Concerts & Events
AUTUMN 17/18
WELCOME Since we opened our doors Saffron Hall has sold over 90,000 tickets and reached 19,000 young people. We proudly continue to work closely with many excellent local groups, as well as our outstanding Resident Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia.
Shared Institute
I am sure you would like to join me in sending a huge thank you to Yellow Car Charitable Trust (YCCT) who, in partnership with Saffron Walden County High School, made the funds available to build Saffron Hall and have generously supported the Saffron Hall programme for the last I would like to take the opportunity three years. to thank our ever-growing army We are now busily engaged in of world-class artists, musicians, making the hall sustainable practitioners, and educators who without YCCT funding. If you make Saffron Hall such a special are able to do so, please consider place to experience the arts. supporting us by becoming a This season we are announcing member, or donating via our and selling concerts from Changing Lives campaign. September to the end of January, Together, we can keep Saffron and will present our spring Hall a place where everyone can concerts in November. I am engage with the arts. delighted to introduce our first Featured Ensemble, the Orchestra We look forward to welcoming of the Age of Enlightenment, and you to Saffron Hall soon. looking forward to the spring, we will be revealing our first Featured Angela Dixon Chief Executive Composer, our next dance project, and our first Artist in Residence.
FOYER JAZZ CLUB It’s Friday night – and where better to unwind than in the unique atmosphere of the Saffron Hall foyer, with its cabaret vibe, lively bar and sizzling street food? Plus, of course, the special Saffron Hall ingredient: great live music from local groups and the best rising stars of the jazz world. Tickets sell fast, so be sure to book early – then join us to get the weekend off to a truly swinging start!
Luca Stoll Quartet (Sax, Piano, Bass, Drums) 6 October
Beyond cantaloupe with Simon Brown quartet 8 December
Steve Fishwick Rebecca Nash with Quartet (Trumpet, sara colman Guitar, Bass, Drums) 12 January 3 November All jazz clubs start at 8pm
Tickets £13.50 Presented by Saffron Hall
Götterdämmerung Sunday 17 September 2pm Saffron Opera Group Orchestra Saffron Opera Group’s Ring Saffron Opera Group Chorus Cycle, hailed as one of the UK’s Michael Thorne conductor most ambitious and successful Wagnerian events of the Elaine McKrill Brünnhilde last decade (‘transcendent... Julian Close Hagen spellbinding’ The Guardian), Jonathan Stoughton Siegfried now comes to a triumphant Paul Carey Jones Gunther conclusion in Götterdämmerung. Cara McHardy Gutrune Internationally renowned Deborah Humble Waltraute singers join forces with dazzling Nicholas Folwell Alberich superstars of tomorrow, and Emma Curtis 1st Norn Wagner specialist Michael Harriet Williams 2nd Norn Thorne conducts a superb handCatrin Aur 3rd Norn picked orchestra and chorus. Gail Pearson Woglinde Epic, exhilarating, unmissable. Victoria Simmons Wellgunde Niamh Kelly Floßhilde Wagner Götterdämmerung
Tickets £25–£35 Presented by Saffron Opera Group
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment are Saffron Hall’s Featured Ensemble for the 2017–18 season.
The Judas Passion Sunday 24 September 7.30pm
Christmas Oratorio Thursday 21 December 7.30pm
In The Judas Passion, composer Sally Beamish and screenwriter David Harsent retell the story of the crucifixion from the perspective of Judas Iscariot. This is the world premiere of what is sure to be one of the Sally Beamish The Judas Passion most important choral works (world premiere) of our time: a piece that asks David Harsent libretto the question – can the ultimate betrayal ever be forgiven?
Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge Stephen Layton conductor Anna Dennis soprano Helen Charlston mezzo soprano Gwilym Bowen tenor Laurence Williams bass-baritone
Tickets £16 – £32 Presented by Saffron Hall Co-commissioned by Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and Chorale & the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Tickets £16–£35 Presented by Saffron Hall
Choir of the Age of Enlightenment Nicholas McGegan conductor Julia Doyle Mary Brenden Gunnell Judas James Newby Christ
Bach Christmas Oratorio, parts 1, 2, 3 & 6
Jauchzet, frohlocket, auf, preiset die Tage – Celebrate, rejoice, rise up and praise these days! And when the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment’s trumpets blaze out, and the Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge shouts with joy, you’ll know that the festive season has truly arrived. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio is so inspired that you don’t need to be a believer to respond to it. Refresh your spirit this Christmas.
©Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
city of birmingham symphony orchestra Saturday 30 September 7.30pm
Sponsored by Saffron Building Society
Around the World in 60 Minutes: A concert for families Sunday 1 October 3pm
Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla conductor Xavier de Maistre harp Marie-Christine Zupancic flute
Mahler’s Fourth Symphony begins like Mozart and ends with a child’s idea of heaven. You can’t have missed the buzz around the CBSO and Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla, and Mahler’s gentlest symphony will make the perfect showcase for her artistry. The climax of the concert features harpist Xavier de Maistre and flautist Marie-Christine Zupancic in Mozart’s exquisite Flute & Harp Concerto.
