Brighton Dome, Mon 31 December, 2.45pm

Richard Balcombe makes a welcome return to Brighton as guest conductor for the Brighton Phil’s annual Viennese Gala, joined by the Russian-born soprano Ilona Domnich whose lyric coloratura will add sparkle to our afternoon with a selection of delightful songs and arias from well-known operettas and musicals from the 19^th century and beyond. This is always one of our most popular concerts of the season and, now in its 29^th year, is firmly established as part of the city’s festivities. We nearly sold out last year so if you would like to join us to see out the old year and welcome in the new, book your tickets now to avoid disappointment!

Originally destined to be a pianist, Ilona was plucked from a masterclass by legendary singing teacher Vera Rósza, and won the prestigious Wingate Scholarship to study at the Royal College of Music. She was chosen by Opera Now Magazine as one of their top ten high flying sopranos destined to have impressive careers, in which a personal highlight has been a masterclass with Montserrat Caballé. Ilona is also an actress and has developed and performed a one woman show based on songs sung by Marlene Dietrich, Jacques Brel and Edith Piaf.

As you would expect this concert will be a programme full of musical gems from the waltz kings of Vienna – the Strauss family – with an array of waltzes, marches and polkas from this talented musical dynasty who dominated the music scene in Vienna throughout the 19^th century. Alongside these evergreen favourites Richard Balcombe has also included songs by Ivor Novello and Oscar Straus (no relation), Charmaine (made famous by Mantovani) and the Westminster Waltz by Robert Farnon. The full concert programme is available at: www.brightonphil.org.uk/concerts  

We are most grateful to the John Carewe Brighton Orchestra Trust for their continued support of the Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra and of our annual New Year’s Eve Viennese Gala.

Tickets £12.50-£39.50 (50% student/under18 discount, children just £1) are available from Brighton Dome Ticket Office, 01273 709709, www.brightondome.org

Discounted parking for concert-goers is available in the NCP Church Street Car Park – just £6 between 1pm and 6pm. Simply collect a follow-on ticket at the concert.

The Brighton Phil’s concert on Sunday 2 December at Brighton Dome is dedicated to the memory of Ted (Edward J) McFadyen who died, aged 88, in December 2016. Ted had been a Friend of the Phil for 30 years and was from time to time a Patron of the orchestra and sponsor of concerts. He left a generous bequest in his Will to the orchestra for which the Brighton & Hove Philharmonic Society is most grateful.

Ted was a journalist, living and working in London before moving to Brighton in the early 1970s when he began to attend Brighton Phil concerts. A committed trade unionist all his working life, he was also an avid anti-nuclear campaigner and a member of the famous ‘Committee of 100’, the precursor of CND, taking part in the annual Aldermaston marches. He wrote an influential pamphlet for journalists about HIV and Aids “because there were so many distortions and lies at the time and we felt they needed to be told what was what”. He was also responsible for Gay Rights at Work, a booklet that played an important role in persuading trade unions to better support their gay members. As an energetic member of the Sussex Playwrights club Ted wrote and performed in plays. He was actively involved in local gay rights campaigning and with the management of Brighton Gay Switchboard.

The Society is delighted that several of Ted’s friends (who tell us that Ted was very fond of Mozart and Beethoven) will be attending the concert which takes place at 2.45pm. Conductor Ben Gernon is joined by Tamsin Waley-Cohen (violin) in a programme that includes Mozart’s Symphony No.35, Mozart’s Violin Concerto No.5 and Beethoven’s Symphony No.7. Tickets (£12.50-£39.50) from Brighton Dome Ticket Office (01273) 709709 www.brightondome.org

Having had two consecutive years of critical acclaim with several 4-star reviews and audience praise at the prestigious Grimeborn Opera Festival at the Arcola Theatre, Ensemble OrQuesta are delighted to be bringing one of their exciting baroque opera productions to the intimate setting of the Cockpit Theatre.

Marcio da Silva’s sensual and daring minimalist production of Monteverdi’s early 17th century opera L’Incoronazione di Poppea will be performed by a cast of talented up and coming singers, accompanied by the Ensemble OrQuesta Baroque.

The tense and dramatic plot revolves around the historical figure of the Emperor Nero and his lover Poppea, who persuades him to abandon his wife Ottavia and make her his Queen instead. This is a potent political tale of love and lust, power, vengeance and death, where good does not in fact prevail in the end.

