Following an active and engaging programme in January, the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel has many more exciting upcoming events in the next couple of months.

The Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel holds a very close relationship with the Bozar, Belgium’s finest music hall. Young musicians of the Music Chapel will perform in the venue’s series Bozar Sundays on 17th February at 11am. Cellist Wojciech Fudala, pianists Ashot Khachatourian and Philippe Riga, tenor Giovanni Tristacci, accompanied by Dana Protopopescu. The following month, pianists Polina Bogdanova, Christia Hudziy and Adriaan Jacobs will perform with violinist Liya Petrova and bassist Charles Dekeyser. The morning concert will include works by Saint-Saëns, Schubert, Schumann, Beethoven and Kreutzer. On 16th March, violinist Yossif Ivanov and pianist Itamar Golan will perform in an evening concert at 8pm.

On 19th February, pianist Mertol Demirelli and cellist Pau Codina Masferrer will perform at the Danieli Museum as part of the Maison de la Musique concert series. The young artists both study and train at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel, and will be joined on stage by piano coach, Dana Protopopescu. They will perform Sonatas by Beethoven, Schubert and Brahms, alongside works by Chopin and Bach. The following concert in this series will be on the 28th February, highlighting the talents of pianist Christia Hudziy, cellist Deborah Pae, violinist Floris Willem, accompanied by Dana Protopopescu. The young musicians of the Music Chapel will perform music from Paganini, Schumann, Saint-Saëns and a Concerto for Violin by Mozart. The Maison de la Musique series will continue through March and April.

One of the highlights of the upcoming events, showcasing the talent of the young musicians, is the Mozart Prelude on 7th March at the Flagey venue in Brussels. Celebrated conductor Augustin Dumay will lead the Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Wallonie, pianist Ashot Khachatourian, cellist Wojciech Fudala with renowned French violist Gérard Caussé and violinist Liya Petrova. The highly anticipated evening will include works by Mozart along with Haydn’s Concerto No. 2 in D Major for cello and orchestra. Before the concert, Gérard Caussé will be giving a master-class to the young string players of the Music Chapel.

Keep up-to-date with news at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel through their website, Facebook, Twitter and regular posts from WildKat PR.

Photos of the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel and the Flagey venue.

(Written on February 6, 2013 )

The Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Belgium presents the ‘Festival a la Française’ this autumn at Flagey, Brussels. Running from 13th-17th November, the Festival boasts an impressive programme by Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel at one of Brussel’s leading cultural venues, celebrating the music of French composers, such as Ravel, Satie, Poulenc, Saint-Saëns, Fauré, Franck and Debussy, from the Fin de siecle. The collaboration follows the success of the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel and Flagey’s Brahms Festival in 2011, and the Chopin Festival in 2010.

With performances from world-renowned artists, such as Augustin Dumay, Gary Hoffman, Jean-Philippe Collard, and Gérard Causse on the 13th November, featuring the Brussels Philharmonic the following day, with the final concert on the 17th November presenting the Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, the Choeur Symphonique Octopus , and others to perform Faure’s Requiem, the festival promises to be a delight to all. Masters of Music Chapel along with young soloists in residence will also perform. In addition, a performance featuring excerpts from Saint-Saens’ Carnival of the Animals will be performed on the final day of the festival, to entertain and enchant both classical music newcomers, and with children.

To find out more about the festival, visit the Facebook page here.

The official website of the festival can be found here.

(Written on November 9, 2012 )

Tomorrow, the second annual Music@Malling festival opens, bringing together musicians to perform at historic venues around West Malling, Kent. Showcasing the work of contemporary composers, this year the festival includes works from Huw Watkins and Judith Bingham, alongside composers’ most admired by Charles Dickens, such as Mendelssohn, Mozart, and Chopin, in celebration of what would have been his 200^th birthday.

Music@Malling also features a Meet the Composers event, as well as  education and outreach programmes, enabling local school children to get involved. Opening the festival this Thursday, are performances of Saint-Saens’ Carnival of the Animals by Chamber Domaine, narrated by cellist Matthew Sharp, who will be performing throughout the festival. Children from local primary schools have contributed to the project through art and compositional tasks.

Ahead of the festival, conductor and festival founder Thomas Kemp featured on BBC Radio 3’s In Tune, with pianist Ben Dawson to perform Judith Bingham’s Shelley Dream, which will be performed at the festival. Cellist Richard Harwood also appeared on the show, with baritone Jonathan McGovern, and Matthew Sharp to discuss Music@Malling, and the connections West Malling shares with Charles Dickens. Contrasting with the music of Judith Bingham, In Tune opened with Mendelssohn’s Song Without Words,,which will be performed at the festival on Saturday 29^th.

