London Concerts March - August 2013
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At a Glance
City of London Festival lunchtime concert 27 Mar, 1.05pm St Andrew Church, Holborn Finzi Prelude Holst St Paul’s Suite Elgar Elegy Britten Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings Hugh Brunt conductor Stephen Stirling horn Ronan Busfield tenor Poulenc the Poet 4 April, 7.30pm St Giles’ Cripplegate Poulenc Flute & Oboe Sonatas Milhaud Duo concertante Poulenc Elégie Milhaud Pastorale Michael Collins conductor/ clarinet & piano Karen Jones flute Daniel Bates oboe CLoSer: Poulenc & Paris 10 April, 7.30pm Village Underground, Shoreditch Poulenc Le bestiare Rhapsodie nègre Le bal masqué Satie Gymnopédies Nos.1-3 Stephen Layton conductor Antoine Françoise piano Derek Welton baritone
Poulenc: Paradise and Purgatory 11 April, 7.30pm Southwark Cathedral Poulenc Organ Concerto Poulenc Gloria Ravel Pavane Stephen Layton conductor Peter Wright organ Elizabeth Watts soprano Crash Bang Wallop! 11 May, 12.00pm Cadogan Hall Claire Bloor presenter Opera Holland Park 4 June – 3 August Holland Park See page 7 for full details The Great Enormo 15 June, 2.00pm Idea Store Whitechapel James Morgan & Juliette Pochin The Great Enormo James Morgan conductor Michael Rosen presenter
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Indicates £5 for young people aged 16-25 years old and students. We offer a limited number of £5 tickets to selected concerts. Register at cls.co.uk/CLS-FIVER for details. CLS FIVER
Crash Bang Wallop! 9 Mar, 12.00pm Cadogan Hall Stephen McNeff The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin Dominic Wheeler conductor Claire Bloor presenter Michelle Todd narrator
Indicates priority booking for City of London Sinfonia Friends (More information on page 11)
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Venues Cadogan Hall 5 Sloane Terrace, SW1X 9DQ Idea Store Whitechapel 321 Whitechapel Road, E1 1BU Opera Holland Park Holland Park, W14 8AA Southwark Cathedral London Bridge, SE1 9DA St Andrew Church, Holborn 5 St. Andrew Street, EC4A 3AB St Giles Cripplegate Fore Street, EC2Y 8DA St Paul’s Cathedral St Paul’s Churchyard, EC4M 8AD Village Underground 54 Holywell Lane, EC2A 3PQ
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“Fantastic musicians, atmosphere and venue” Audience Member
Our 2012/13 season continues in the capital with our mini festival in April, celebrating the life and times of one of the most charismatic and influential French composers of the 20th Century: Francis Poulenc. Half a century after his death, we’ll be performing many of Poulenc’s pivotal compositions and delving deeper into his colourful personal life, as well as focusing on the links between his music and religious beliefs. Michael Collins conducts a concert dedicated to Poulenc’s woodwind compositions at St Giles’ Cripplegate, featuring an array of solo and chamber performances from City of London Sinfonia’s principal players. Audiences will be transported back to 1920s Paris as our informal concert series CLoSer invites you into a 1920s style Parisian café; the beloved hangout of Poulenc and the movers and shakers of 1920s Paris. The Orchestra performs Poulenc’s stunning Gloria and his Organ Concerto at Southwark Cathedral, conducted by Stephen Layton and accompanied by the superb Holst Singers. BBC Radio Four’s Saturday Live host the Revd Richard Coles and novelist Anne Atkins also join us to consider the effect and
limitations both religion and sexuality have on artists and their work, in a live debate. For the youngsters our hugely popular family concert series Crash Bang Wallop! returns with two concerts at Cadogan Hall; a brass extravaganza in May, preceded by Beatrix Potter’s much loved Tale of Squirrel Nutkin in March. We then go in search of Mr Enormo Biggins’ Great Fun Park with the award winning children’s poet and author Michael Rosen, as part of Spitalfields Music’s Summer Festival in June. We return as resident orchestra to the capital’s favourite opera festival, Opera Holland Park, where we perform a deliciously diverse range of operas including Puccini’s Madame Butterfly, and lesser known gems such as Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari’s I gioielli della Madonna. Whether you are a regular City of London Sinfonia concert attender or considering joining us for the first time, we look forward to seeing you at a concert very soon.
