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A Musical Feast for 2018

March 10, 2018

The snow has melted, it’s getting warmer and spring is finally on the way. And with a full program of wonderful concerts from Bath Recitals there’s plenty to look forward to in 2018…

This year we are presenting two distinct strands with a magnificent Baroque Series featuring the welcome return of the fantastic Oxford Bach Soloists and Musica Poetica. Alongside this will run the Recital Series with concerts from the world of opera, a classical string trio and a fascinating event commemorating World War I.

So here is what is coming up in 2018…

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The King’s Musick

February 26, 2018

Bath Recitals launches a Baroque Season of concerts for 2018 on 14 April at St Michael’s Church in Broad Street with a welcome return from the Oxford Bach Soloists and a spectacular evening of Baroque music from the English courts…

Following their recent Christmas Baroque sell-out concert, English Spring Baroque will bring us music by composers such as Henry Purcell and Mathew Cooke alongside some favourites including Handel’s Anthem for the coronation of George II Let thy hand be strengthened as well as John Blow’s uplifting Ode for the coronation of James II Behold O God, our Defender.

The Old Palace of Whitehall by Hendrik Danckerts

The Orchestra of the Oxford Bach Soloists play on period instruments while the singers are from the the next generation of young vocalists.

The Oxford Bach Soloists are conducted by one of the most versatile conductors of his generation, multiple award-winning choral director, Tom Hammond-Davies.

Amongst his many accolades, Tom was awarded 1st prize in the Birmingham Conservatoire Sir Michael Beech Conducting Award and 1st prize in the Three Choirs Festival Conducting Award.

ENGLISH SPRING BAROQUE

Saturday 14 April 7.30pm
St Michael’s Church, Broad Street, Bath

Tickets at £15 – £16 are available now.

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Henry ‘Captain’ Cook O Lord, thou hast searched me out
Pelham Humphrey By the Waters of Babylon
Matthew Locke The Oxford Ode
Henry Purcell Remember not, Lord our Offences
John Blow Ode for the coronation of James II Behold O God, our Defender
George Handel Anthem for the coronation of George II Let thy hand be strengthened
Henry Purcell Dido and Aeneus ( excerpts)
Carbonelli Violin Sonata
Henry Purcell O dive custos & Thou knowest, Lord
Henry Purcell Birthday Ode for Queen Mary Come ye Sons of Art (excerpts)

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Join us for Christmas Baroque

November 21, 2017

Our 2017 season draws to a close on 16 December with a real Christmas feast in the splendid surroundings of St Michael’s Church in Broad Street for a concert of Christmas Baroque favourites performed by the Oxford Bach Soloists conducted by Tom Hammond-Davies.

St Michael’s Church in Broad Street is a fantastic venue for this event. Its recent restoration which has opened up this historic building into a spacious, comfortable and beautiful space – just perfect a memorable evening of wonderful music presented on period instruments by an orchestra and singers of the highest calibre.

St Michael’s Church

In this vibrant programme we shall have excerpts from Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s Magnificat and Purcell’s Behold, I bring you glad tidings as well as the delightful Es ist ein Ros entsprungen by Praetorius and Bach’s famous Air on a G string.

‘Absolutely perfect in every way’
– Oxford Mail

All this will be performed by ‘top-drawer’ instrumentalists and singers from the next generation of young soloists including:

Multiple award-winning choral director Tom Hammond-Davies is one of the most versatile conductors of his generation. Founder and Artistic Director of the Blenheim Singers and of the Oxford Bach Soloists, whose mission is to perform the complete vocal works of JS Bach over the next 12 years in Oxford.

Violinist Bojan Čičić will lead the orchestra and perform as soloist in Corelli’s magnificent Christmas Concerto. Bojan is Director and Soloist with the Academy of Ancient Music, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, and the King’s Consort. He is also Professor of Baroque Violin at the Royal College of Music. His latest CD won 5 star reviews from The Guardian, BBC Radio 3 Record Review and Classical Music.

Among the fabulous line up of singers are mezzo-soprano Esther Brazil sings with John Eliot Gardiner’s Monteverdi Choir and the English Baroque Soloists as well as the Dunedin Consort. And soprano Elspeth Piggott is a member and regular soloist with The Sixteen and I Fagiolini.

Countertenor William Purefoy who performs in concerts, recitals and operas internationally following his 2008 debut at New York’s Carnegie Hall. He is a regular soloist with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment Hanover Band, The English Concert and the The Sixteen.

‘Artistic perfection … choral sound at its best!’
– President of the Bavarian Music Council

CHRISTMAS BAROQUE

Saturday 16 December 2017 7.30pm
St Michael’s Church, Broad Street, Bath

Programme

Corelli Christmas Concerto
Handel Messiah (excepts)
Pretorious Es ist ein Ros entsprungen
Bach Magnificat (excepts)
Purcell Behold, I bring you glad tidings
Bach Air on a G string BWV 1068
Bach Wachet auf (excerpts)

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Coming Next: The Dulcinea String Quartet

October 6, 2017

We are looking forward to String Quartet playing at its finest from The Dulcinea String Quartet at our next concert on 11 November. Find out more about the next musical voyage of discovery from Bath Recitals.

