Rhapsody in Blue in Belper July 14,7.30pm

If you enjoy good choral music come to this lovely concert – Mitchell Holland is a super conductor who has really inspired the Belper Singers! The piano is a super small Young Chang grand which was donated, brandnew, to the Strutts Centre who are taking extremely good care of it! So from Schubert I go straight to Gershwin. I rememeber finding a copy of this solo version of the Rhapsody in Blue in a second hand music shop in Tottenham Court Road thinking at the time that one needed a big orchestra to perform this piece…but no! He wrote this solo version  himself and it is an absolutely super piece! Not far round the corner (in fact we have the first run through 4 days before this concert) is Shostakovitch 2nd piano concerto which will happen with the Derby Chamber Orchestra on September 23 as part of the Wirksworth Festival.

Schubert in the Cathedral, Friday 16 June at 1.00 -1.45 pm – FREE

The poster below says it all – I am playing this piece (Schubert’s wonderful last sonata in B flat major, D960)  for the first time again after 30 years because I knew I would be in the right frame of mind for it – after 2 very busy festivals of a different sort I wanted a calm and wide piece I could really sink into, with the mood carrying me forward…I have also missed very much playing a ‘Lieder’ recital with one of my wonderful singer colleagues in Belper Music Festival as in previous years. The attendance for those had just been too poor to justify putting another one on. But what better excuse to play piano music by Schubert, the master of songwriters, instead? So there is my reasoning – and I have enjoyed every minute of practising this wonderful music. It is passion with depth and tenderness – just a wonderful combination. If you are coming do tell me what you thought…

8 hands in Methodist Church Spondon on Wed June 7th, 7.30pm

If you belong to our beloved audience that were dissappointed by our concert for ‘Music@Duffield’ being cancelled due to a faulty electric cable in the ground then fear not:There is another event, ‘Music for a Summer evening’ coming up in nearby Spondon Methodist Church. Jane Ford, one of our piano quartet will also play some of her pieces from a recent recording of music by John McCabe, AND she will perform on the harp – but there will be 2 half hour slots by the Derby Piano Quartet…we can’t wait! And most importantly: there will be STRAWBERRIES AND CREAM!!!

Tickets: £7.50 – available from Margaret Bools 674940 or Derek Turton 671427

 

Derby Arts Festival Celebration Concert Guildhall Theatre, Tue 23 May, 7.30pm

Derby Arts Festival 2017 has now come to the end, but the crowning glory will be the celebration concert on Tuesday 23 May at 7.30pm in the Guildhall Theatre, Market Place Derby, with tickets (on the door) a mere £5. You will be treated to the best of the talent of the region! Hope to see you there!

Last Night of the Proms on Saturday 20 May in St. Peter’s, Belper, with Karen England…

After a fun filled and packed festival I am now looking forward to the Last Night…with wonderful Karen and two super local choirs…and on Friday an organ recital with Tom Corfield, supreme Derby Organist. Do log on to the belperartsfestival.org/music website to find out about their programmes! hope to see you there!