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“We absolutely love Crash Bang Wallop! The activities and concert are fantastic and so well organised� Audience Member
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Crash Bang Wallop! Family Concert
Saturday 9 March Creative Activities 11.00am Concert 12.00 – 1.00pm Cadogan Hall
Adult: £8 Child: £6 Family: £24 020 7730 4500 cadoganhall.com Stephen McNeff The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin Dominic Wheeler conductor Claire Bloor presenter Michelle Todd presenter Join Squirrel Nutkin and his friends as they introduce you to the sounds of the Orchestra. Composer Stephen McNeff’s fun musical retelling of Beatrix Potter’s delightful classic children’s story offers youngsters a fantastic introduction to the world of classical music. Join our presenter Claire Bloor as she helps you spot the instruments and meet the music; there’ll also be plenty of opportunity for audience participation in the concert too. Pre concert activities include: - Meet the Musicians - Minute Maestro conducting - Musical Crafts - Percussion Zoo Concert is most suitable for children aged three to six years
City of London Festival lunchtime concert Wednesday 27 March 1.05 – 2.05pm St Andrew Church, Holborn Free, no booking required colf.org Finzi Prelude Holst St Paul’s Suite Elgar Elegy Britten Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings Hugh Brunt conductor Stephen Stirling horn Ronan Busfield tenor From the luscious, haunting movement of Finzi’s Prelude for String Orchestra, to the dancing folksong melodies of Holst’s vibrant St Paul’s Suite, this concert captures a snapshot of yesteryear Britain. Incorporating texts by the great British poets – Cotton, Tennyson, Blake, Jonson and Keats – Britten’s Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings is particularly evocative in its depiction of pastoral Britain. Tenor Ronan Busfield is joined by horn player, Stephen Stirling, for a performance of this unique song-cycle. In partnership with City of London Festival with support from the City of London.
In partnership with Cadogan Hall
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Thursday 4 April 7.30 – 9.30pm St Giles’ Cripplegate £20, £10 restricted view 020 7377 1362 spitalfieldsmusic.org.uk
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CLS FIVER
Poulenc
Poulenc the Poet
Poulenc Flute Sonata Milhaud Duo concertante Poulenc Trio Poulenc Elégie Poulenc Oboe Sonata Milhaud Pastorale for oboe, clarinet and bassoon Poulenc Sextet Michael Collins conductor/clarinet & piano Karen Jones flute Daniel Bates oboe Poulenc and Darius Milhaud were members of ‘Les Six’ a group of early 20th century French composers, who worked in Montparnasse and challenged the status quo of European classical music. Poulenc was particularly fond of woodwind instruments and his chamber music is full of clarity, simplicity, and grace, while Milhaud brought a natural elegance and charm to his compositions, combined with an incredible harmonic sophistication. Our Principal Conductor Michael Collins conducts as well as performs as soloist on both the clarinet and piano, alongside City of London Sinfonia woodwind principals.