The Dulcinea bring us string quartet playing at its finest from the classical elegance of Haydn and Schubert though the romanticism of Mendelssohn and to the music of the popular American composer Samuel Barber.

The Quartet recently returned from a successful third tour of Japan featuring a new commission for String Quartet and Shamisen visiting Tokyo, Aomori, Ibaraki, Hikone and Yokohama.

This video tells the story of their 2015 Japan tour and gives a great insight into their dynamic musicality:

DULCINEA STRING QUARTET
Saturday 11 November 2017 7.30pm
Old Theatre Royal, Bath

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Composers have traditionally been celebrated on postage stamps from countries around the world. Here is a selection featuring the composers in the forthcoming programme from the Dulcinea String Quartet:

Hungary: Josef Haydn (1732-1809)

Austria: Franz Schubert (1797-1828)

Vatican City: Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy (1809-1847)

USA: Samuel Barber (1910-1981)

Formed in 2008 at the Royal Academy of Music, the Dulcinea String Quartet performs internationally and has benefited from masterclasses with the Wihan, Skampa, Vanbrugh, Henschel and Chilingirian Quartets, receiving coaching from eminent musicians such as Thomas Brandis, Martin Outram, Garfield Jackson, Hartmut Rohde, Ian Humphries and Richard Deakin.

This concert is presented with the kind support of the Richard Carne Trust.

Around the world in 120 minutes

September 17, 2017

The next Bath Recitals concert on 30 September takes us on an exciting musical journey of discovery around the globe with Music Around the World.

Andrey Lebedev is one of the most successful young guitarists of his generation, while Bronte Hudnott performs as guest principal flute with the Philharmonia and Halle orchestras.

Flautist Bronte Hudnott and classical guitarist Andrey Lebedev

This programme will include de Falla’s Canciones Populares Espanolas – a gem of the Spanish repertoire infusing traditional song with flamenco, and Australian Philip Houghton’s evocative impression of the outback.

Colourful music by the Brazilian Villa-Lobos contrasts with Japanese composer Takemitsu’s mystical and evocative Towards the Sea. Robert Beazer’s Mountain Songs takes us to his native Appalachians while in Histoire du Tango Piazzolla transports us to the tango and the bordelos of Buenos Aires.

MUSIC AROUND THE WORLD

30 September 2017 7.30pm
Old Theatre Royal, Bath

PROGRAMME

Claude Debussy Syrinx
Maurice Ravel Habanera
Heitor Villa Lobos Two pieces
Philip Houghton From the Dreaming
Toru Takemitsu Towards the Sea
Robert Beazer Mountain Songs
Manuel de Falla Canciones Populares Espanolas
Astor Piazzolla Histoire du Tango

Also don’t forget you SAVE £10 if you book for the next three concerts from Bath Recitals. Coming up we also have the Dulcinea String Quartet on 11 November and Chistmas Baroque on 16 December.

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Also, remember you can join our popular Front Row members scheme for just £20 – and get 16 months for the price of 12 if you book this September.

FRONT ROW
• Priority seats
• Free programmes
• Special ‘in conversation’ events
• Annual member’s reception
• Supporting young musicians

An invitation to our summer party in Bath

August 18, 2017

There is still time to accept our special invitation to join us for our Summer Party at the Old Theatre Royal on Saturday 26 August for Musica Poetica’s 17th and 18th century whirlwind tour of Europe with Baroque Tales.

And here are FIVE GREAT REASONS why Baroque Tales promises to be a very special evening in the Bath Recitals calendar:

1. Wonderful Music
Including Rameau, Handel, Cavalli and Purcell

2. Complementary baroque-themed cocktail
Free welcome drink and a range of drinks available at the bar

3. Free canapés
A selection of ‘platters from the period’

4. Five Great Musicians

5. A unique evening’s entertainment
Presenting early music in the context of the period

“An early-instrument ensemble of exceptional quality.”
Opera Britannica

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With kind support from the Odin Charitable Trust

Time to enjoy music with a ‘twist’

July 4, 2017

Join us for Baroque Tales on 26 August – Music with a TWIST – our summer musical party with Baroque-themed cocktails and canapés…

This creative young chamber ensemble are dedicated to bringing early music to new audiences in extraordinary venues. Musica Poetica have been taking London by storm with their monthly recital series celebrating the music of a little known composer – Franz Tunder – who had a huge influence on the music of JS Bach.

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But there’s more than just the music: this early music group also creates a unique evening’s entertainment presenting early music in the context of the period.

“An early-instrument ensemble of exceptional quality.” – Opera Britannica

On 26 August Musica Poetica take us on a 17th and 18th century whirlwind tour of Europe with Baroque Tales bringing some of this wonderful music to life in a new way. The five core members of Musica Poetica present a line up of violin, cello/viola da gamba, keyboards, soprano and bass-baritone vocals.

Your ticket includes a complimentary Baroque-themed cocktail with canapés to ensure our summer musical party goes off with a swing.

