Hastings Philharmonic – the new look !

Posted on 1 November, 2016 by Admin

On Saturday 12 November Hastings Philharmonic, now a choir and an orchestra,

launch their new ‘Season’ with the well loved Beethoven’s 9th Choral Symphony

together with a specially commissioned piece by talented young English composer,

Philip O’Meara. This incorporates a Beethoven theme and Schiller’s ‘Ode to Joy’,

intertwined with Gregorian plainsong. The Choir wishes to be welcomed back to

its old haunt, the White Rock Theatre (formerly Pavilion), where it famously

produced Beethoven’s 9th to a record audience under Sir Malcolm Sargent with

the ‘Southern Philharmonic’ orchestra in celebration of the Coronation.

This was in 1953, of course, but in the 1930s, the choir had already performed Beethoven’s 9th 4 times at the White Rock Pavilion under Julius Harrison and the prestigious Hastings Municipal Orchestra, always to great acclaim. Today’s music director of both choir and orchestra, Marcio da Silva, is ambitiously rekindling the spirit of excellence in classical music that prevailed prewar when, three years in a row (1935-37), the Hastings Municipal Orchestra broadcast from the White Rock Pavilion on BBC Radio in the prime spot after the King’s Speech on Christmas Day.

Beethoven’s entire 9th Symphony will be performed with the full professional orchestra, the Hastings Philharmonic Orchestra’s first public outing. Philip O’Meara’s choral piece is called ‘No Man’ and uses the fine words of great writers, Victor Hugo, W B Yeats, John Donne and the book of Psalms to depict the stupidity of war and the virtues of friendship and cooperation. ‘No Man is an Island’ is an appropriate sentiment in this year when Britain’s relationship with continental Europe is being reset to acknowledge the Referendum result.

Marcio da Silva’s new name for his orchestra, formerly known as Ensemble OrQuesta, reflects his growing commitment and enthusiasm for living and working in Hastings. He strives towards ever improving standards in classical music. The orchestra is building a wonderful reputation among ‘people in the know’. This last year in Hastings, Marcio’s musicians produced the Brahms Requiem, Sibelius’ Violin Concerto, Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro, Faure Requiem and more. Lark Reviews has reported on most of these.

Marcio da Silva and his wife, Aysen Ulucan, who are both renowned soloist singers, also produced recitals together. Aysen is a brilliant virtuoso violinist, who has played in concerts with Maxim Vengerov. Next year’s ‘season’ of classical music in Hastings produced by Marcio will cover 10 orchestral and choral concerts, recitals and opera of the usual outstanding quality. Season tickets for the entire year will be on sale at £130.

For more information see http://hastingsphilharmonic.com/.

Marcio’s musical acumen, zeal and charisma attracts great talent and loyalty from his orchestra and soloists which, at this coming concert, will be a cast of international virtuosi – names to watch! New Zealander soprano Claire Egan, Italian mezzosoprano Alessandra Fasolo, Portuguese tenor Leonel Pinheiro, and British baritone Matthew Sprange. This Beethoven concert will be a memorable event and a waymarker for a whole new World of music in Hastings. Be there at the beginning!

“Hastings and St Leonards, you have real talent with this conductor and choir, make sure you don’t let them go. I urge all and sundry to attend their next concert, wherever and whenever it is. Something special has come to the south coast, and we must all appreciate this new arrival.” Hastings Observer 19.5.2016 by Peter Georgiadis, former Chairman, Rotary Club of Hastings and former double-bass with many orchestras

HASTINGS PHILHARMONIC at the White Rock Theatre, Hastings TN34 1JX, Saturday 12 November 7.30pm featuring Beethoven’s Symphony n. 9 and Philip O’Meara’s ‘No man’. Tickets £20, £10 and £5 (under 16) – booking fee may apply – from White Rock Theatre box office (01424 462288)

and online at whiterocktheatre.org.uk

https://www.facebook.com/hastingsphiharmonic/

Brahms in Brighton

Posted on 26 October, 2016 by Admin

The second concert of the Brighton Philharmonic’s season at Brighton Dome takes place on Sunday 6th November when the orchestra is joined by regular collaborators Brighton Festival Chorus conducted by their Music Director James Morgan, with guest soloists Sarah Tynan (Soprano) and Leigh Melrose (Baritone). They will be performing a programme of music by Brahms – his longest choral work Ein Deutches Requiem (A German Requiem) and by way of contrast, his shortest Schicksalslied (Song of Destiny).