Performances will be in Italian with English surtitles, and will take place on 30th, 31st January and 1st February, at 7:30pm. Ten singers, baroque violins, cello, lute, organ and harpsichord will unite in a thrilling baroque explosion! Cockpit Theatre: Gateforth Street, London NW8 8EH

Tickets:http://thecockpit.org.uk/show/lincoronazione_di_poppea_monteverdi £12-£17

Stage/Music Director Marcio da Silva

Music Director/Harpsichord Stephanie Gurga

Harpsichord Petra Hajduchova

Archlute/Baroque Guitare Cédric Meyer

Violin Eleanor Harrison, Rudolf Balázs

Cello Carina Drury

Poppea Kathleen Nic Dhiarmada

Nerone Eric Schlossberg

Seneca Marcio da Silva Ottavia

Sophie Levi Arnalta Kieran White

Drusilla Joana Gil

Amore/Damigella Sarah Matousek

Valetto/Fortuna Maya Wheeler-Colwell

Virtu/Liberto/Pallade/Lucano Celena Bridge

Ottone Helen May

w w w . e n s e m b l e o r q u e s t a . c o m

Brighton’s only resident professional orchestra, the Philharmonic, presents its 500^th concert on Sunday 2^nd December. Founded 94 years ago as the Symphonic String Players, it has been presenting orchestral concerts without a break since 1927 in the historic Brighton Dome and officially became the Brighton Philharmonic in October 1958. The exciting young British conductor Ben Gernon will be conducting this very special event and will be joined by another young British musician, the violinist Tamsin Waley-Cohen.

Over the past 60 years the orchestra has performed almost 2,500 works and is proud that throughout this time there have been only three Musical Directors. Mozart has been the most frequently played composer and our concert on December 2^nd celebrates this with two works by Mozart, his energetic Symphony No. 35 written for his childhood friend Sigmund Haffner, and his exotic 5^th Violin Concerto, nicknamed “Turkish” after its Turkish–sounding final movement. The concert concludes with Beethoven’s Symphony No.7 which the composer himself considered to be “one of my best works”.

Tickets (from £12.50-£39.50 – 50% student/U18 discount, children just £1) are still available from Brighton Dome Ticket Office, (01273 709709) or online at www.brightondome.org

Number one selling operatic trio Tenors Unlimited, the ‘Rat Pack of Opera’ will be performing Christmas charity concert at Opus Theatre Hastings on

Friday 7^th December 19:30

in aid of local charity The Little Hands & Art with local choir

Guestling-Bradshaw C.E Primary School

Number one operatic trio Tenors Unlimited, the ‘Rat Pack of Opera’, will be performing a Christmas charity concert at the Opus Theatre, Hastings on Friday 7^th December 19:30 in aid of local charity The Little Hands & Art. They will be joined by local choir Guestling-Bradshaw C.E Primary School. The group is currently touring the UK and will touring the USA and the UK next year. Jem Sharples, a member of the group, is from Hastings.

This is fresh from Tenors Unlimited’s recent chart-topping success with “Who is He?” in aid of The Salvation Army which went in at number one on the iTunes classical chart.

Jem Sharples from Tenors Unlimited who lives in Hastings says “We’re delighted to be performing in my home town and hope as many people as possible attend to support The Little Hands & Art, which is such a worthy cause. This will be a special Christmas concert with lots of favourites.”

Tickets cost adults £15; children under 16, £7.50. To buy tickets, visit www.tenorsunlimited.com/tour (also available from Waterfalls, Hastings and Hastings Tourist Office, Muriel Matters House, Hastings.)

Tenors Unlimited – Paul Martin, Jem Sharples, Scott Ciscon – will be performing Christmas favourites such as “Oh Holy Night”, “Silent Night”, “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” and “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” as well as diverse and fun songs from their current theatre tour “From Venice to Vegas”. This will include ‘Nessun Dorma’, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You’ and songs written by the group themselves.

Tenors Unlimited has performed alongside such notables as Sting, Lionel Richie, Beyoncé, Hayley Westenra, Simply Red and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra to name a few. During 2017, they have been playing to sell out shows in the USA and Bermuda and are currently touring the UK. See footage of their performanceshttps://www.tenorsunlimited.com/media

Local charity The Little Hands & Art (formerly known as Hands around the World) was born after the tsunami in 2004 which struck Thailand. The charity raised money for children caught up in it and who lost everything. The charity bought a mobile art unit which provided art therapy for distressed children and continues to help other children from deprived areas or in stressful situations. The charity continues to provide food and medicines for poor families and supports an orphanage. More information: http://bit.ly/2ikZEa6

Guestling-Bradshaw C.E Primary School Junior Choir has performed at concerts and events in Hastings, performed at Hastings Music Festival and was runner-up in the 1066 Choir Competition last year.

