

Or contact the organisers
John and Penny Adie:

Barkham
Sandyway
South Molton
North Devon
EX36 3LU

01643 831 370

Thursday 27 November 2014

Exeter Bach Society 2014-2015 Season

Musical Director: David Davies
Exeter Bach Society Choir & Orchestra
Mint Methodist Church Fore Street Exeter
Saturday 29 November 7.30pm
MONTEVERDI: CHRISTMAS VESPERS
1610 Vespers
(Sancta Maria & Ave Maris Stella)
J S BACH: CANTATA 64
(Sehet welch eine Liebe)
Director of Music: David Davies
Orchestra Leader: Anna CockroftTickets: £14 (advance £12)
Exeter Tickets (Dix's Field) 01392 665885
or book online at TicketSource
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Exeter Bach Society Choir & Orchestra
Tom Hobbs
Exeter Cathedral
Sunday 15 February 6.30pm
J S BACH: CANTATA 126
Director of Music: David Davies
Orchestra Leader: Anna Cockroft
(an Anglican church service
     - no charge for admission)
Followed in the Cathedral Chapter House by:
RECITAL OF GERMAN & ENGLISH SONG
Tenor: Tom Hobbs
Piano: Andrew Millington
(with settings of John Clare poems by A Millington)
Tickets: £12 unreserved
Exeter Tickets (Dix's Field) 01392 665885
or book online at TicketSource
.
Exeter Bach Society
South Street Baptist Church  Exeter
Musical Director: David Davies
Saturday 21 February 10pm-5pm
 - ALL DAY WORKSHOP -
J S BACH: EASTER ORATORIO
C P E BACH: MAGNIFICAT
(Full Performance: 31 March)
Director of Music: David Davies

Orchestra Leader: Anna Cockroft
Tickets: £16 (student £8)
[includes hire of scores]
Details & Booking Form: 01392 255177
or book online at TicketSource
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Musical Director: David Davies
Exeter Bach Society Choir & Orchestra
St Thomas Methodist Church Cowick Street
(opposite the health centre) Exeter
Saturday 31 March 7.30pm
J S BACH: EASTER ORATORIO
C P E BACH: MAGNIFICAT
GREGORIO ALLEGRI: MISERERE
Director of Music: David Davies
Orchestra Leader: Anna Cockroft
Tickets: £14 (advance £12)
Exeter Tickets (Dix's Field) 01392 665885
or book online at TicketSource
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Musical Director: David Davies
Exeter Bach Society Choir & Orchestra
Mary Harris Memorial Chapel
Exeter University Streatham Campus
Saturday 23 May 7.30pm
 - MUSIC IN MAY -
MADRIGALS, MOTETS, CANTATAS
Director of Music: David Davies
Orchestra Leader: Anna Cockroft
Tickets: £10
Exeter Tickets (Dix's Field) 01392 665885
or book online at TicketSource


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Sunday 16 November 2014

English Touring Opera Exeter Northcott Theatre and Exeter Cathedral "Life on the Moon" (Haydn) "Ottone" (Handel) and Advent Cantatas (Bach) Wednesday 19 -Sunday 23 November 2014

Josef Haydn: "Il Mondo della Luna"
LIFE ON THE MOON
Surreal opera in English Translation
Ronan Busfield (Cecco) Martha Jones (Lisetta),
Andrew Slater (Buonafede) Jane Harrington (Clarice),
Christopher Turner (Ecclitico)
(Photo: Richard Hubert Smith)

This opera is not the story of a classical space journey, but rather an elaborate confidence trick played on the miserly Buonafede. Ecclitico and Cecco hit on this elaborate ruse to rob Buonafede of his fortune - and pursue his daughter and servant, Clarice and Lisetta, at the same time.

Haydn's incredible imagination is realised through his brilliant music, and the special staging created by English Touring Opera. Cal McCrystal's direction is imaginative and magical. This opera is at the end of it's tour of England, and the performances at Exeter Northcott Theatre this Wednesday and Thursday will be the last.

George Friderick Handel:
"OTTONE"
Dark political intrigue
based on 10th Century European history
Baroque opera in English translation

Clint van der Linde (Ottone) Louise Kemeny (Teofane)
Grant Doyle (Emireno)
(Photo: Richard Hubert Smith)

Back-to-back with Haydn's "Life on the Moon" are the two final performances of ETO's production of Handel's "Ottone". This very serious opera is based on the real events of the life of Holy Roman Emperor, Otto II. In true baroque style the most powerful male character (Otto himself) is played by a high-voice tenor, Clint van der Linde. Contemporary audiences associated the technically difficult high male voice with machismo and power.

To tell us more about the historical context, and the authentic instrumentation for this production, Director (and counter-tenor) Jonathan Peter Kenny will join "Classical Journey" on Phonic FM (106.8 FM in Exeter, or online) at 10.15 this Tuesday (18 November) for an on-air discussion.