For more information and tickets for Music@Malling, visit their website: http://musicatmalling.com/index.php

Photo credit Eric Richmond, Gramophone

 

 

(Written on September 26, 2012 )

This week, Jessica Duchen publishes the first part of her extended interview with Augustin Dumay. In it, Dumay discusses his career as both a solo violinist and conductor as well as his new CD; Camille Saint-Saëns: La muse et la poete, Concerto No. 1, Symphony No. 1. He also discusses his collaboration with Maria João Pires:

“immediately it was something extraordinary.”

Read the whole interview here. Look out for part 2 of Augustin Dumay’s interview next Monday.

(Written on August 22, 2012 )

What? Wimbledon Music Festival 2010 – Claire Martin and Sir Richard Rodney Bennett

Where? Wimbledon Synagogue, London

When? Tuesday 16th November, 19.30 (click to purchase tickets!)

The cabaret duo Claire Martin and Sir Richard Rodney Bennett will be performing at the Wimbledon Music festival, which is held from November 13th to 28th. This performance is for all you jazz lovers and for those of you who want to thank Sir Richard Rodney Bennett for composing scores for some legendary British films such as Four Weddings and a Funeral. He is also no stranger to appearing in jazz duos as he has demonstrated his skills as a jazz pianist and singer with Marion Montgomery, Dames cleo Laine, Mary Cleere and Annie Ross. Claire Martin is his latest partnership and since Sir Richard has been a New York resident since 1976, it will be a few years to have an opportunity like this arise again.

Extra:

As this instalment of Unmissables is for November 15th-30th it is worth suggesting that you check out the Wimbledon Music Festival, as mentioned above. It runs November 13th-28th and there are music events of all kinds for you to enjoy. It’s a good chance to socialise with your friends and to see a vast array of talent.

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What? Juice Vocal Ensemble

Where? Handel House Museum

When? Thursday 18th November, 18.30 (click to purchase tickets!)

The Handel House Museum has featured in the Unmissables before, it is an intimate setting and a must see for classical music lovers, as you will get to see inside the famous composers home. Juice Voice Ensemble (who performed at our Young Artists Showcase at The Forge) are a unique, experimental and most importantly fun, a cappella trio. Their musical leanings vary from world music, jazz, folk and pop, fused with their alternative-classical style performances. Their programme will no doubt be adventurous and innovative and they will also be premiering a new work by Composer-in-Residence, Duncan MacLeod.

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What? Badke Quartet - Hattori Foundation Rush Hour Recital

Where? 1901 Arts Club, SE1 8UE

When? 22nd November, 19:00 (click to purchase tickets!)

Hattori Foundation was established as an Educational Trust by the Hattori Family and granted charity status in 1992. The aim of the Foundation in the field of music is to encourage and assist exceptionally talented young instrumental soloists or chamber ensembles who are British Nationals or resident in the UK and whose talent and achievements give promise of an international career. After the concert guests are invited to join the artists in the Club’s exclusive bar.

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What? Youtuba- Tuba Quartet

Where? The 1901 Arts Club

When? Tuesday 23rd November, 19.30 (click to purchase tickets!)

The 1901 Arts Club is based in Waterloo, it is an intimate performance space which offers the audience a wonderful experience, as this is a Tuba quartet this will really be something to see in this space. YouTuba are  a highly acclaimed and young tuba quartet, founded in 2006 and are highly talented fun to watch. This concert will feature Saint-Saëns Carnival of the Animals, arranges by Hepple, with the recognisable pieces and the funny orientation of this ensemble, it will be hard to not continuously smile throughout this performance.

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What? Nicola Benedetti with the RPO - The Great Classics: Elgar, Bruch, Holst

Where? Royal Albert Hall

When? Thursday 25th November, 19:30 (click to purchase tickets!)

Although he composed several choral and orchestral works, Bruch’s fame today rests largely on one phenomenally successful piece – Violin Concerto No.1 in G minor. Richly melodic and sumptuously orchestrated, this enchanting work is beloved of performers and audiences alike. The Concerto is framed by two English masterworks – Elgar’s unashamedly romantic celebration of London and Holst’s extraordinary The Planets. The Suite embraces the martial, the magical and the mystical, with its terrifying visions of war in Mars and the rollicking Jupiter, which gave to the world the song I Vow to Thee, My Country.

(Written on October 11, 2010 )