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Wednesday 10 April 7.30 – 9.00pm Village Underground
CLS FIVER
£15 (includes one free drink) 020 7377 1362 spitalfieldsmusic.org.uk
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Poulenc Trois mouvements perpétuels Le bestiare Rhapsodie nègre Le bal masqué Satie Gymnopédies Nos.1-3 Stephen Layton conductor Antoine Françoise piano Derek Welton baritone Be transported back to 1920s Paris as our informal concert series CLoSer invites you into a 1920s Parisian café. With music inspired by jazz, music hall and the cabaret scene of the so-called “Crazy Years”, we explore the lighter, more humourous side to Poulenc’s music, and the short, atmospheric piano compositions of one of his greatest influences: Erik Satie. Doors and bar open 6.45pm. In partnership with Spitalfields Music, Forum for European Philosophy & Village Underground
Supported by Arts Council England and David & Molly Borthwick
Poulenc: Religion and Sexuality Thursday 11 April Southwark Cathedral 6.15 – 7.15pm Free, booking required 020 7377 1362 spitalfieldsmusic.org.uk Poulenc was a committed Roman Catholic as well as being openly homosexual, or as open as it was possible to be in the France of his lifetime. BBC Radio Four’s Saturday Live host the Revd Richard Coles and novelist Anne Atkins consider the effect and limitations both religion and sexuality have on artists and their work. In partnership with the Forum for European Philosophy
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Poulenc: Paradise and Purgatory
Thursday 11 April Southwark Cathedral 7.30 – 9.30pm £25, £15, £5 restricted view 020 7377 1362 spitalfieldsmusic.org.uk CLS FIVER
CLoSer: Poulenc & Paris
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Poulenc Les animaux modèles Organ Concerto Ravel Pavane pour une infante défunte Poulenc Gloria Stephen Layton conductor Peter Wright organ Elizabeth Watts soprano Holst Singers Poulenc’s dormant Catholicism was reawakened in 1936 and had a profound influence on him as a composer. Much of his work thereafter was liturgical in nature and moved away from the irreverence of his youth towards greater depth and meaning. His Organ Concerto is hugely powerful and forbidding, whilst being poetic and emotional at turns; his Gloria is a mixture of solemnity and mischievous exuberance, both in contrast to Ravel’s nostalgic and beautiful miniature Pavane. Supported by City of London Sinfonia Friends
Open rehearsal for friends on 8 April
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Crash Bang Wallop! Family Concert
Saturday 11 May Creative Activities 11.00am Concert 12.00 – 1.00pm Cadogan Hall Adult: £8 Child: £6 Family: £24 020 7730 4500 cadoganhall.com Brass Extravaganza Claire Bloor presenter Come and meet the brass section of City of London Sinfonia as our presenter Claire Bloor introduces young listeners to the noisiest and loudest members of the orchestra! Pre concert creative activities: - Meet the Musicians - Minute Maestro conducting - Musical Crafts - Percussion Zoo Concert is most suitable for children aged 3 –6 years. In partnership with Cadogan Hall
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Opera Holland Park
Fri 4 June – Sun 3 August Holland Park Gardens Booking opens in April 2013 0300 999 1000 operahollandpark.com Mascagni Cavalleria rusticana Double Bill with Pagliacci 4, 7, 11, 15, 19, 22, 26, 28 June at 7.30pm Leoncavallo Pagliacci Double Bill with Cavalleria rusticana 4, 7, 11, 15, 19, 22, 26, 28 June at 7.30pm Puccini Madama Butterfly 8, 12, 14 (The Christine Collins Young Artists performance), 16 (matinee 2pm), 20, 24*, 29, June, 2, 4 July at 7.30pm *Charity Gala Bizet Les pêcheurs de perles 25, 27 June, 3, 6, 9, 11, 13 July at 7.30pm Donizetti L’elisir d’amore 16, 18, 20, 24, 26, 30 July, 1, 3 August at 7.30pm Wolf-Ferrari I gioielli della Madonna 23, 25, 27, 31 July, 2 August at 7.30pm Please note all performances finish between 10.00 – 10.30pm. We are delighted to be returning as resident orchestra at the capital’s ever popular Opera Holland Park for our tenth season. This season sees six operas performed in rep, staged undercover in the beautiful setting of the gardens of Holland Park.
The Great Enormo Orchestral Family Concert Eucharists Saturday 15 June Creative Activities 1.15pm Concert 2.00 – 3.00pm Idea Store Whitechapel
St Paul’s Cathedral The Orchestra accompanies the cathedral choir for orchestral Eucharists every Sunday in July.