Saffron Walden Symphony Orchestra Richard Hull conductor James Mayhew narrator & illustrator
Sibelius The Swan of Tuonela Mozart Flute & Harp Concerto in c major k.299 Mahler Symphony No.4
Tickets £24–£55 Presented by Saffron Hall
CBSO with Mirga GražinytėTyla. ©Benjamin Ealovega
Tickets Children £6 (age 4+) / Adults £12 Presented by Words in Walden Suitable for ages 4+
Up, up and away on our world tour of gorgeous classical music inspired by every continent (except Antarctica – too cold!). As the orchestra plays, James Mayhew creates his beautiful illustrations on stage, capturing the musical spirit of each land we visit.
English Touring OPERA Bach: Mass in B Minor Sunday 8 October 7pm
Rameau: Dardanus Friday 27 October 7.30pm
Handel: Giulio Cesare Saturday 28 October 4pm
Jonathan Peter Kenny conductor Granta Chorale The Old Street Band
Dr Jonathan Williams conductor Douglas Rintoul director
Jonathan Peter Kenny conductor James Conway director
Bach Mass in b minor
Rameau Dardanus
Handel Giulio Cesare
Following the extraordinary success of St John Passion in 2016, English Touring Opera are again collaborating with choirs all over England to perform Bach’s Mass in b minor. Words can hardly express the wonder that is this musical act of faith.
ETO presents the first UK performance of the 1744 version of Dardanus, Jupiter’s son and lover of Iphise, the daughter of his enemy Teucer. A ravishing tale of love in war, containing Rameau’s finest music, including the stunning Lieux funestes.
A thrilling story of passion and revenge, Giulio Cesare is Handel’s most celebrated opera. Featuring a clash of titans on stage, beautiful music and strong characters, it is today presented in one intriguing performance. Sung in Italian with surtitles.
Top: Dardanus. ©Keith Pattison Bottom: Giulio Cesare. ©Jane Hobson
Sung in French with surtitles.
Tickets £8–£20 Presented by Saffron Hall in association with English Touring Opera
Tickets £18–£55 Presented by Saffron Hall in association with English Touring Opera
This performance will end at approximately 10.20pm with a 90 minute supper break.
Tickets £24–£60 Presented by Saffron Hall in association with English Touring Opera
together in sound by phil Lattimore
“ When you go in the whole room is so dynamic, it’s full of enthusiasm. I look at these people with dementia and I see them come back to life again.” For Bryan Beech, aged 80 and living with dementia, participating in Saffron Hall’s first six-week music course run for people with the condition and their carers was a hugely powerful and enjoyable experience. he course – which culminated T in a special performance at the hall – was the first in a programme run by Saffron Hall as part of its long-term commitment to the local community. The aim being to bring the power of music to those living with dementia. It brought the group together with professional musicians to explore musical ideas, creating new pieces that were performed at the concert in February, staged in conjunction with the Saffron Walden Dementia Action Alliance and a group of other funders.
Listening to and creating music can be an empowering and beneficial experience for people living with dementia and their carers, as a local project run by Saffron Hall is demonstrating.
Commenting on the course, Bryan says: “It was just so uplifting. You can’t help but be happy. It gives me complete serenity, it makes me feel ‘isn’t this life wonderful and aren’t we lucky to be here’.”
“ It gives me complete serenity, it makes me feel ‘isn’t this life wonderful’…” One of society’s most disabling and burdensome health conditions, dementia is marked by a progressive and irreversible decline in cognitive functioning, affecting day-to-day life and health. And with an ageing UK population, this incurable condition is becoming ever more widespread. According to a report by the Alzheimers Society, the number of people with dementia in the UK is forecast to increase from around 850,000 in 2015 to more than 1 million by 2025.
changing lives
One of the key aims of the project has been to use the power of music to help enrich the lives of people affected by the condition, increasing interaction with others and helping to restore a sense of self. For Bryan, it has certainly made a difference: “Once they start playing the music I’m in a little world of my own,” he says. “It makes me feel stronger – and to want to make the most of my life.” Saffron Hall is launching a new series of courses in Saffron Walden with Anglia Ruskin University from September 2017. Contact: Natalie Ellis natalie.ellis@saffronhall.com 01799 588545
Participants from our first music and dementia project sharing their new work live on stage at Saffron Hall. ©Holly Cassidy
OUR WORK WITH DEMENTIA
By 2030, rates of dementia in Uttlesford are forecast to increase by 80% to almost 2,000 people. This is a key challenge for our community. Whilst Saffron Hall can’t cure dementia, we can improve the lives of people living with it. From next season, working with music therapists from
Anglia Ruskin University, we are going to be offering free music courses for those with dementia and their carers. You may not know that Saffron Hall Trust is a registered charity. In order to sustain our projects for those with dementia and their carers, we really need your support. To donate, visit: saffronhall.com/changinglives Thank you.