For 15 years, Scott Ciscon, Paul Martin and Jem Sharples have entertained audiences throughout the world.  Using talents honed in their previous solo careers in opera and theatre, they bring their own blend of wit, charm and vocal arrangements to their performances. Alan Titchmarsh OBE said “21^st century tenors, great fun, great voices and a great evening.” Tenors Unlimited sang at the memorial service for football legend Sir Bobby Robson and sang live at Wembley Stadium at the FA Cup final.

Jem Sharples from Tenors Unlimited says “We perform a wide repertoire of all music so there is sure to be something for everyone.”

Their latest album “The Journey” can be purchased online from their web site www.tenorsunlimited.com via iTunes, Amazon and GooglePlay.

Worthing’s Autumn Interview Concert

“Her playing bristled with character of many types” . . . “Edge-of-your-seat Haydn” [Sonata No 52 in Eb]. . . “mesmerising Stravinsky” [The Firebird] . . .“The best piece of piano playing I’ve heard in 10 years” [Ravel, La Valse].

. . . Things said and written this year about pianist Rhythmie Wong, who is the next Interview Concerts guest artiste at St Paul’s Worthing on Sunday November 18 (3.30pm for 4pm). Indicative of her artistic breadth and background, she also plays violin, clarinet and composes. A young native of Hong Kong, incidentally, her parents named her sister Melodie.

Rhythmie Wong’s repertoire for this concert  creates a feast for the senses and imagination. Her poetry and virtuosity ignited and sent shimmers of admiration and anticipation through the Sussex International Piano Competition (SIPC) at Worthing in May. She is one of the three finalists due automatically to appear in these now keenly-awaited concerts.

The International Interview Concerts are Worthing’s intimate open door into the music that changes so many people’s lives. They are not the spectator world of stadium rock, large concert hall or formal recital room, but great music in personal close-up to be experienced by anyone.

The performer sits with the audience as though in a large domestic setting, and direct connection comes through personality-revealing conversation alongside the music performance. The informality creates a bond shared among the audience.

Each Interview Concerts celebrates its internationality and is creatively given its own presentation flavour, ambience and look. The feel is warm and inclusive. Seating is in the Round. The Ask A Question section is for the audience. They respond, react and interact in the Mystery Music Spot.  They can meet the artiste afterwards.

Rhythmie co-conceived the new feature Mystery Music Spot and brings from her base in Cologne a head full of exciting solo piano music in a remarkable programme of unaccustomed power, stature and atmosphere, entitled ‘Dancing Fires & Fragrances’.

There is Russian fairy-tale ballet music from Stravinsky’s beloved ‘The Firebird’ in Agosti’s transcription from the magical, mesmeric orchestral music. Another translation into piano comes from the highest French expert, Ravel – his own vivid ballroom costume drama, ‘La Valse’. Rhythmie’s account of this startling piece caught experts’ breath during the SIPC as she surmounted its multiple demands.

She will bring alive songs, tunes, dances and fragrances in two extracts from the greatest Spanish piano music. Book 1 of ‘Iberia’ by Albeniz and, by his friend Granados, ‘The Maiden and The Nightingale’, from his suite ‘Goyescas’, inspired by the paintings of Goya and later to spawn an opera. These nostalgic, pictorial pieces, range from nocturne and evocation, through fandango, jota and zapateado, to a full-scale public parade in Seville.

She will become the first person to play Haydn at The Interview Concerts. It will be his expansive abd masterly final Piano Sonata (No 52 in Eb), in which later we can revel in her rare ability to transmit and share the fun and teasing humour in Haydn. She plays him superbly.

The St Paul’s piano will be hitting heights on a scale not since Dinara Klinton’s transcendent Liszt, Beethoven and Scarlatti two Junes ago. And among the Interview Concert surprises will be some Chinese, with which Rhythmie will return the international welcome Worthing will be giving her.