Conductor and BFC Music Director James Morgan is looking forward to the concert and has a warning for audience members: “I’m delighted that the Festival Chorus and BPO will once again join forces in such a special programme. Schicksalslied is a miniature masterpiece; this is one concert you don’t want to arrive late for, as the first minute of music is particularly sublime! Then there is the Requiem – such a well-loved piece and a key work of the choral repertoire. We are very much looking forward to it, and to welcoming our soloists Sarah Tynan and Leigh Melrose.”

The concert opens with Schicksalslied, sometimes referred to as the “Little Requiem”, Brahms’ most ambitious choral composition considered to be one of his finest choral works; it took him three years to compose and is based on a poem by Friedrich Hölderlin about man’s sense of alienation within the cosmos.

The seven movements of Brahms’ epic German Requiem were written between 1865 and 1868 following the death of his mother, and in writing them Brahms was also highly influenced by the earlier death of his great friend Robert Schumann following a suicide attempt and incarceration in a mental asylum. The Requiem is based on words from the German Lutheran Bible rather than the more usual Latin text, which Brahms put together himself, wanting it to be a Requiem for the living, not the dead. The central message of the Requiem appears in its first lines “Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted” and “Blessed” is also the last word we hear in the final movement.

The Requiem’s first performance in 1868, with Brahms himself conducting, was a huge success and marked a turning point in his career, giving him the confidence to complete many unfinished projects that had tantalised him for years.

Tickets (from £12-37) are available from Brighton Dome Ticket Office in person, by telephone (01273) 709709 and online: www.brightondome.org. There is a 50% discount for students and under 18s and a Family ticket allows up to two children at £1 each when accompanied by a full-price adult ticket holder.

Those travelling by car can take advantage of the BPO’s special discounted parking rate of £6 between 1pm & 6pm in the NCP Church Street car park. Just collect a follow-on voucher from the Dome at the concert.

Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra’s new season at Brighton Dome starts this Sunday

Posted on 4 October, 2016 by Admin

There is an autumnal chill in the air in the mornings and the nights are closing in, but whilst for some this heralds the onset of the winter months, the Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra and its regular audience are looking forward to their new season of Sunday afternoon concerts at Brighton Dome.

An array of guest soloists and conductors join the orchestra this season to play popular works by Tchaikovsky, Dvorák, Mendelssohn and Elgar as well as less well-known gems by Scriabin, Korngold, Walton and Greig. Particular highlights this side of Christmas include Sunday 6th November where the orchestra is joined by the Brighton Festival Chorus for a performance of Brahms’ Ein Deutches Requiem, and Sunday 4th December when a “Best of British Film Scores” concert promises an afternoon of wonderful classic film music. Then to liven up the festive season the orchestra presents its traditional New Year’s Eve Viennese Gala with a plethora of foot-tapping marches, polkas and waltzes from the prolific Strauss family and lots of sparkly top notes from guest soprano Rebecca Bottone (who featured in the BBC series David Starkey’s Music and Monarchy).

The season opens on Sunday 9^th October with Conductor Laureate Barry Wordsworth at the helm with a programme that includes Sir William Walton’s Viola Concerto with Andriy Vytovych and Tchaikovsky’s monumental Symphony No.5.

Tickets for all concerts range from £12-£37 with a 50% discount for students and under 18s, available from Brighton Dome Ticket Office (01273) 709709 or www.brightondome.org

For those considering coming by car, discounted parking is available for all BPO concerts at just £6 for up to five hours (from 1pm-6pm) in NCP Church Street Car Park, just a couple of minutes’ walk from Brighton Dome.

For full details of the whole season see: www.brightonphil.org.uk

Brighton Festival Chorus! Open Rehearsal

Posted on 2 October, 2016 by Admin

James Morgan – conductor

Tuesday, October 11th 2016, 7.00pm

Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Falmer

Want to sing with some of the best UK and international orchestras and soloists, and in some of the world’s greatest venues? Join Brighton Festival Chorus (bfc) for our annual open rehearsal on Tuesday October 11th at 7pm in the Medical School, University of Sussex. An exciting season lies ahead, including completing a recording with the BBC Concert Orchestra and performing in the Royal Albert Hall in a fundraising concert for Parkinson’s UK, bringing together amazing musicians and comedians for a night of music and laughter. Two concerts are lined up so far in the Brighton Dome Concert Hall, including our traditional Christmas concert in December. On November 6th 2016 bfc will join the Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra for a performance of Brahm’s Requiem and Schicksalslied. James Morgan, Music Director of bfc commented “I’m delighted that the Festival Chorus and BPO will once again join forces in such a special programme. Schicksalslied is a miniature masterpiece; this is one concert you don’t want to arrive late for, as the first minute of music is particularly sublime. Then there is the Requiem – such a well-loved piece and a key work of the choral repertoire.” Sing your heart out with bfc in a rehearsal of Brahms’ Requiem on Tuesday October 11th and meet our friendly members for a drink afterwards.