National Youth Jazz Orchestra Saffron Hall are delighted to welcome back NYJO for a day of inspirational music making.
Big Band Anatomy: Schools concert Friday 13 October 11.30am In this hour-long schools concert the brilliant young players of the NYJO Ambassadors will explain how jazz works, describe the history of the music, and demonstrate how each instrument plays its own role. It will address elements of the National Curriculum for secondary music education and is accompanied by a Teacher Resource pack – including history, exercises, playlists and signposts to jazz education resources.
Top: NYJO. ©Carl Hyde
Tickets £7.50 Available to secondary school groups only. Please call 0845 548 7650 to book. Presented by Saffron Hall
Words & Music – featuring Liane Carroll Friday 13 October 7.30pm Top and bottom: NYJO. ©dbphotography
Mark Armstrong artistic & music director Liane Carroll vocals “ The National Youth Jazz Orchestra certainly put the youth back into jazz” declared one critic – but after their terrific concert last season, Saffron Hall audiences won’t need to be told that! For their Saffron Hall gig they’re performing with Liane Carroll. “She doesn’t just sing jazz: she is jazz” said mojo magazine. The first half will feature Mark Armstrong’s Solstice Suite while the second half celebrates Jazz Standards, with a feature performance by SWCHS Jazz Band.
Tickets £10–£25 Presented by Saffron Hall
Richard Thompson Saffron Song Fest Saturday 21 October Choirs Festival & Gala Charity Concert 7.30pm Sunday 15 October 2.30pm
orchestras for all: NEW TICKET PRICING SCHEME
Tim Lihoreau presenter Lyrical Voices, Melody WIse, Westwood Singers, New City Girls WI Choir, St. Neots Jewels, U3A Saffron Harmony, Saffron Building Society Community Choir, TyrannoChorus. The Amadè Players
For the Autumn 2017-18 season, Saffron Hall is launching a new way of pricing concerts. Many of our concerts, even ones that sell out, lose money.
A medley of traditional ballads, classical favourites, songs from the shows and more. 200 singers from inspiring WI and guest choirs across Essex and Cambridgeshire combine for the joy of singing to present an exciting selection of music in aid of ‘Associated Country Women of the World’, supporting women and their communities worldwide.
Tickets £12 (plus concessions) Presented by Members of the WI in Saffron Walden
Richard Thompson guitar Plus support from Josienne Clarke & Ben Walker Richard Thompson is one of this country’s greatest songwriters and most distinctive guitar virtuosos, a musician whose work spans genres and generations. Rolling Stone hails him as “a perennial dark-horse contender for the title of greatest living rock guitarist” and his songs have been covered by everyone from Alison Krauss to Robert Plant. In short: any chance to hear him is worth taking.
Tickets £20–£42 Presented by Saffron Hall in association with Serious
In order to maintain our programme of orchestras from around the world, together with top soloists and conductors – whilst keeping ticket prices as low as possible – we are asking those who can afford more to pay an amount that reflects the true cost of their attendance.
When you book top priced tickets online for orchestral concerts you will now be given the opportunity to pay this new price. Please select the ‘Orchestras for all’ price type from the drop down menu. This is completely optional and the additional support this provides will allow us to keep the arts accessible across the region. Your help is very much appreciated.
Young Artist Coffee Concerts Trio Isimsiz Sunday 22 October 2pm
Timothy Ridout & frank dupree Sunday 14 January 2pm
Michael Petrov cello Erdem Misirlioglu piano Pablo Hernán Benedí violin
Timothy Ridout viola Frank Dupree piano
Beethoven Piano Trio in c minor Op.1 No.3 Mendelssohn Piano Trio No.2 in c minor Op.66
Brahms Sonata in f minor Op.120 No.1 Tertis Song transcriptions Prokofiev 6 Pieces from the ballet ‘Romeo and Juliet’
Masterclass 3.30pm with students Masterclass 3.30pm with students from SWCHS Music Academy from SWCHS Music Academy Chamber music on the grandest scale, played by the awardwinning Trio Isimsiz.
Tickets £10 (under 18s free) Presented by Saffron Hall in association with YCAT
British viola player Timothy Ridout uses Brahms and Prokofiev as a perfect vehicle for “the warmth and eloquence of his tone” —The Strad.
the young artists sessions Sunday 3 December concert 1 1.30pm Castalian Quartet Benjamin Baker violin Daniel Lebhardt piano Amy Harman bassoon Richard Uttley piano Olivier Stankiewicz oboe Mozart Oboe Quartet in f, k.370 Janacek Violin Sonata (1914) Saint-Saëns Sonata for Bassoon and Piano, Op.168 Poulenc Trio for Oboe, Bassoon & Piano, fp 43 concert 2 3.30pm Castalian Quartet Amy Harman bassoon Richard Uttley piano Benjamin Baker violin Daniel Lebhardt piano Hahn Le Printemps Hahn À Chloris Roxanna Panufnik Cantator and Amanda for Bassoon and String Quartet
Hahn Nocturne Wagner Albumblatt Strauss Sonata for Violin and Piano Op.18 concert 3 5.30pm Castalian Quartet Daniel Lebhardt piano Haydn String Quartet in e flat, Op.76 No.6 Brahms Piano Quintet in f minor, Op.34 For over three decades the Young Classical Artists Trust has given you a chance to discover outstanding young musicians and follow their progress. YCAT’s superb current roster will feature across three concerts that would be delightful on any terms. Superb artistry and fresh insights are assured. So why not come to them all, and fill your whole afternoon with truly inspirational music-making?