Facebook Event Page

https://www.facebook.com/events/265960770677892/

Seats unreserved . Doors at 3.30pm. Ticket prices top at £12 adult. Concessions down to £1 for Under-19s. Available in person from St Paul’s cafe-bar, or at seetickets.com

https://www.seetickets.com/event/rhythmie-wong-s-dancing-fires-and-fragrances-/st-paul-s-worthing/1254059

The outstanding tenor straight from La Scala, Milan – Accompanied by extraordinary pianist and Opus Artist In Residence, Oliver Poole.   Opus Theatre are delighted to present an internationally known tenor, Ramtin Ghazavi, together with our Artist in Residence, concert pianist Oliver Poole, on 17th November 2018. Oliver, who has brought Ramtin to Opus, wants the Hastings audience to experience Ramtin’s wonderful performance. He describes him as “strong, charismatic and virtuoso, yet able to convey a depth of emotion and sincerity that is raw, captivating and at times mystical.  Ramtin Ghazavi is particularly associated with La Scala opera house in Milan, where he has sung in a wide range of major productions including “La Traviata”, “La Boheme”, “Wozzek” “Die Fledermaus” and Leonard Berstein’s “Chichester Psalms”. He has also sung in the major opera and concert halls of France, the US and other countries, as well as music festivals across Italy. He has now sung many of the leading roles in the classical operatic repertoire at the highest level. Born in Iran as a member of the Baha’i community, Ramtin was barred from higher education, and there were no schools in the country teaching western classical music– indeed, it is still almost unobtainable there. As a child he studied Persian classical music and then in his mid-teens a guitar-playing friend introduced him to western traditions, which led to him studying the piano and trying to find a vocal teacher – without success. “The Internet wasn’t like it is today, so I had no access to YouTube or other ways to find and listen to the music easily,” Ghazavi wrote. “But I had some audio and videotapes of Pavarotti and Placido Domingo.” Ghazavi’s life took a sudden turn when an Italian tourist happened to hear him singing Scarlatti’s “Pieta, Signore,” and helped him apply successfully to study opera in Italy in 2003. After two years at the Conservatory of Como, he successfully applied to the elite Milan Conservatory. Immersing himself in music by day and working in an Ikea warehouse by night to pay the bills, he was an outstanding student who also auditioned successfully for the chorus at La Scala. In 2012 he released his first album, “Les Roses d’Ispahan,” featuring the ethereal composition by Gabriel Faure named after Isfahan, the ancient Iranian city where Ghazavi was born. It is a song he has never had the opportunity to perform publicly in his homeland. “I can’t perform and work in Iran because of my religion”, Ghazavi wrote. However he did manage to arrange a recital in the home of the Italian ambassador in Tehran in 2013, and launched the first Opera Masterclass in the city’s Italian school. In the middle of the last century, Iranian composers steeped in Western forms such as Rubik Gregorian, Hossein Nassehi, and many others created new works which drew on Persian folklore and the epic verse of Persian poet Ferdowsi. “Unfortunately this repertory has been forgotten” , Ghazavi wrote. He is making it his mission to “renew the culture of opera singing in the Persian language that also has some ancient roots in the Persian culture.” His concert at Opus will feature a selection of well-known arias from the Italian operatic repertoire, together with some Persian music including operatic arias, combining the familiar with the new. This promises to be a memorable evening.

Saturday 17^th November at 7.30pm

Tickets £15 from www.opustheatre.co.uk or the Hastings Information Centre

On 24^th November 2018, Tonbridge Philharmonic Society will perform Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem in the beautiful Chapel of St. Augustine at Tonbridge School. Tonbridge Philharmonic’s Choir and Orchestra will be joined by the award-winning Tonbridge Grammar School Motet Choir, alongside soloists Sofia Troncoso, Bradley Smith and Tristan Hambleton. Conducting the combined forces of over 200 musicians for this memorable occasion will be Matthew Willis, in his final concert as Music Director of Tonbridge Philharmonic Society after four inspirational years at the helm.

War Requiem was commissioned for the consecration of the new Coventry Cathedral in 1962, and alongside the traditional Latin Mass for the Dead, Britten chose to set nine poems by Wilfred Owen, who died on 4th November 1918, just one week before the Armistice. The concert on 24^th November will begin at 7.30pm with a pre-concert talk by the co-producer of the Britten Centenary Edition on Decca Classics, Barry Holden, followed by readings of selected Wilfred Owen poems by members of the choir.

Tonbridge Philharmonic Society’s performance of Britten’s War Requiem will be a special occasion for the local community, as well as for the musicians and the audience. We will be involving young people not only as part of the choir, but also from the cadet groups in the area representing the Army, Royal Navy and British Air Force. There will also be an installation of white poppies called ‘Requiem for Peace’ made by local children at workshops hosted during November by Tonbridge Creates. The concert will end with a retiring collection for the Royal British Legion.