Daily Archives: 24 November, 2017

Tenors Unlimited

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Internationally acclaimed operatic trio Tenors Unlimited, the ‘Rat Pack of Opera’ will be performing Christmas charity concert at Opus Theatre Hastings on Friday 8th December 19:30 in aid of local charity The Little Hands & Art with local choir Guestling-Bradshaw C.E Primary School

The internationally acclaimed operatic trio Tenors Unlimited, the ‘Rat Pack of Opera’, will be performing a Christmas charity concert at the Opus Theatre, Hastings on Friday 8th 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.

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 £13; children under 16, £7. To buy tickets, visit www.tenorsunlimited.com (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 performances https://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 over ten 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 “21st 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.

For more information about the trio and other tour dates in the UK, visit www.tenorsunlimited.com

SOUTHBANK CENTRE INTERNATIONAL ORGAN SERIES 2017-18 2 – ANNE PAGE

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ROYAL FESTIVAL HALL 21 November 2017

A large audience gathered for this latest instalment in the series which deliberately presents different aspects of the organ repertoire by performers who are experts in their particular field. For this concert Anne Page brought her experience and research to present an interpretation of the complete Art of Fugue by JS Bach.

On this occasion I took advantage of the pre-concert talk in which Anne Page was in conversation
with the curator of the RFH organ, William McVicker, about the work and different opinions about what instrument it was written for and the enigmatic way in which the published work ends. This was a fascinating talk, which could have gone on much longer, with excellent musical illustrations from the RFH’s organ scholar David Thomas. It certainly helped me in my appreciation of the music which followed.

Throughout the evening Anne Page demonstrated her commitment and understanding of this music and its relation to other genres, notably the French style of organ music from the likes of de Grigny, whom Bach admired. Her well chosen registrations and her decision to emphasise different interpretations to group the movements made for a very cohesive and immersive experience. The ease with which lines were performed on the pedals was very impressive. Clear delineation of voices (by registration) and careful articulation in each fugue made it possible to appreciate the structures and to attempt to follow some of the thematic material, although at times this was not easy.

The craftsmanship, mathematical genius and beauty of this music is without doubt. This organ is a wonderful vehicle for it. Anne Page’s knowledge, commitment, concentration and overall musicianship was impressive throughout. I found myself, at times, completely drawn in by the music. Unfortunately for this listener the overall experience was just too much. As the programme notes mentioned, the composer would not have envisaged a complete performance such as this, and for me, and I suspect others, despite wanting to enjoy the totality of this music, it didn’t really work.

Perhaps elements of the talk could have been interspersed with the music, or some contrasting music inserted partway through. I certainly would have welcomed some relief from what became a rather  cerebral and overwhelming experience. After the concluding “unfinished” movement (with a realised ending by Paul Binski) the evening ended with a beautifully understated rendition of Bach’s last composition, dictated during his final illness, Vor deinen Thron tret ich hiermit.

The next concert in the series is on 26th February – a varied programme from Daniel Cook.

Stephen Page