Tickets £10 per concert or book all 3 for £24 (under 18s free) Presented by Saffron Hall in association with YCAT
Mitsuko Uchida Sunday 29 October 3pm Schubert Sonata in b major d.575 Schubert Sonata in a minor d.845 Schubert Sonata in d major d.850
Thursday 2 November 7.30pm Schubert Sonata in c minor d.958 Schubert Sonata in a major d.664 Schubert Sonata in g major d.894
Mitsuko Uchida is a byword for everything that’s freshest, most thoughtful and most natural about great piano playing. Now, over two beautifully chosen programmes, she undertakes a personal journey through the piano sonatas of her beloved Schubert. This music offers infinite riches of tragedy, melody and humour, and there’s no more illuminating guide. Mitsuko Uchida piano
Tickets £18–£36 Presented by Saffron Hall
Mitsuko Uchida. ©Geoffroy Schied
Alina Ibragimova & Il Pomo d’Oro Sunday 5 November 7.30pm
Supported by Charles Rawlinson mbe
Il Pomo d’Oro Alina Ibragimova violin/ director Federico Guglielmo concertmaster/ director J.A. Hasse Adagio e Fuga C.P.E. Bach Sinfonia in g minor wq. 182.1, h.657 M. Haydn Concerto in g major mh.52 F. Mendelssohn Sinfonia No.10 in b minor mwv.n10 F. Mendelssohn Concerto in d minor mwv.o3
Top: Alina Ibragimova. ©Eva Vermandel
Alina Ibragimova is the violinist Tickets £16–£40 who held the Royal Albert Hall Presented by Saffron Hall silent and spellbound with her unaccompanied Bach at the 2015 Proms. Music by Bach’s son Johann Christian features tonight, prefacing youthful delights by Mendelssohn and a rare concerto by Michael Haydn. Ibragimova joins forces with Il Pomo d’Oro for a concert in which not a single note will be routine.
Britten Sinfonia: RESident orchestra Elder conducts Brahms Friday 10 November 7.30pm Sir Mark Elder conductor Elisabeth Kulman mezzo soprano Finzi The Fall of the Leaf Mahler arr. Britten What the Wild Flowers Tell Me Mahler Rückert-Lieder Brahms Symphony No.1 Sir Mark Elder conducts Britten Sinfonia in an intimate performance of Brahms’s first symphony, in a concert that returns to the spirit of early performances of the work. The programme is completed with moving and eloquent music by Mahler and Finzi.
Tickets £10–£50 (plus concessions) Presented by Britten Sinfonia
Chichester Psalms with King’s College Choir Friday 16 February 7.30pm Stephen Cleobury conductor Ailish Tynan soprano Roderick Williams baritone King’s College Choir Emma-Ruth Richards New work Bernstein Chichester Psalms Vaughan Williams Dona Nobis Pacem Written in 1965, Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms provides an exhilarating invocation of the composer’s hopes for brotherhood and peace, sentiments mirrored by Vaughan Williams’ impassioned Dona Nobis Pacem. The renowned King’s College Choir of Cambridge joins Britten Sinfonia for this performance, conducted by Stephen Cleobury. Tickets £10–£50 (plus concessions) Presented by Britten Sinfonia
Thomas Adès Thomas Adès conducts Beethoven conducts Beethoven Saturday 19 May 7.30pm Sunday 20 May 3pm
Thomas Adès conductor Nicolas Hodges piano
Thomas Adès conductor Joshua Bloom bass
Gerald Barry Piano Concerto Beethoven Symphony No.4 Beethoven Symphony No.5
Gerald Barry The Conquest of Ireland Beethoven Symphony No.6
Thomas Adès and Britten Sinfonia’s journey through Beethoven’s symphonies reaches the half-way point with the perennially popular, vivacious Symphony No.5 and the subdued, poignant Symphony No.4 performed alongside the inventive music of Irish composer Gerald Barry.
Beethoven takes inspiration from nature, allowing his imagination to range vividly across the countryside in his thrilling “Pastoral” symphony. In this concert, the Pastoral is juxtaposed with Barry’s passionate The Conquest of Ireland for orchestra and bass, based on a 12th century account of Henry ii’s military conquest of Ireland.
