Arts & Entertainment

A feast of Mozart and Schubert

Review by Francis and Sue Taylor

AS Christmas approaches and the days become shorter, people want to be cheered with memorable melodies and good tunes they can hum while driving home.

This is not the time for Götterdämmerung!

The Athenaeum Singers hit the spot here by giving us a concert of music by two of the greatest ‘tunesmiths’ in the world of classical music – Mozart and Schubert. The programme for the evening consisted of several shorter works by these two composers and included items for a soprano soloist.

It was a joy to see the Athenaeum Singers responding to their new young musical director, Thomas Mottershead, with such obvious enthusiasm. All eyes were on him, and the individual voice sections came in on cue, and, what is probably more difficult, stopped singing on cue as well. The choir made a good sound and were well supported by the flying fingers of Simon Dinsdale on the organ. The soprano soloist, Amy Carson’s, lovely clear agile voice was perfect for the programme and her enjoyment of singing came across to the audience. It is always a treat to see a soloist who can sing

Thomas Mottershead, the evening’s conductor, leads rehearsals for the concert

beautifully while smiling.

The concert opened with Mozart’s Regina Coeli, written when he was only 15 after his first visit to Italy. The choir tackled the outer two movements with spirit, with the altos in particular being outstanding, while the inner two movements were superbly performed by Amy. This was followed by the Mozarts’s Exsultate Jubilate, a challenging piece for a soprano soloist, where Amy excelled and was supported ably by Simon who switched to the piano for this item.

Mozart’s Ave Verum Corpus is well known to the choir and the audience and it is always a delight to see it on the programme. This performance was both beautiful and sensitive – as well as being technically accurate – and for many of us was the highlight of the evening. The change of mood to the lesser known Jesu, wahrer Gottessohn was achieved with ease.

The second half of the programme was devoted to Schubert, starting with his less familiar Stabat Mater which the choir performed with confidence, though the sopranos struggled at times to maintain the pitch. This was followed by his popular Ave Maria where Amy, once again, demonstrated her virtuosity.

The final item of the evening was Schubert’s Mass no.2 in G Major, probably the best known and most performed of his masses. The work is not technically difficult but still requires concentration and clear diction to bring out its song-like nature. We knew we were in for something special when the initial ‘K’ of the opening Kyrie rang out loud and clear. In the final two movements the soprano soloist would normally be joined by tenor and bass soloists, but in this performance the tenor and bass sections took responsibility for the solo parts. Despite their small numbers this was a successful experiment and they provided able support for Amy.

We wish the Athenaeum Singers well and we are sure they will continue to flourish under the direction of their new conductor.

Rosie’s final novel in historical series

AUTHOR Rosie Lear, who lives near Motcombe, has published her historical novel Endgame, the final title in a six-book series.

The year is 1450. Matthias Barton’s school is well established, Luke his stepson is at the great schools of learning in Oxford, but there is serious unrest in the country and the Sherborne area is affected by this.

Finn, a one-time pupil of Matthias has disappeared, anxious to find the Kentish rebels and join with them in their fight against the injustices as he sees them.

Meanwhile, in Sherborne, the civil disobedience against the Abbot and the Bishop of Salisbury continues. Matthias is involved in the smaller disobediences while Finn is heavily involved in the larger and far more serious affairs around the rebel and so-called captain of Kent, Jack Cade.

Will Luke become infected with Finn’s daring escapades, or will he remain safely in Oxford? Can Matthias see the coming wars between the two houses, Lancaster and York? How much will this trouble the peaceful airs of Dorset?

With men from Sherborne becoming involved in these matters, will the Bishop of Salisbury survive the recent murders of The Duke of Suffolk and the Bishop of Chichester? This is a time of turbulence for all.

Rosie has been a teacher for all her working life, owned a hotel, a children’s clothes shop and a health food store, brought up four children and enjoys amateur dramatics.

Endgame is available at Sherborne Abbey shop, Winstones of Sherborne, Motcombe Community Shop, Shaftesbury Arts Centre and on Amazon. The series is also available as an ebook.

The series also includes Missal for Murder, A Quenchless Fire, A Tale of Two Abbeys, Spare the Rod, The Abbot’s Dilemma.

Arts & Entertainment

Arts group in need of a driving force

NOT-FOR-PROFIT organisation FreeExpression Creative, based in Blandford, is looking for a proactive trustee to help deliver arts to the community.

The group is behind the Free Expression Arts festival, an annual event in the town centre, and the newly created Blandford Arts Hub at Nightingale Court.

The arts hub (BAHub) was launched this year with community art workshops held over the summer, and a small shop selling local artist’s cards and gallery which features different local artists each week.

It is hoped planning for the next arts festival can begin – it was forced to stop because of Covid-19 and the effort put into launching BAHub.

The success of both projects will depend on funding and help – for more information visit www.free-expression.com

To get involved as a trustee or volunteer, or if you are an artist and want to show your work, contact Kate at freeexpressioncreative@gmail.com

The Little Gallery featured the work of Becky Booth Art (right)

Folk festival fundraiser

ST PETER and St Paul’s Church in South Petherton is the venue for a barn dance which will help raise funds for the church and Petherton Folk Fest 2023.

