Classical Journey

Thursday, 17 November 2016

Classical Journey Friday 18 November 2016 Rundown of Concerts

BACH'S "ST JOHN PASSION"
Jonathan Peter Kenny conducts
English Touring Opera & Old Street Band
Exeter Cathedral
Friday 25 November

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Divertimento Piano Trio

Divertimento Piano Trio

Chagford Parish Church
Friday 18 November 7.30pm
PIANO TRIOS
Piano: Margaret Lynn
Violin: Mary Eade
'Cello: Vicky Evans
Louise Farrenc Opus 33
Camille Saint-Saëns Opus 18
Felix Mendelssohn Opus 49
Tickets: TBC
Booking: 01803 863677
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Samantha Ward

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Exeter Symphony Orchestra
Southernhay Church Exeter
Saturday 19 November 7.30pm
THE WINTER CONCERT 2016
Conductor: Brian Northcott
Piano Soloist: ~~Minyung Baek~~
Samantha Ward
Aaron Copland: "Billy the Kid"
Edvard Grieg: "Piano Concerto"

~~MinJung Baek~~

Tickets: £12 (advance £10 U18 £1)
Details: Orchestra Website
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East Devon Choral Society
St Paul's Church Tiverton

East Devon Choral Society

Saturday 19 November 7.30pm
ROSSINI & PUCCINI
Musical Director: Andrew Daldorph
Soprano: Lucy Bray
Alto: Alison Kettlewell
Tenor: John Pearce
Bass: Tim Mirfin
Gioachino Rossini: "Stabat Mater"
Giacomo Puccini: "Messa di Gloria"
Tickets: £10 (child £4)
Box Office: 01884 253494
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Clyst Valley Choral Society

Clyst Valley Choral Society
Conductor: Paul Stock

1. St Margaret's Church Topsham
Saturday 19 November 7.30pm
2. Holy Trinity Church Exmouth
Sunday 20 November 7.30
A CONCERT OF BRITISH MUSIC
Conductor: Paul Stock
Soprano: Janet Macdonald
Trumpet: Chris Gould
Organ: Mark Perry
G F Handel: "Samson" -
"Let the Bright Seraphim"
"Messiah" -
"Hallelujah" Chorus
John Rutter: "The Sprig of Thyme"
William Walton: Coronation of George VI
"Crown Imperial" March
Ralph Vaughan Williams: "Old 100th" Psalm
"All People that on Earth do Dwell"
Tickets: £10 (advance £8)
Advance Booking: 01392 271858
Topsham Bookshop: 01392 877895
Clyst Valley Choral Society Website
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Divertimento Piano Trio

Divertimento Piano Trio

Whitchurch Canonicorum
Sunday 20 November 3pm
PIANO TRIOS
Piano: Margaret Lynn
Violin: Mary Eade
'Cello: Vicky Evans
Louise Farrenc Opus 33
Camille Saint-Saëns Opus 18
Felix Mendelssohn Opus 49
Tickets: TBC
Booking: 01803 863677
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English Touring Opera

Julia Riley is King Xerxes
"Ombra mai fu"

Exeter Northcott Theatre
Tuesday 22 November 7.30pm
G F Handel: "Xerxes"
Director: James Conway
Conductor: Jonathan Peter Kenny
Wednesday 23 November 7.30pm
Francesco Cavalli: "La Calisto"
Director/Conductor: Timothy Nelson
Thursday 24 November 7.30pm
Claudio Monteverdi: "Ulysses Homecoming"
Tickets: D £20.50 C £25.50 B £32.50 A £35.50
Concessions: D C B £2 off
Box Office: 01392 726363
Northcott Website ETO Website
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Michèle Banting

& Iain McDonald

Glenorchy Lunchtime Concerts

Glenorchy Church Exmouth

Wednesday 23 November 12 for 12.30pm

SONGS & POETRY

Piano: Michèle Banting

Baritone: Iain Macdonald

Poetry: Jilly Cooper

Admission FREE Retiring Collection

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English Touring Opera,
Exeter Cathedral Choir,
Local Gospel & Youth Choirs &
Old Street Band
Exeter Cathedral
Friday 25 November 7.30pm
ST JOHN PASSION
Conductor: Jonathan Peter Kenny
Director: James Conway
Soprano: Susanna Fairbairn
Galina Averina