Noteworthy Voices next concert!

Posted on 22 September, 2016 by Admin

We hope you will be able to join us for our next concert at

Wilmington Church on Sunday 2nd October, 7.30pm.

This will be an extended repeat of our last concert in May – to this we have added some lovely new pieces by Byrd, Morley, Bennet and American composer David Conte.

Also in this concert programme:

Pearsall, Parry, Duruflé, Debussy and Whitacre.

For more information please visit our website:

noteworthyvoices.co.uk call 01323 640033

August @ St Nicolas, Pevensey

Posted on 25 July, 2016 by Admin

Saturday 30 July – Annual Fete

Next weekend the St. Nicolas and St. Wilfrid’s annual fête will be held at Pevensey Memorial Hall from 11.00-4.00 pm. Entrance is free. In addition to the traditional stalls and games– there’s an opportunity to chance your hand at bell ringing, Refreshments will be available in the in the hall or beer tent. At 2:00 PM there will be a Smart Mutts Dog Obedience Demonstration! Does your dog measure up to the Smart Mutts Standard? Fun and frolics with the doggies from 2: 00 PM !

Thursday 4^th August – Lunchtime Organ Recital at 12:30 PM at St. Nicolas Church.

If you attended the Choristers of Canterbury Cathedral concert on 9^th July, when some organ pieces were played, you will know how beautiful our church organ can sound. Tickets are £7.50 Reservations can be made by email or telephone to me (01424 216651)or on-line http://www.wegottickets.com/event/367517

The recital is being given by John Collins, organist at St. George’s, Worthing since June 1984. His special interests include European keyboard repertoires from ca1500-1800 in which areas he gives regular recitals. He also undertakes research and lectures for the Royal College of Music, Royal Academy of Music and Royal College of Organists.

Appropriately John’s third annual lunchtime concert this year has the theme of ‘Anniversaries’. 2016 sees the anniversaries of several European organ composers, and the recital includes compositions by some of these, or by those who were composing when Shakespeare and Cervantes died four hundred years ago; when the church itself was already 400 years old! The programme includes an arrangement of the ‘Hallelujah Chorus’, and Charles Wesley’s Arrangement of ‘God Save the King’ – seehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9WpZFY-tTE (and enjoy the pictures of some of London’s churches)!

John encourages you to bring your own lunch and enjoy the music, even talk to your neighbours, as audiences would have done when the music was composed. Light refreshments will be available afterwards.

Saturday August 27^th to Monday August 29^th: 3-Day Flower Festival

The Festival title is “Celebrating 800 Years of St. Nicolas Church in Flowers”. This is one of the most popular events of our year and visitors regularly come from far and wide to see the magnificent displays.

On the strength of our Festival’s overall high standard last year the church’s flower display team were invited to exhibit at the Chichester ‘Festival of Flowers’ in early June, as the only team invited from East Sussex. Their display ‘Monet’s Garden’ was viewed and admired by thousands of visitors.

This year, in our 800^th anniversary year at St. Nicolas, we are concentrating on decorating the main features of our church. Therefore the ‘show case’ flower displays will be showing around 20 displays overall, including the Altar, Pulpit, Organ, Choir, Font and of course many of the Windows. In other words, the usual areas will be artistically decorated, including the aisle and pillars.

Entrance £2. Children have free entry.

Timings:-

Sat 27th. 10.00 am to 5.30 pm

Sun 28th. 11.30 am to 5.00 pm Followed by Sung Evensong

Mon 29th. 10.00 am to 5.30 pm

Refreshments will be served throughout each day when the Flower Festival is open.

Marcio Sings

Posted on 29 June, 2016 by Admin

For those of us who have enjoyed Marcio da Silva’s singing at the Christmas Concerts here is a chance to hear him in more serious vein. Don’t miss it!