Jonathan Peter Kenny
conducts Bach Cantatas
Exeter Cathedral Sunday 23 November
(Photo: Gesualdo's "Tenebrae" Southernhay Church 2011)

Jonathan will also be able to able to tell us about the final crowning concert of the ETO tour. On Sunday 23rd November Jonathan will bring Soprano Gillian Webster, Countertenor Andrew Radley, Tenor Ronan Busfield and Baritone Johnny Herford together with his own "Old Street Band" (authentic baroque orchestra based in Old Street, London) to perform advent cantatas by Bach.

The programme will include Martin Luther’s "Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland" (Now come, saviour of the heathens) and the words of the Marian Feast of Visitation ‘Herz und Munt und Tat und Leben’ (Heart and mouth and deed and life) - including the familiar "Wohl mir, daß ich Jesum habe" (Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring).

A perfect end to a very successful and popular tour.

Both operas will be sung in English - no Italian revision required!

More detailed information on the operas, and previews, are available on the ETO website, and tickets are available from the Northcott Box Office (01392 493493) or through the Northcott website.


Ecclitico
(Chistopher Turner)
"Life on the Moon"
ENGLISH TOURING OPERA
Exeter Northcott Theatre
Weds & Thur 19 20 November 7.30pm
JOSEF HAYDN: "IL MONDO DELLA LUNA"
(LIFE ON THE MOON)
Fri Sat 21 & 22 November 7.30pm
G F HANDEL: "OTTONE"
Exeter Cathedral
Sunday 23 November  7.30pm
J S BACH: ADVENT CANTATAS
Tickets: Operas £19-£33 Cantatas £10-£20
Northcott Box Office 01392 493493
Online BookingOpera / Cantatas

Saturday 15 November 2014

Exeter Symphony Orchestra Tuesday Rehearsals for "The Pity of War" Gustav Holst 2nd Suite for Military Band, Erich Korngold Violin Concerto (Solo Violin Mihkel Kerem), George Butterworth "Banks of Green Willow", Ralph Vaughan Williams 6th Symphony Full Performance Southernhay United Reformed Church Saturday 15 November 2014

Harp: Alison Sydenham

Conductor: Brian Northcott
Exeter Symphony Orchestra

At a final run-through before the big day, Exeter Symphony Orchestra filled the gymnasium at St Michael's Primary School in Heavitree with impressive sound. Their regular Tuesday evening rehearsal opened with Gustav Holst's explosive Suite for Military Band. Three trombones, tuba and three trumpets were joined by five French horns. There were also impressive solos for bass clarinet and tenor saxophone.

There was also a spellbinding rendition of Vaughan Williams' Sixth Symphony, and an intriguing performance of Korngold's Violin Concerto, without solo violin. (Mihkel Kerem will join the orchestra tonight.) Completing the picture was Butterworth's "The Banks of Green Willow" featuring lilting strings and superb woodwind solos for several players.

The standard of playing is quite extraordinary. Gill Crew leads skilfully, keeping the string section in tight formation while the woodwind and brass sections blow up a storm. It is not just in the Military Suite that the horns amaze with their immense power.

Virtually every woodwind player steps forward for a solo performance during tonight's programme. Ruth Molins (of course) - who is going to play Mozart's Concerto for Flute and Harp with Sally Jenkins next March - and also Caroline Thomas and Tara Fletcher (oboes), Karen Gale (clarinet), Christine Austin (cor anglias), and special solos for Rosie Lester (tenor saxophone) and Robert Stevenson (piccolo). Every one is a joy to hear, and a showcase of passion and precision.

Despite the underlying theme of tragedy and sadness, this concert revives the spirits with its variety and exuberance. Southernhay Church tonight will be the place to experience the highly polished sound of our very own symphony orchestra.

Full details of the concert are on the Exeter Symphony Orchestra Website

Tickets to the concert cost £12 are available at the door.

It is not too late to book in advance at the Tourist Information Centre (opposite the church).

Advance tickets are only £10.

Anyone under 18 and still attending school or college can enjoy the concert FREE.

[Also see Concert Poster in pdf)

Take a look at some of the wonderful musicians at Tuesday's rehearsal, preparing for tonight's perfromance . . .