Tickets £10–£35 (plus concessions) Presented by Britten Sinfonia
Tickets £10–£35 (plus concessions) Presented by Britten Sinfonia
MEMBERSHIP
Britten: War Requiem Saturday 11 November 7.30pm Harlow Chorus Saffron Walden Choral Society The Choristers of Jesus College Chameleon Arts Orchestra Richard Pinel conductor Sarah Tenant-Flowers conductor Janet Wheeler conductor Erica Eloff soprano Robin Tritschler tenor Peter Harvey baritone Britten War Requiem
SWCS unite with Harlow Chorus for this Armistice Day performance of Britten’s powerful and moving War Requiem. The concert is supported by a bequest from the late Roger Williamson, who sang with both choirs.
Transform your cultural life. Become a Saffron Hall member.
Our members get the inside track on our work. Benefits include: — Priority Booking: getting your preferred seats — Exclusive drinks receptions — Events with artists backstage — An annual preview of next season By becoming a Saffron Hall member you get closer to the music you love and help us do more.
Tickets £15–£35 (plus concessions) Presented by Harlow Chorus and Saffron Walden Choral Society
There will be membership events at the following concerts for Production Circle and above.
Saturday 30 September 7.30pm City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Friday 27 October, 7.30pm English Touring Opera: Rameau – Dardanus Sunday 5 November, 7.30pm Alina Ibragimova & Il Pomo d’Oro Thursday 21 December 7.30pm Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment: Christmas Oratorio Friday 19 January, 7.30pm Emerson String Quartet
MOVING TOGETHER by phil Lattimore
dance workshops Family Jam – Dance! Sunday 12 November 11am
Youth dance workshop with the Alexander Whitley dance company Sunday 12 November 2pm
These two fun and high-energy dance workshops for participants aged 7+ (morning) and 11-16 (afternoon) are based around the scientific themes behind leading choreographer Alexander Whitley’s new work 8 Minutes. Guided by a team of dance artists and scientists, the workshops will show you how to take concepts from solar physics and turn that energy into simple choreography. An enlightening experience for those interested in dance or science, where each discipline will shed light on the other.
Tickets £10 Presented by Saffron Hall Age Guidance 7+ No unaccompanied children
Tickets £10 Presented by Saffron Hall Age Guidance 11–16 yrs
What connects communities across generations? This is one of the themes explored by a unique community dance initiative Saffron Hall is taking across Essex – Movement Mixtape. Using movement and film to bring together different generations of people from one location, the programme examines ideas of identity and place via people’s connections to music and the meaningful impact it has on their lives. Movement Mixtape began earlier this year with a debut 8-week project in Braintree, involving Year 6 pupils from John Bunyan Primary School, students at Alec Hunter Academy and residents of Kilkee Lodge Care Home. Led by choreographer Tom Hobden and film director Kate Flurrie from innovative multi-disciplinary dance company UNIT, the project engaged with participants through workshops and interviews to come up with
Saffron Hall launches an intergenerational dance initiative to enable world-class artistic encounters in communities across Essex.
personal music playlists that tapped into individual memories and emotions. These were then shared across the participant groups in a series of workshops, stimulating fresh responses expressed through music and movement. Through these experiences, a 12-minute dance film was created. Deborah Bailey, Head Teacher at John Bunyan Primary School and Nursery, believes the project has had a profound impact on pupils: “We haven’t had enough opportunities in the past to work with older members of the community. It is very difficult to get a genuine interaction across the generations – you need talented professionals to help bridge that gap. The children now have an insight into the older people, understanding that they share common interests and have a real connection.” The process of working with artists, and having an opportunity to create something of high quality
clearly had a hugely positive effect on the pupils. Bailey continued, “There are children with a diverse range of needs who sometimes struggle within the classroom environment but who have become absolute stars through this project. Their confidence has grown, their performances have been superb and their self-esteem has gone through the roof. And that’s fed into their academic work too.” Saffron Hall is proud to continue the Movement Mixtape programme into its 2017-18 season.
“ their performances have been superb and their self-esteem has gone through the roof.”
Hope Quartet & Stefano Bollani Sunday 19 November 7.30pm
I Fagiolini Wednesday 22 November 7.30pm
Henri Texier is a hero of world jazz. In a career stretching back to the 60s, he has played with bass jazz pioneers including Bud Powell and Don Cherry. His most recent band, the Hope Quartet, is a warm mix of filmic drama, fanfare, circus and swing. Combine this with the blistering technique and charismatic stage presence of Italian pianist Stefano Bollani and you have the makings of a truly special double bill with the masters of European Jazz.
Imagine the glittering domes of St Mark’s, Venice in the early 17th century, ringing and resounding with majestic sacred music. You might already know and love Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610: now, brilliantly, Robert Hollingworth and the virtuoso musicians of I Fagiolini have dived into Monteverdi’s other choral works and assembled another, alternative Vespers, every bit as magnificent. Music to ravish both heart and soul.