PROGRAMME

Saturday 26 August 2017
Old Theatre Royal, Orchard Street, Bath

From France …
the flamboyant music of  Leclair and Rameau

To Italy …
and the musical delights of  Monteverdi and Vivaldi

To Germany …
and the baroque world of Tunder and Bach  and to England …
and the courtly elegance of Purcell and Handel

With kind support from the Odin Trust

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Schubert’s Great Piano Trios

June 16, 2017

Alongside the string quartet, the Piano Trio must rank as one of the most popular and successful chamber music forms from the classical period onwards.

It was Mozart who is credited with transforming the piano plus solo instrument sonata into the balanced trio with piano, violin and cello. Haydn also made his mark on the genre. In addition, home music-making made the piano trio an ideal solution for arrangements of larger works. Beethoven, for example transcribed his first two symphonies for piano trio and also wrote two original sets piano trios.

Schubert first dabbled with the idea of the piano trio form when he just 15 but it was not until the last year of his life in 1827 that he finally finished his first piano trio – the Trio No. 1 in B-flat major D.898.

But it was his epic Trio No. 2 in E-flat major D.929 at almost 50 minutes in length, and one of the last compositions he was to complete, which really shows the genius of Schubert in this genre.

Fame was to come to the main theme of the second movement when it was used in Stanley Kubrick’s 1975 film Barry Lyndon. It has also been use in several other films including The Hunger, Crimson Tide, The Piano Teacher, John Adams and The Mechanic.

It was composed to celebrate the engagement of Schubert’s school-friend Josef von Spaun and was among the few of his late compositions Schubert heard performed in his lifetime. Its first private performance was given by Carl Maria von Bocklet on the piano, violinist Ignaz Schuppanzigh, and cellist Josef Linke.

And this is the work performed in Bath Grand Pump Room on 18 June by the Linos Trio. Following the tradition of the piano trio as a medium for performing arrangements of the great classics the concert also includes the Linos’s own arrangement of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice by Paul Dukas and Sally Beamish’s fabulous arrangement of Debussy’s atmospheric La Mer.

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Bath Recitals acknowledged at Civic Reception

June 4, 2017

The valuable work of Bath Recitals has been acknowledged by The Right Worshipful The Mayor of Bath, Cllr Paul Crossley at a Civic Reception last week.

Paul Crossley

In his speech in his last official role as Mayor of Bath he recognised Bath Recital’s long-standing role in providing an important platform for young professional musicians from around the world.

Nearly 30 of our most valued friends and supporters attended the event which was held in the Mayor’s historic parlour – a treasure-house of 800 years of Bath’s history. The mayor’s officer, Anthony Martin explained that Cllr Paul Crossley was the 789th mayor of Bath in an unbroken succession which stretched back as far as 1230.

In thanking the Mayor for his long-standing support of Bath Recitals, Chairman David Gregory reminded those present of the origin of the organisation which dates back to 1981. Then in the form of the Bath Georgian Festival Society it gave an early platform to now-famous artists such as oboist Nick Daniels and pianist Julius Drake.

Meet the Linos Piano Trio

June 4, 2017

Just a few weeks to go until we welcome the Linos Piano Trio. to Bath with German/Brazillian violinist Konrad Elias-Trostman, Russian/French cellist Vladimir Waltham and Thai/British pianist Prach Boondiskulchok. Let’s find out a bit more about these international musicians…

First Prize and Audience Prize winner of the Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition 2015, the Linos Piano Trio has achieved recognition as an extremely dynamic and creative young chamber ensemble.

“a slow-burning, gripping performance, the playing rich and passionate.” – The Strad

Prach Boondiskulchok (piano)

Thai-British pianist Prach Boondiskulchok studied piano and composition at the Yehudi Menuhin School and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama as a Scholar of Princess Galyani Vadhana. A Park Lane Group Young Musician in three consecutive years, Prach has performed at many prestigious venues and festivals around the world including the Royal Festival Hall, St Johns Smith Square, Schoenberg Centre (Vienna), Thailand Cultural Centre (Bangkok), Viana Festival (Portugal) and the Birdfoot Chamber Music Festival (USA).

Konrad Elias-Trostmann (violin)

Born of German and Brazilian parents, Konrad grew up in London and graduated from the Royal Academy of Music completing his Masters at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln in 2016. He was recently accepted on the Postgraduate course to work with Rainer Schmidt at the Mozarteum University Salzburg. A devoted chamber musician, recitalist and orchestral musician, Konrad has worked with some of the world’s greatest conductors including Sir Simon Rattle, Sir Colin Davis and Antonio Pappano.

Vladimir Waltham (cello)

Berlin-based cellist Vladimir Waltham was born into a family of musicians in the South of France and now divides his time between solo, chamber, orchestral and teaching on both modern and baroque cello, as well as various other early instruments. Notable successes include receiving the Audience Prize at the 2013 York Early Music Competition and his Hieronymus String Quartet winning the Cavatina Intercollegiate String Quartet Prize and Audience Prize.

Join us at Bath’s spectacular Pump Room on Sunday 18 June for a concert of music as you will never have heard it before with some fantastic new arrangements of La Mer and the Sorcerer’s Apprentice pitted against Schubert’s phenomenal Second Piano Trio.

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