Jonathan Peter Kenny
English Touring Opera
Old Street Band

Mezzo Soprano: Martha Jones
Katie Bray
Tenor: Robert Anthony Gardiner
John-Colyn Gyeantey
Nick Pritchard
Baritone: George Humphreys
Peter Brathwaite
Bass Baritone: Andrew Slater
Band A: £25.50 (U27 £13)
Band B: £20.50 (U27 £10.50)
Band C: £16.50 (U27 £8.50)
Band D: £12.50 (U27 £6.50)
Northcott Box Office: 01392 726363
Online Booking: Northcott Theatre
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Exeter University Chapel Choir
(and Alumni)
Mary Harris Memorial Chapel
(Exeter University Streatham Campus)
Saturday 26 November 2-9pm
COME AND SING!
Director: Michael Graham
Rehearsals: from 2pm
with breaks & light supper
Free Concert: at 7.30pm
Details: contact Michael Graham
chapelmusic@exeter.ac.uk
(please state voice part &
send your contact details)
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Flowerbed Music
Exeter Cathedral Chapter House

Saturday 26 November 7.30pm
TUBULAR BELLS FOR SOLO PIANO
Piano: Dave Sanderson
Dave's own arrangement with
an opening set of original pieces
and projected images
Tickets: £10
Cathedral Box Office: 01392 285983
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Exeter Bach Society
Southernhay United Reformed Church
Saturday 26 November 7.30pm
BACH MAGNIFICAT & DIXIT DOMINUS
Director: Jonathan Lucas Wood
Orchestra Leader: Anna Cockroft
Soprano: Bethany Partridge
Soprano: Aimee Presswood
Alto: Alex Masters
Tenor: Philip Pooley
Bass: Tim Mirfin
J S Bach: Brandenburg Concerto IV
G F Handel: "Dixit Dominus"
J S Bach: Magnificat in D major
(with Christmas hymns)
Tickets: £15 (advance £12.50)
Advance Booking: TicketSource
Details: Bach Society Website
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Starling Octet
St Stephen's Church Exeter
Saturday 26 November 8pm
NORTHERN LIGHTS
Ola Gjeilo: "Northern Lights"
Anton Bruchner
Paul Mealor: "Ubi Caritas et Amor"
Jaakko Mäntyjärvi: "Four Shakespeare Songs"

Soprano: Meg Brand, Hattie Brown

Alto: Rebecca Willson, Zoë Fitzsimmons

Tenor: Ben Pennington, Sarah Pennington

Bass: Adrian Lock, Malcolm Field

Tickets: £10/£7 (Advance £9/£6 U16 FREE)

Includes light refreshments

Advance Booking: TicketSource

Starling Octet Website
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Torbay Singers
& Brass Ensemble
St Matthias Church

Babbacombe Road Torquay

Saturday 26 November 7.30pm

JOY & MAJESTY

Musical Director: Tina Guthrie

John Rutter: "Gloria"
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina:

"Exsultate Deo" "In Ecclesiis"
"Sonata Pian' e Forte"
Claudio Monteverdi: "Cantate Domino"
Henry Purcell:

"Music for the funeral of Queen Mary"
Anton Bruckner: "Christus Factus Est"
"Afferentur Regi" "Aequalis" "Ave Maria"

Tickets: £12 (U25 Full-Time Ed FREE)
Telephone: 01803 782677

John Couch Estate Agents, Torquay
Book Online: Torbay Singers Website

- and pay on the door.
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Josephine Pickering
& David Lee

Glenorchy Lunchtime Concerts

Glenorchy Church Exmouth

Wednesday 30 November 12 for 12.30pm

PIANO DUETS

Piano: Josephine Pickering

Piano: David Lee

Admission FREE Retiring Collection

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Farms for City Children
Exeter Cathedral
Friday 2 December 7.30pm
"THE BEST XMAS PRESENT IN THE WORLD"
Author: Michael Morpurgo
Directed by: Simon Reade