Hope Quartet François Courneloup saxophone Sébastien Texier saxophone Louis Moutin drums Henri Texier bass Stefano Bollani piano
Robert Hollingworth director
Tickets £12–£26 Presented by Saffron Hall in association with Serious
Tickets £14–£28 Presented by Saffron Hall
Monteverdi The Other Vespers
Cambridge University Symphony chorus: Israel in Egypt Saturday 25 November 7.30pm Richard Wilberforce conductor Cambridge University Symphony Chorus East Anglia Chamber Orchestra Sophia Larsson soprano Iúnó Connolly soprano Christopher Lowrey alto Adam Temple-Smith tenor Garreth John bass Nicholas Mogg bass Handel Concerto Grosso in d minor Op.6 No.10 Handel Israel in Egypt
Saffron Walden Symphony Orchestra Sunday 26 November 3pm Nielsen’s rollicking overture to his opera Maskarade launches this concert which features two of the 20th Century’s greatest masterpieces: Sibelius’ stark but hauntingly beautiful Violin Concerto played by the Doric Quartet’s Alex Redington, and Rachmaninov’s emotional and tempestuous Symphony No.2. Richard Hull conductor Alex Redington violin Nielsen ‘Maskarade’ Overture Sibelius Violin Concerto Rachmaninov Symphony No.2
Handel’s magnificent biblical oratorio and choral masterpiece Israel in Egypt tells the story of the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, brilliantly depicted by Handel’s dramatic and colourful choral writing.
Tickets £10–£28 (plus concessions) £15/ £3 under 18 Presented by Cambridge Presented by Saffron Walden University Musical Society Symphony Orchestra
The Night Before Christmas: Schools concert Thursday 30 November 11am & 1.15pm
City of London Sinfonia: The protecting veil Friday 1 December 7.30pm
CHROMA Matthew Sharp baritone/cello David le Page violin Stuart King clarinet Clare O’Connell cello Miloš Milivojevic´ accordion
Alexandra Wood leader/ director Matthew Barley cello/ presenter Tavener/ Barley Living programme notes on The Protecting Veil Tavener The Protecting Veil
Programme to include music by Rimsky-Korsakov, Glazunov, Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov. It’s Christmas Eve in Little Russia and Oksana, Vakula the blacksmith’s girlfriend, wants an impossible present. But where did the moon go? And who’s that stranger with horns and a tail? In this retelling of Gogol’s story The Night Before Christmas, storyteller Matthew Sharp and the musicians of CHROMA mix Ukrainian folksongs with Russian classics to cast a seasonal spell.
Top: cls CLoSer – Close Enough to Touch. Bottom: cls Strings. ©James Berry
Tickets £7 Tickets available to Key Stage 2 school groups only. Running time: 70 mins. Please call 0845 548 7650 to book. Presented by Saffron Hall
Listeners are often lost for words when they hear John Tavener’s The Protecting Veil. It’s so sincere, so warm, and so beautiful that it speaks to listeners of all faiths and none. Cellist Matthew Barley plays it tonight. First, though, Matthew and the Orchestra journey to the centre of this musical icon. Through living programme notes, the musicians give their own personal reflections on the themes, music, emotions and feelings that this music inspires.
Tickets £12–£26 Presented by Saffron Hall
London Symphony Orchestra Wednesday 6 December 7.30pm
The Snowman Film with live music Sunday 10 December 1.30pm & 3.30pm
Nikolaj Znaider conductor/violin
Ben Palmer conductor Pui Fan Lee narrator Southbank Sinfonia
Mozart Violin Concerto No.2 Mozart Violin Concerto No.3 Tchaikovsky Symphony No.6
Tchaikovsky The Nutcracker Suite Howard Blake The Snowman
The London Symphony Orchestra performs at Saffron Hall for the first time. Tchaikovsky’s sweeping melodies and heart-on-sleeve emotions are the perfect match for this great orchestra’s lustrous sound. Conductor Nikolaj Znaider takes up his violin to perform two concertos by the composer who Tchaikovsky called “the Christ of music”: Mozart.
Top: LSO ©Ranald Mackechnie. Bottom: Nikolaj Znaider. ©Lars Gundersen
Tickets £24–£55 Presented by Saffron Hall
We’re walking in the air…it isn’t Christmas until The Snowman has whisked us all off into the winter night. This seasonal screening is accompanied live by the Southbank Sinfonia and is an ideal festive treat for children of all ages. And there’s something else in the stocking too. A new telling of The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, set to music from Tchaikovsky’s magical ballet score, narrated by CBeebies presenter Pui Fan Lee.
Tickets £15–£25 (under 18s half-price) Presented by Saffron Hall
Top: The Snowman. ©Snowman Enterprises Ltd
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment: Christmas Oratorio Thursday 21 December 7.30pm
Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge Stephen Layton conductor Anna Dennis soprano Helen Charlston mezzo soprano Gwilym Bowen tenor Laurence Williams bass-baritone Bach Christmas Oratorio, parts 1, 2, 3 & 6
Tickets £16–£35 Presented by Saffron Hall
Paul Lewis in Recital Sunday 7 January 3pm
Jauchzet, frohlocket, auf, preiset die Tage – Celebrate, rejoice, rise up and praise these days! And when the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment’s trumpets blaze out, and the Choir of Trinity College shouts with joy, you’ll know that the festive season has truly arrived. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio is so inspired that you don’t need to be a believer to respond to it. Refresh your spirit this Christmas.
