CHORAL EVENSONG FOR ALL SAINTS DAY
THE CHOIR OF THE CITY CHURCH directed by Adrian Boynton
Freewill offering
Tuesday 3 November 7.45pm
GRACE FRANCIS (piano)
BRAHMS: Piano Sonata No 1 in C
PROKOFIEV: Sarcasms
RACHMANINOV: Moments Musicaux, Op 16
LISZT: Sposalizio (Annees de Pelerinage)
Valée d’Obermann
Mephisto Waltz No 1
'Grace Francis is a phenomenon. Technically there seems to be nothing she can't play. But more than that, there is a force in her, a compulsion that gives her performances uncommon fire and energy.'[David Cairns, Senior Music Critic, Sunday Times]
Grace Francis studied with Irina Zaritskaya at the Royal College of Music, where she gained the Chappell Gold Medal, the highest award for pianists. She was winner of the Negrada Heferer Award and EPTA International Competition in Zagreb. Grace's numerous recitals in the UK have included regular appearances at the Barbican, Purcell Room and Wigmore Hall. Her repertoire is wide but she has a special affinity with the Romantic works of the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Admission £8 (conc £7.50, child £2) at the door
Sunday 8th November 7.30pm
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION PURCELL: SONATA FOR TRUMPET & STRINGS HANDEL: DIXIT DOMINUS MENDELSSOHN: STRING SYMPHONY IN C HAYDN: NELSON MASS THE CORNERSTONE CHAMBER CHOIR & ORCHESTRA Conductor: Adrian Boynton Solo Trumpet: John MacDomnic Soprano: Ruth Jenkins |  |
Tickets £12.50 (conc £12), £10.50 (conc £10) child £5 telephone 01908 246486, email Cornerstone.music@tesco.net, in person from Church Kiosk or at the door
Monday 9th November 7.45pm
MUSICAL MILESTONES: 200th Anniversary Celebrations
HANDEL: (ii) Mature Years
A talk illustrated with fine CD recordings by Adrian Boynton
In 1711 Handel composed the first Italian opera written specially for an English audience. For the next 30 years he became immersed in the ups and downs of operatic activity in London, producing over 40 works. Then, as public interest in opera declined, he brought fresh creative energy to oratorio, producing more than 20 magnificent works rich in choral drama and orchestra colour. Tonight we savour great moments from the opera Rodelinda, Partenope, Ariodante and Alcina, and oratorios Israel in Egypt, Samson, Solomon, Semele and Messiah. Other important works of the mature years include the Concerto Grossi Op 3, the Organ Concerti and Music for the Royal Fireworks.
Admission £4 (student £1) at the door.
Saturday 14th November 12 noon
MICHAEL KEEP & ADRIAN BOYNTON (piano duet)
MOZART: Sonata in B flat DEBUSSY: Petite Suite
SCHUBERT: Rondo-Fantasie DVORAK: Slavonic Dances
BIZET: Jeux D’Enfants
Michael Keep and Adrian Boynton return in a programme of popular works from the piano duet repertoire guaranteed to entertain. Michael graduated with distinction from the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester in 2007 and returned to his native Bletchley where he has been much in demand as soloist, accompanist and teacher. He was recently invited to accompany violinist Nicola Benedetti in recitals in Scotland.
Admission £5 (conc £4.50, child £1) at the door
Thursday 19th November 7.45pm
EXPLORING MUSIC: 20th Century Masters
BENJAMIN BRITTEN (iii) The Final Years
A talk illustrated with fine CD recordings by Adrian Boynton
The two outstanding works of the early 60s were the opera A Midsummer Night's Dream and the War Requiem, written to celebrate the consecration of the new Coventry Cathedral: they marked a new peak in Britten's esteem with the general public. Another important element of this final period was his artistic partnership with Rostropovich which produced the Cello Sonata, Cello Symphony and three solo Cello Suites. And there were two more great operas – Owen Wingrave, written specially for television, and Death in Venice, which provided Peter Pears with his last and most challenging role.
Admission £4 (student £1) at the door
Monday 23rd November 7.45pm
| MARINA NADIRADZE (piano) SCARLATTI: Sonatas HAYDN: Sonata in B minor RAVEL: Miroirs CHOPIN: Sonata in B minor 'The power and beauty of such exquisite artistry was the kind of heavenly experience to make you feel better about the world around you' [The Herald] |  |
Marina Nadiradze‟s playing has been compared to that of the great Mitsuko Uchida. She gained the Postgraduate Diploma and MMus degree, both with distinction, at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. She took 1st prize in the highly prestigious LASMO Staffa Award and Silver Medal in the Scottish International Piano Competition, 2001. She has performed widely in Europe and the Far East, and made an acclaimed Wigmore Hall debut in 2007. Recently she appeared with Milton Keynes City Orchestra.
Admission £8.50 (conc £8, child £2) at the door
Sunday 29th November 6pm
THE ADVENT CAROL SERVICE
THE CHOIR OF THE CITY CHURCH Directed by Adrian Boynton
The atmosphere of Advent – season of hope and expectation – is wonderfully evoked in this beautiful candlelit service featuring passages of scripture, poetry and prose and musical settings from five centuries.
Freewill offering.