Narrated by: Michael Morpurgo & Virginia McKenna
A unique Christmas concert performed by candlelight,
Michael’s story is told together with
specially selected Christmas carols.
"The Best Christmas Present in the World"
revisits the trenches and tells the haunting story
of Christmas 1914 when soldiers on both sides

Virginia McKenna
& Michael Morpurgo

put down their weapons in honour of Christmas Day.
with songs performed by award-winning
a cappella group Voices at the Door
A truly inspiring and atmospheric
celebration of Christmas.
Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes (no interval)
For children and adults of all ages
Tickets: Rear Nave £20 (U12 £15)
Mid Nave £15 (U12 18.75)
VIP Tickets: £50
(Drinks in the Chapter House & Priority Seating)
Tickets available until Thursday 1 December

Nethercott House
A 'Farms for City Children' Farm
at Iddesleigh near Okehampton

Online Booking: EventBrite
Details: farmsforcitychildren.org
For further information please contact
Farms for City Children on 01392 276381
email: margi@farmsforcitychildren.org
(FFCC Fundraiser Margi Jervoise)
Event Sponsored by: Everys Solicitors
Kindly Supported by: Devon Life
Knight Frank, Storm Press
Simpkins Edwards, Mercure Hotels

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COMING UP IN DECEMBER

Mary O'Shea

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Devon Voices
All Saint's Church East Budleigh
Friday 9 December
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Exeter Male Voice Choir

Exeter Male Voice Choir

South Street Baptist Church
Saturday 10 December 7pm
CHRISTMAS CONCERT
Musical Director: Margaret Aagesen-Hughes
Piano Accompanist: Peter Betts
Mezzosoprano Soloist: Carolyn Harries
Tickets: £8
Details: David Northrop 07733 135711
Exeter Male Voice Choir Website

Wednesday, 2 November 2016

Staircase Opera "The Medium" Torre Abbey Mon/Tue 31 Oct/1 Nov Exeter Guildhall Wed/Thur/Fri 2/3/4 Nov Crediton Congregational Church Sat 5 Nov 2016


Carolyn Harries is "The Medium"

After several weeks preparation at Exeter University, Staircase Opera Company unveil their new production: Gian Carlo Menotti's 1946 two act masterpiece, "The Medium".

As a pre-opera treat, on Sunday 30 October, a select audience were invited to Torre Abbey for an afternoon introduction to the highly talented cast and directors of the opera.

Musical Directors Paul McClure (Exeter University Chamber Orchestra Conductor) and Roger Stephenson played piano duets by Bach and Mozart, and Roger gave a lovely solo performance of Beethoven's "Sonata Quasi Una Fantasia". Stage Director Martin Harvey (formerly Associate Director at Exeter Northcott Theatre - with Paul McClure) recited Edgar Allan Poe's classic poem, "The Raven".

What a great advertisement for an opera, to hear the Directors performing with such skill and flare in their own natural medium. The pianists thrilled us, while Martin's 'Raven' held everyone's attention like a magnet as he used his acting talent to add new magic to the familiar tale.

Paul McClure introduced each piece with his trademark wit and repartee - even, at one point, confusing Mozart's coloratura sister-in-law Josepha Hofer, with the dodgy union boss Jimmy Hoffa, whose organised crime career ended in his mysterious disappearance in 1975 - surely a first for any Master of Ceremonies.

The reference to Josepha Hofer led neatly into one of the most demanding coloratura arias in any opera, "Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen" (Hell's vengeance boils in my heart) sung by The Queen of the Night to her terrified daughter Pamina in Act 2, Scene 3 of "The Magic Flute". Suddenly, we were enjoying a very special ad hoc performance of "Der Hölle Rache" by student soprano Emma Summerfield. The performance was stunning, and quite unexpected. Later, Emma explained that she had prepared the performance for her audition at Glyndebourne - which, needless to say, was successful!

Emma was joined by fellow student Naomi Green for some more light-hearted songs from modern musicals. Mezzosopranos Carolyn Harries and Rebecca Squire, soprano Héloïse West and bass Julian Rippon added a liberal helping of beautiful arias and songs in English, Italian and German, all delicious and thoroughly appreciated. Every piece was skilfully accompanied by Paul McClure on the specially installed grand piano. For the modest entrance fee of just £5, the audience were treated to a royal afternoon of entertainment in the Torre Abbey Music Room.