Paul Lewis piano Haydn Sonata in c major Hob.xvi:50 Beethoven Six Bagatelles Op.126 Brahms Six Pieces Op.118 Haydn Sonata in g major Hob.xvi:40 Pianist Paul Lewis is always a popular visitor to Saffron Hall. This beautifully-devised programme will demonstrate every facet of his artistry. The brilliance of two Haydn sonatas, the romantic sunset of Brahms’s late piano pieces, and the elusive humour of Beethoven’s Bagatelles. Lewis understands that no single pianist can ever fully grasp music as great as this – though after you’ve heard him play, you might disagree.
Paul Lewis. ©Molina Visuals
Tickets £14–£26 Presented by Saffron Hall
Emerson String Quartet Friday 19 January 7.30pm
SWCS Singing Day with Janet Wheeler Saturday 20 January 10.30am
Family Jam – Percussion! Sunday 21 January 11am & 2pm
Haydn String Quartet No.2 Op.20 Janet Wheeler music director Ives String Quartet No.1 Op.57 Richard Carr accompanist Schumann String Quartet No.3 in a major Op.41 Programme to include movements from: Is this the world’s finest string Mozart Great Mass in c minor quartet? The Emerson String Mozart Solemn Vespers Mozart Più non si trovano Quartet’s nine Grammies and three Gramophone Awards Mozart V’amo di core make a powerful case. For their Janet Wheeler ‘Mirana Mana’ Saffron Hall debut they’re playing from ‘I Sing and Ever Shall’ the visionary first quartet by American maverick Charles Ives. Discover why Mozart is good But Haydn and Schumann frame for the voice by singing a range of sacred and secular choruses. the programme, and when you Composer and conductor Janet hear the Emersons play them you’ll agree with The Times when Wheeler also introduces ‘mouth music’ including her own they said: “with musicians like Mirana Mana in periodic warmthis there must be some hope ups, exploring the connection for humanity”. between the two.
Time to make some noise! This hands-on percussion workshop for the whole family is led by the incredible Colin Currie - the man they call “the world’s most daring percussionist”. So get ready to make sounds tiny and massive: to shake, rattle, bash, crash and jangle. Because old or young, simply everyone loves hitting stuff.
Tickets £14–£28 Presented by Saffron Hall
Tickets £10 Presented by Saffron Hall Minimum age 8+
Tickets £20/ £15 under 18s Presented by Saffron Walden Choral Society Age guidance: 16+
Children must be accompanied by adults. Suitable for age 8 and over.
Colin Currie. ©CCPress
Saffron Walden County High School presents
Music Michaelmas Concert 16 November 2017 Midwinter Concert 14 December 2017
Dance 12 December 2017 SWCHS’s annual dance presentation is a galaxy of dance styles and genres involving students of all ages.
Saffron Walden Music Festival 23–25 February 2018 Saffron Walden’s very own Young Musician Competition – see the community’s most talented young people compete for the Mullucks Wells Trophy. Booking details tba.
Theatre The Wizard of Oz 5–8 February 2018
Saffron Walden County High School has been at the heart of the community in Saffron Walden since 1950 and is now one of the top performing non–selective state schools in England. Saffron Hall is a magnificent addition to the facilities at the school and one that the students benefit from every day. Over 2,000 people saw Saffron Hall and SWCHS’s outstanding joint production of The Glass Knight in March 2016, and regular school
concerts, drama productions and dance performances showcase the work of the large number of students involved in the Arts at SWCHS. The school’s Sixth Form Music Academy continues to flourish, providing incredible opportunities for talented musicians to improve their skills through an excellent teaching programme, masterclasses and connections with artists who appear at Saffron Hall.
©Roger King
SWCHS holds a ‘Platinum’ ArtsMark Award from Arts Council England, marking the school’s exceptional contribution to the Arts. www.swchs.net
VISIT Saffron Hall is an award-winning 740-seat performance space built in the grounds of Saffron Walden County High School, just minutes away from Saffron Walden’s historic town centre. The hall’s critically acclaimed acoustic and state-of-the-art facilities surpass many of the world’s more established venues.
Car Saffron Hall is easy to get to. We’re a half-hour drive from Cambridge and Bishop’s Stortford and easily accessible from the M11. Directions are available on our website.
Train The nearest station is Audley End Station, two miles away. Regular services run from London Liverpool Street to Cambridge.
Air Saffron Hall is approximately a 30 minute drive from Stansted Airport.
Minibus We run a free minibus service between Audley End Station and the hall for most Saffron Hall presented events. You can hop on anytime from an hour before and up to an hour after the performance. To check if this service is running for your event, please visit our website.
Parking Over 400 free car parking spaces are available on site.