Free, booking required 020 7377 1362 spitalfieldsmusic.org.uk James Morgan & Juliette Pochin The Great Enormo, a Kerfuffle: in B flat for orchestra and wasps Words by Michael Rosen James Morgan conductor Michael Rosen presenter If you go down to the library today, you’re sure of a great surprise! Nestling in the Children’s Library at Idea Store Whitechapel will be musicians from City of London Sinfonia and awardwinning author Michael Rosen, bringing you a brand new musical adventure. Families will timetravel through a thousand years to help Michael provide a theme tune for Mr Enormo Biggins’ Great Fun Park. Pre concert creative activities: - Meet the Musicians - Minute Maestro conducting Concert is most suitable for children aged 5 - 11 years old. In partnership with Spitalfields Music
Supported by Aldgate and Allhallows Barking Exhibition Foundation
dress rehearsal tickets for Gold Friends & Benefactors
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Coming Next... Hot Tunes, Cold War This mini festival explores the influence of jazz on composers from across the Iron Curtain including Britten, Copland and Shostakovitch, as well as considering the impact of the politics of the era on art and wider culture. Events include: • A New Babylon: a screening of the 1930s Russian silent film alongside Shostakovich’s cabaret and jazz inspired score • Music from across the Iron Curtain including exploring the relationship between the three composers most closely associated with the Cold War: Britten, Copland and Shostakovitch • Woody Herman/Benny Goodman: music for clarinet and big band forces by composers including Stravinsky, Gershwin, Weill, Bernstein and Shostakovich.
Music from across the Iron Curtain Friday 27 September, 7.30pm - 9.30pm Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre £28, £21, £15, £10 (concessions available) 0844 875 0073 southbankcentre.co.uk
Booking opens 8 Feb
Copland Clarinet Concerto Britten (arr.Matthews) Movements for a Clarinet Concerto: Movement One Britten Serenade for Tenor, Horn & Strings Shostakovich Symphony Number 14 Exploring music from either side of the Iron Curtain; Benny Goodman’s jazz, the shadow of World War Two and Soviet era politics. Free, pre concert talk at 6pm on the impact of the Cold War on European and American cultural identity. In partnership with the Forum for European Philosophy Part of the Rest is Noise Festival in association with Southbank Centre
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Experience More: Join Us! City of London Sinfonia Friends are an essential part of our charity and contribute significantly towards our transformational programme of musical experiences. Friends membership benefits include: • Priority booking and information • Invitations to open rehearsals, receptions and season launch events • Opportunities to meet the musicians • Regular updates on City of London Sinfonia activities • Invitations to attend recording sessions (Benefactors only) and Opera Holland Park dress rehearsals (Gold Friends/Benefactors)
Membership starts from just £4.16 a month Find out more information here cls.co.uk/supportus
“I really feel part of the family - the opportunity to attend open rehearsals has given me a real insight into what it takes to deliver world class performances” Elizabeth Leah, benefactor cls.co.uk 10
City of London Sinfonia creates dynamic, and engaging musical experiences for people of all ages and backgrounds. Under the artistic leadership of Stephen Layton (Artistic Director & Principal Conductor) and Michael Collins (Principal Conductor), the Orchestra performs throughout the UK, with regular appearances at all the major London venues and churches. The Orchestra has been resident at the capital’s popular festival Opera Holland Park since 2004 and is a regular guest at major UK festivals. Join the mailing list to be the first to find out the latest information on all our concerts and events. Sign up at
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4th Floor Piano House, 9 Brighton Terrace, London, SW9 8DJ 020 7621 2800 info@cls.co.uk cityoflondonsinfonia CityLdnSinfonia
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Programme details are correct at time of going to press. City of London Sinfonia reserves the right to alter the artists and/or programmes at any time. Photography: Benjamin Ealovega, James Berry, Anna Jessiman & Clare Nicholson Design: designbyjump.com