Tuba: Colin Dance
Tenor Saxophone:
Rosie Lester
Bass Drum: Mark Perry
Snare Drum: John Harlock
Triangle: Daphne Harlock
French Horns:
Paul Bridgman, Tracey Alder
Cecilia Lock, Kate Manners
Horn Duet
Banks of Green Willow
Flute: Ruth Molins
Flute: Sophie Brewer Oboe: Caroline Thomas
Oboe: Tara Fletcher
Cor Anglais: Christine Austin
Clarinet:
Karen Gale
Bass Clarinet:
Sarah Vaughan
Bassoons:
Andrea Higgins & 
Ian Crew
Trombones:
Trevor Kirkin, Lee Andrea . . .
and Paul Rycroft
(Tuba: Colin Dance)
Solo Trombone: Trevor Kirkin
Trumpets:
Myles Taylor, Elizabeth Wood, Joshua Beadon



Keyboard: Mark Perry
Tympani: Daphne Horlock


John Harlock
takes over the tympani
while Daphne Harlock
takes charge of the
Clash Cymbals

Double Basses:
Moira Davenport, Hilary Judd, Garry Lester

Garry Lester
leads a double bass
pizzicato passage
Alison Sydenham
replies on harp
Ruth Molins: eyes front

Friday 14 November 2014

Confocal Laser Microscope Images - Artwork by Seran Kubisa Music by Robert Fage & Stephen Tait Playing on "Classical Journey" (Redux Edition) Soundart Radio 3-6pm Sunday 16 November 2014

Seran Kubisa
Creator of "Treasure Island"
and "Recall"
Photomicrograph Projection Installations
PORTSMOUTH

Recall was created from the project 'Treasure Island: A Forensic Investigation of a City' winner of Confocal Laser Microscope Images - Artwork by Seran Kubisa Music by Robert Fage & Stephen Tait

Playing on "Classical Journey" (Redux Edition) Soundart Radio 3-6pm Sunday 16 November 2014 Recall film has an original score collaborated and commissioned by Seran Kubisa with contemporary composers Stephen Tait and Robert Fage to respond to the objects era, heritage events and living stories.

Stephen Taitʼs orchestral scores and ambient soundscapes draw you into the objects story. Robert Fage has used original source material and found sounds, which are processed in an unusual way to invoke ghosts from the objects specific moment in time. Images displayed are from Seran's archives ofʻTreasure Island: A Forensic Investigation of a Cityʼ winner of Arts Council England award for public art and innovation.

These appear in Recall film and have been the inspiration for the Musical score. All the archives and be viewed on the website www.cityforensics.com Seran Kubisa artist film music will be playing from Recall film a multi-media response by artist Seran Kubisa to her archives of historical and scientific investigations including the ambitious Public Art project ʻTreasure Island: A Forensic Investigation of a Cityʼ - Portsmouth 2006-2010.

Recall invokes memories stored in fragments of the aged objects. Kubisa uses a high-tech scientific process on the confocal laser microscope to extract the artwork from the minute fragment, which then becomes an intrinsic part of the film reel and the trigger to the memory being released through stills, film scenes, film archives and sound.

The film has an original score and Seran Kubisa has worked with contemporary composers Stephen Tait and Robert Fage to respond to the objects era, heritage events and living stories. Stephen Taitʼs orchestral scores and ambient soundscapes draw you into the objects story. Robert Fage has used original source material and found sounds, which are processed in an unusual way to invoke ghosts from the objects specific moment in time.

Investigations Locations The most in depth investigation has been in the city of Portsmouth where it has revealed national heritage archives, personal histories and stories of life, hardship, love and death. The film reveals these collective experiences through its social dissection of life. Archives have been created and fragments collected from diverse locations: The Mary Rose, HMS Victory, Royal Naval Museum, D-Day museum, Public open sessions and groups.

Artefacts have included historical gems as well as personal objects: dog skeleton from The Mary Rose, Lady Hamiltonʼsʼ Dress Hem, a hair from Lord Nelson, WWII Diary, Birth Tag amongst many. Other Investigations have been conducted on the artistsʼ sitting room, at Coutts & Co Bank, London and Carla-Bayle a village in France.


HMS Victory
Music: Stephen Tait
(Artifacts 1758-1797 - Contributor: Peter Goodwin)




Rope




Writing Bureau






















Deck Brush Head












Elm Tree Pump







































Mary Rose
Music: Stephen Tait
(Artifacts from 1545 - Contributor: Andy Elkerton)


Mary Rose Crest












Backgammon Set














Rosary














Sundial and Case


Two Rings & Maltese Cross






















Prayer Book














Comb














Pair of Shoes













Peppercorns














Dog Skull













Bellows












Fishbones















Hilsea Lido
Music: Robert Fage
(Artifacts 1935 - Contributor: Mary Smith)

















Pool Floor 1950













Drinking Fountain













Minen
Music: Robert Fage
(Artifact 1944 - Contributor: A. Whitmarsh)



German Minefield Sign














Morse Code
Music: Robert Fage
(Artifact 1943 - Contributor: A. Whitmarsh)



Suitcase Radio












Dream Catcher
Music: Stephen Tait
(Artifact 1978 - Contributor: Patrice Thompson)


Dream Catcher














Matches
Music: Robert Fage
(Artifact 2004 - Contributor: Michael Bartlett)


Matches














Persian Bag
Music: Stephen Tait
(Artifact 1850 - Contributor: David Davis)



Persian Bag














Lucky Black Cat
Music: Stephen Tait
(Artifact 1939 - Contributor: Portsmouth Football Club)



Lucky Black Cat