Catering Saffron Hall’s bar is open for 1 hour prior to each performance and during the interval serving a selection of drinks and snacks. Our address is: Audley End Road Saffron Walden, CB11 4UH www.saffronhall.com
BOOKING Buying tickets Online: www.saffronhall.com By Phone: 0845 548 7650 10am–5pm Monday to Saturday inclusive (excluding Public Holidays)
Saffron Hall charges a £2 fee per transaction for bookings made in person and via phone, and a £1 fee per transaction for web bookings.
Refunds and exchanges Tickets can only be refunded In person: Saffron Walden or exchanged if a performance Tourist Information Centre, is cancelled. Returns may be 1 Market Place, Saffron Walden taken for sold–out events; please visit our website for 9.30am–5pm Monday to more information. Saturday 10.30am–1pm Public Holidays (closed Christmas Day, Boxing Concessions For all Saffron Hall presented Day and New Year’s Day) events, children’s tickets are On the door: The Saffron Hall half price (except Schools box office opens 1 hour before Concerts and Family Jam). each performance begins. Accessibility Saffron Hall is fully Print at home tickets accessible. Patrons with access For your convenience print requirements can book their at home tickets are available tickets by contacting the Box for most events. The option Office on 0845 548 7650. to collect or receive tickets is also available. A charge of There are 6 wheelchair spaces £1 applies if you would like and 10 level access seats your tickets posted. (subject to availability). For concessions and other access info please see website.
Parking for Blue Badge holders is available on a first come, first served basis.
HIRE Saffron Hall’s superb technical resources and intelligent design makes it a fantastic space to host a wide range of events.
For full details about our facilities and conditions of sale please visit: www.saffronhall.com All information is correct at time of going to print. Saffron Hall reserves the right to substitute artists and vary the programme if necessary.
— Conferences — Award Ceremonies — Dinners — Product Launches — AGMs — Graduations — Charity Events — Team Building Days
Contact Imogen Poole/ Jill Russell info@saffronhall.com 01799 588 545
The hall has a vibrant atmosphere with wooden clad walls, tiered seating with excellent sight-lines, and a flat floor configuration. With its breadth of facilities and size, we can accommodate up to 740 people. Saffron Hall is the ultimate venue for organisations looking to deliver a memorable experience for their guests.
2017–18 autumn programme september Friday 8 September, 8pm Foyer Jazz Club Sunday 17 September, 2pm Götterdämmerung Sunday 24 September, 7.30pm The Judas Passion Saturday 30 September 7.30pm City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
november Thursday 2 November, 7.30pm Mitsuko Uchida Friday 3 November, 8pm Foyer Jazz Club Sunday 5 November, 7.30pm Alina Ibragimova & Il Pomo d’Oro Friday 10 November, 7.30pm Britten Sinfonia: Elder conducts Brahms october Saturday 11 November Sunday 1 October, 3pm 7.30pm Britten – War Requiem Around the World Sunday 12 November, 11am in 60 Minutes Family Jam – Dance! Friday 6 October, 8pm Sunday 12 November, 2pm Foyer Jazz Club Youth Dance Workshop Sunday 8 October, 7pm with the Alexander Whitley English Touring Opera: Dance Company Bach – Mass in b minor Sunday 19 November 7.30pm Friday 13 October, 11.30am Hope Quartet National Youth Jazz Orchestra: & Stefano Bollani Wednesday 22 November Schools Concert 7.30pm I Fagiolini Friday 13 October, 7.30pm National Youth Jazz Orchestra Saturday 25 November Sunday 15 October, 2.30pm 7.30pm Cambridge University Saffron Song Fest Symphony Chorus Saturday 21 October, 7.30pm Sunday 26th November, 3pm Richard Thompson & support Saffron Walden Sunday 22 October, 2pm Symphony Orchestra Trio Isimsiz Thursday 30 November Friday 27 October, 7.30pm 11am & 1.15pm English Touring Opera: The Night Before Christmas: Rameau – Dardanus Schools Concert Saturday 28 October, 4pm & 8pm English Touring Opera: Handel – Giulio Cesare Sunday 29 October, 3pm Mitsuko Uchida
december Friday 1 December, 7.30pm City of London Sinfonia Sunday 3 December, 1.30pm 3.30pm & 5.30pm The Young Artists Sessions Wednesday 6 December 7.30pm London Symphony Orchestra Friday 8 December, 8pm Foyer Jazz Club Sunday 10 December, 1.30pm & 3.30pm The Snowman Thursday 21 December, 7.30pm Bach – Christmas Oratorio january Sunday 7 January, 3pm Paul Lewis Friday 12 January, 8pm Foyer Jazz Club Sunday 14 January, 2pm Timothy Ridout & Frank Dupree Friday 19 January, 7.30pm Emerson String Quartet Saturday 20 January, 10.30am SWCS Singing Day with Janet Wheeler Sunday 21 January 11am & 2pm Family Jam – Percussion!
Stay in touch Twitter @saffronhallsw Facebook @saffronhallsw Instagram @saffronhallsw Box office 0845 548 7650 www.saffronhall.com