This year’s International Wimbledon Music Festival celebrates ‘ A Musical World Fair’, with musicians from across the globe flocking to South West London for a feast of music-making in November.

Festival highlights include a new production of Stravinsky’s Petrushka, combining a performance from Festival regular Mikhail Rudy with puppetry and live projects.

Singers feature prominently in this year’s Festival, which opens with a Purcell Pageant with the Academy Choir and Baroque Orchestra and soloists Susan Bickley, Malin Christensson, Njabolo Madlala and Robin Blaze performing Dido and Aeneas. In addition, Mark Padmore will perform Schubert’s Schwanengesang with pianist Simon Lepper, Cardinall’s Musick perform ‘Music of Spain’s Golden Age’ and Christine Brewer performs with Roger Vignoles.

Celebrating the Festival’s international partners and co-comissioning programme, cellist Zuill Bailey (Artistic Director of the Pro Musica Festival in El Paso, Texas and of the Sitka Summer Music Festival in Alaska) performs with Piers Lane (Artistic Director of the Australian Festival of Chamber Music). Together these festivals have commissioned an exciting new work from Benjamin Wallfisch –  Chopin’s Waterloo - inspired by the paintings and sculptures of the French artist Arman, which will premiere on November 24th.

The Festival’s musical offering also boasts a performance from Alina Ibragimova and her father Rinat, performances by the Nash Ensemble, New Zealand String Quartet, the Rosamunde Trio, Cristina Ortiz, and the Kopelman Quartet.

In addition, this year’s festival sees an exciting performance of Jessica Duchen‘s play: A Walk Through The End Of Time performed by Henry Goodman and Penelope Wilton. The play, which explores the ideas behind Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time, as well as the circumstances under which it was composed, is followed by a retelling of the extraordinary story of The Woman’s Orchestra of Auschwitz, told by Anita Lasker-Wallfisch, who survived it.

For full programme information please visit the International Wimbledon Music Festival website and become a fan on Facebook.

(Written on May 25, 2012 )

With the grand final of the Choir of the Year competition fast approaching, WildKat PR is getting into the vocal spirit! We’ve come up with a selection of not-to-be-missed vocal and choral concerts which are taking place in London in the next couple of weeks.

What? South American connections: Music by South American composers and their European contemporaries

Where? Wigmore Hall

When? Thursday 25th November, 7.30pm

The celebrated Colombian soprano Juanita Lascarro joins the Academy of Ancient Music in a concert which features some fascinating vocal music.  The contrast between national styles will be explored in this programme of 18^th Century South American and European works, including music by Lobo de Mesquita, Zipoli and Torrejón y Velasco.  Ticket prices range from £18 to £32.  If you buy two or more tickets for this concert, you will receive the Wigmore Hall Live’s Academy of Ancient Music CD absolutely free of charge!

Where? Barbican Hall

When? Friday 26th November, 7.00pm

Oliver Knussen conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in this exciting concert of choral works inspired by the 19^th Century poet Emily Dickinson, which features two exciting premieres.  The concert will open with the European premiere of Sean Shepherd’s orchestral showpiece ‘Wanderlust’.  This will be followed by Copland’s ‘Eight poems of Emily Dickinson’ featuring the soloist Clare Booth.  Finally, Susan Bickley will appear as the soloist in the world premiere of the revised version of Julian Anderson’s ‘Heaven is Shy of Earth’, a work praised by the Guardian for evoking a ‘shimmering soundworld’.  Ticket prices range from £8 to £24.  Ticket holders are also invited to attend a pre-concert talk in the Fountain Room at 6pm. Since places are limited for this event, it’s a good idea to arrive early to avoid disappointment.

Where? Christ Church Spitalfiels

When? Friday 3rd December 2010 19:00

Nonsuch Singers, described by The Times as “one of London’s best chamber choirs”, has a reputation for innovative programmes, high-quality singing and communicative performances. The choir’s considerable repertoire encompasses a cappella and accompanied works from the Renaissance to the present day, and the choir performs regularly with many of the UK’s leading period instrumental ensembles and finest young vocal soloists. In an intimate venue, this performance sees the choir performing the epic Handel’s Messiah.

Where? Crispin Place, Spitalfields E1

When? Tuesday 14th December 12:30pm – FREE EVENT!

This event is going to be an extremely friendly concert with a young, vibrant feel. Join 120 young musicians from Harry Gosling, Hague, Virginia and Shapla primary schools to celebrate the inauguration of Tower Voices. Together with Spitalfields Singers and THAMES Saturday Music Centre Community Choir, enjoy the sounds of winter in this celebration of all things shimmering and frosty. Come and watch for a FREE lunchtime concert!

(Written on November 22, 2010 )