With barely time to turn around, the cast then launched into two dress rehearsals of "The Medium" (after generously taking part in interviews for Phonic FM - to appear on 'Classical Journey' 2pm Friday 5 November).

Héloïse West, Rebecca Squire and Julian Rippon, having modestly taken a back seat in the interviews, saying they were merely 'stooges' in the opera, proceeded to display their outstanding skill at recitative and aria. The apparently mundane enactment of bereaved parents attending a sceance was transformed into an unforgettable and tragically moving scene by their musical and dramatic skills.

Julian Rippon, as Mr Gobineau, tenderly entreats the new customer, Mrs Nolan, to sample the spiritual solace of contacting her lost child through The Medium. His love for his dead baby boy is utterly real and believable. Héloïse West, as Mrs Gobineau, recounts the story of their loss in a spectacular set-piece. Rebecca Squire confronted (she believes) by her own dead child perfectly portrays the hope and despair of the desperate mother - calling to her lost daughter by her unbearably poignant nick-name of 'Doodly'.

Carolyn Harries, as Baba, is initially imposing and impressive as her alter-ego, the all-powerful medium 'Madame Flora'. However, having somehow become infected by her customers' enthusiasm and credulity, Madame Flora herself starts to feel that she is really in touch with the spirit world - and the experience is too much for her to endure. Returning to her everyday identity as Baba, she decends into paranoia and depression.

Unknown to the customers, Baba's seances are secretly facilitated by her daughter Monika and a mute foundling boy, called Toby, brought with them from their home country. Monika is played by the two young sopranos Emma Summerfield and Naomi Green. During the run they will take turns to sing the main arias, and duets with Baba, while the other voices the counterfeit ghosts for Madame Flora's deceptions.

A young actor from Uffculme, Fraser Goodland, plays the part of Toby. Without recourse to any words at all, Fraser magnifies the words and actions of Monika and Baba though his mute response. His performance is impressive and thrilling, quite an achievement for any actor - especially one so young.

The action and words are so enthralling, and often distressing, that the piano accompaniment is often not consciously heard. Subliminally, however, Menotti's syncopated and eratic rhythms scratch at our awareness, to such an extent that the dark mood and tragic scenes lead the audience into the depths of terror and madness. Paul McClure and Roger Stephenson, playing two separate pianos, are masters of Menotti's method, and add depth and meaning to every terrifying twist and turn in the tale.

There is violence too. Be prepared. A seat in the front row is not recommended for anyone of a nervous disposition, as the action reaches its gripping crescendo. More tender scenes - especially between Monika and Toby - also draw the audience in, but in a more loving and inclusive way.

Less well-known today, Menotti was a world-renowned composer and musician in his day (mid-twentieth century). This opera opens a window onto his creative brilliance, and many will be converted to his way of viewing the world. We are very fortunate to have two such talented Directors, Martin Harvey and Paul McClure, to bring his work to life, and so generously introduce a new audience to its wonders.

After Two performances at Torre Abbey (Monday and Tuesday 31 October and 1 November), the opera was to come to the Devon and Exeter Institution in Cathedral Close in Exeter for the evenings of Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (2, 3 & 4 November). Disastrously, for all concerned, a terrible fire at the Clarence Hotel on Cathedral Green meant that vehicle access was restriced to emergency and demolition crews only. Installing a grand piano in the Institution was clearly out of the question.

At short notice, the company have been able to relocate to Exeter Guildhall in the High Street. Not only is this splendid news for all those with tickets, but also the larger capacity of the new venue means that more tickets are available, and the three performances, all of which were sold out, can now accommodate more people.

Even for those who cannot make the Exeter performances, there is a final matinée at 2.30pm on Saturday (5 November) at the Congregational Church in Crediton.

All performances include a highly informative, and inevitably humorous and engaging, talk on the play, given by Musical Director Paul McClure. There is also ample time allowed (the opera is only just over an hour long) for socialising and meeting the artists - over wine and a sumptuous buffet - replaced by a convivial afternoon tea party after the Saturday matinée at Crediton.

Staircase Opera Company

1. Torre Abbey Torquay

Mon 31 Oct / Tue 1 Nov 7.15 for 7.30pm