Local band Hobson’s Choice will provide the music on Friday 10 February with the event for adults and children running from 7.30-11pm.

Pete Wheeler, chairman of the Folk Fest committee, said: “We anticipate that there will be a great community spirit, and lots of fun and laughter on the night.”

Tickets cost £12 adults, £6 under-16s and include a ploughman’s supper. Visitors are asked to take their own drinks. Tickets are on sale until 4 February and can be purchased from N & D News and The Brewer’s Arms in South Petherton and Seavington Community Store. Petherton Folk Fest 2023 is on Saturday, 17 June.

n VOCALIST StaceyLou will be

celebrating and re-creating the music of Amy Winehouse, as well as other songs, at The Blackmore Vale Inn in Marnhull next Friday (December 30) from 9pm.

Although it is not currently a legal requirement, please consider wearing a face covering to protect yourself and others when visiting the Tivoli. PLEASE KEEP CHECKING OUR WEBSITE

Made to Measure Productions present The Pantomime Adventure You’ve Been Wishing For! ALADDIN

Friday 16th December to Monday 2nd January Tickets: £18 adults £14.50 under 16s

1 in 10 free available via Box Office Plus ADULTS ONLY performances suitable for ages 16+ on 29th December & 2nd January 7.30pm. Tickets £18

(Box Office bookings incur £1 booking fee per transaction) THE MENU (15)

3rd - 5th Jan 7.30pm, Matinee 5th Jan, 2pm Tickets Adults £8 eves, £7 matinee, U16s £6

(Box Office bookings over £20 incur £1 booking fee) NINE BELOW ZERO

RESCHEDULED DATE

Friday 6th January 7.30pm Tickets £21.50

(Box Office bookings over £20 incur £1 booking fee) THE DAZZLING DIAMONDS

Drag Show

Contains adult themes and strong language. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. Sat 7th Jan 7.30pm Tickets £20

(Box Office bookings over £20 incur £1 booking fee)

SHE SAID (15)

9th & 10th Jan 7.30pm, Matinee 12th Jan, 2pm Tickets Adult: £8.00 evening, £7 matinee U16s £6 THE SERIAL KILLER NEXT DOOR

Suitable for age 16+ Wednesday 11th Jan 7.30pm Tickets £22

From The Blues Band THE GARY FLETCHER BAND

Thursday 12th Jan 7.30pm, Tickets £19.50 ELO EXPERIENCE

Friday 13th Jan 7.30pm Tickets £27

I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY (12A)

16th, 17th & 18th Jan 7.30pm Matinees 14th Jan 2pm & 19th Jan 11.30am Tickets Adult £8 eves, £7 matinees, U16s £6

Musical comedy Elvis in Blue Hawaii is coming to venues in Dorset Elvis impersonator plays it for laughs

THE usual mayhem and lots of audience interaction are promised when Spitz & Co present musical comedy Elvis in Blue Hawaii at venues in Dorset next month.

The show follows sell-out tours of Gloriator, Gloria In The Mist and Les Gloriablès.

Award-winning Elvis impersonator Joe Reeve – best sideburns, GlosVegas 2014 – stars in his version of the classic Elvis film Blue Hawaii in the new production, while his long-time tour manager Josephine Cunningham is there to keep the show on the road – next stop, Vegas!

Artsreach director Kerry Bartlett said: “Audiences have loved each of the previous Spitz & Co tours and we are so thrilled to welcome the company back to Dorset for the first time since the spring of 2020.”

Elvis in Blue Hawaii is at Sandford Orcas (01963 220208) on Friday 13 January at 7.30pm, Buckland Newton (01300 345455) at 8pm on Saturday 14 January, and Wimborne Allendale Centre (01202 887247) on Sunday 15 January at 7.30pm. Further information and tickets are available online at www.artsreach.co.uk

Arts & Entertainment Two festive treats

TOURING arts charity Artsreach has re-released two digital performances for the festive season, captured during the winter lockdown of 2020, for people to enjoy free online in the comfort of their own home.

A mesmerising performance of Charles Dickens’ timeless, transformative story A Christmas Carol, devised, adapted and performed especially for film by veteran Cornish actor David Mynne, was performed at Winterborne Stickland village hall.

A Dorset Christmas with The Ridgeway Singers and Band is a heart-warming seasonal celebration of all things Dorset with tunes and songs from the Puddletown and Hinton St Mary manuscripts and new carols in the West Gallery tradition, interspersed with readings, archive photographs and other images from across Dorset, plus a special performance of While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night.

Both productions were captured and edited by Dorchester-based film company Pageant Productions and are available to watch online anytime until midnight on Sunday 1 January.

E-tickets for all events are available from the Artsreach website, and while the events are free to view, donations to Artsreach are welcomed. For further information and to register, visit www.artsreach. co.uk

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LIVING SPIT: More Than a Feline

THUR 5TH JAN 7.30PM Told entirely through song and rhyming couplets, Living Spit’s new version of Puss ’n’ Boots promises all the usual frolics, festivities and foolishness

EVERLYS & FRIENDS

SAT 14TH JAN 7.30PM UK's No 1 tribute to The Everly Brothers

DOS AMIGOS

SAT 7TH JAN 8PM Starring Jamie Moses and Drew Barfield. A night of classics and Los Pacaminos favourites