Take a journey into anthemic rock

by Lorraine Gibson

Since the Seventies, Foreigner and Journey have been giants of the oft-dubbed Adult-Orientated Rock genre.

Their musical nous has let them bypass trends and fashion fads and still achieve huge success, as in selling in excess of 80 million albums.

That’s all very well, but for UK fans, concerts over here are as rare as hen’s teeth, so thank the god of air guitars and hairbrush mics, then, that the next best thing’s here and it’s coming to Wimborne.

A Foreigner’s Journey – see what they did there? – have been touring the UK and

Spring romance in Broadstone

Review by Rex Bale

St John’s Church, Broadstone on Sunday, May 21, was the venue for another excellent chamber music concert given by BSO’s principal viola Tom Beer, Helen Nicholas (piano) and Samatha Crawford (soprano) who thrilled us with songs by Rachmaninoff, Schumann and Brahms. We started, though, with a rare piece by Vaughan Williams, the Romance for Viola and Piano, discovered in 1958.

Helen then played two of Rachmaninoff’s Fantasy Pieces, the first the familiar Prelude in C sharp minor (no sheet music required here) and the second, the Melodie in E major. She then joined Helen to give us two songs by Alma Mahler.

Three of the four Rachmaninoff songs which followed are also based on nature. My favourite was ‘How fair this spot’ which praises the beauty of a flower meadow by a river.

After the interval Tom and Helen played Robert Schumann’s Fairy Tale Pictures, for Piano and Viola, Op. 113, in four movements.

The concert ended with Samantha’s beautiful rendition of two Brahms songs with viola and piano accompaniment Op 91),‘ A Stilled Longing’ and ‘You who hover’ . Once again Samantha provided the audience with background on how the piece came about. Broadstone Music Series is indebted to Poole Society for Young Musicians, a member of the charity which champions voluntary music.

Europe for six years, headlining festivals and building themselves a reputation as one of the most respected and acknowledged tribute shows around.

Cherry-picking the best numbers from both groups, including bona fide rock classics like the Glee-friendly, Don’t Stop Believing, Separate Ways, Cold As Ice, Juke Box Hero, Waiting For A Girl Like You, I Want To Know What Love Is, the list goes on. A Foreigners Journey always aim to go beyond the mere trib gig, offering a big, visceral and power-packed show. A must for fans of quality, commercial rock or who just love singing along to belt-outin-the-car anthems.

Online tickets £22, box office tickets £20 from tivoliwimborne.co.uk. This event has been rescheduled from Saturday, June 4, 2022, to this evening, Friday, June 2, 2023.

Head to Hanford between 19 – 25th June when the school opens its doors to the public for their Festival of Performing and Creative Arts with concerts and talks throughout the week. Take your pick from “An evening with Larry Lamb”, perhaps best known for his starring roles in Gavin & Stacey and EastEnders, a classical concert “Music

Through the Ages” with leading violinist Shana Douglas and Julian Gallant, a concert with the British soprano singer Alexandra Lowe or a ‘”Play on Words” with singer and entertainer Hal Cazalet who will bring the lyrics and stories of P G Wodehouse to life. The range and wealth of talent involved in this week’s festival is remarkable and testament to Hanford’s commitment to fostering creativity, curiosity and fun.

The events are all available to book on Hanford’s website and will cost between £10 – 20. Drinks will be available from 6.30pm and the events will run from 7 - 8pm. The week will end on an upbeat note with the beautiful Hanford gardens on display to visitors as part of the National Gardens Scheme, along with live music from the Blackmore Vale Brass Band, teas and cakes and magic by the Great Baldini. Sunday tickets are available to book via the National

Garden Scheme website. Hanford’s commitment to the performing and creative arts is deep and long lasting and it was a natural step to base our annual festival around this theme. Hanford girls are encouraged to take part in a large number of productions each year, which are not just fun and creative but also help instil confidence that the girls then take to other parts of their school lives and beyond. Hanford has a tradition of holding festivals for pupils and the public alike; these have included a Literary Festival in 2017, an Arts Festival in Summer 2018 and an Adventurers and Explorers Festival in Autumn 2018.

Festival Programme

Monday 19 June, 7pm - Soprano

Alexandra Lowe in concert Spanish-born British soprano Alexandra Lowe has already made an indelible impression on critics and audiences alike, from her exquisite Dafne (Apollo e Dafne) to her tour-de-force Pierrot Lunaire at Covent Garden. This season marks her first since graduating from the prestigious Jette Parker Young Artist Progamme at the Royal Opera House with highlights including Donna Elvira in John Ramster’s new production of Don Giovanni for Kilden Opera under Risto Joost and Mozart’s Requiem and

Bologne’s L’amante anonyme on the Glyndebourne Tour.

Tuesday 20 June, 7pm - Hal Cazalet

‘Play on Words’

‘Play On Words’ sees multi-accomplished performer, composer and lyricist Hal Cazalet honouring the Broadway career of his step Great-Grandfather P.G. Wodehouse, alongside his favourite songs celebrating the birth of the American musical and theatrical writing highlights of the last 120 years. Featuring the work of P.G. Wodehouse, Jerome Kern, George and Ira Gershwin, Alan Jay Lerner, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Cole Porter, Maury Yeston, Noël Coward, Stephen Sondheim, Hal Cazalet, Dudley Moore, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Alan Ayckbourn, and many more. Simon Beck accompanies on the Piano.

Wednesday 21 June, 7pmViolinist Shana Douglas in concert with Julian Gallant

London-based American violinist Shana Douglas has held the Sub-Leader position in the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for the past ten years, where she is also on the Board of Directors. Her recent performances include chamber music recitals at Kings Place and Barbican Hall, London, concertos by Barber, Beethoven, Brahms, Dvořák, and Mozart with orchestras in the UK and the USA, and a solo recital in Molière Hall in Lyon, France. She will be accompanied on the piano by Julian Gallant. Julian has travelled the world with ensembles including the Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne, Oxford Philomusica, Moscow Philharmonic, City of London Sinfonia, and Kiev Chamber Orchestra. He has also been the Chief Conductor of the Russian Chamber Orchestra of London and Director of the Oxford Philomusica.

Saturday 24 June, 7pm – An Evening with Larry Lamb

Larry Lamb is one of Britain’s most popular and accomplished stage and screen actors. He has starred in numerous TV series, playing iconic roles such as ‘Mick Shipman’ in BBC’s Gavin & Stacey and ‘Archie Mitchell’ in Eastenders. Larry’s talk, in conversation with a local Dorset friend, is loosely entitled “Don’t Put Your Daughter On The Stage, Mrs Worthington” and it promises to be a wonderful evening, full of fun and laughter in wonderful company. Not to be missed! Book your tickets for these exciting performances on the www.hanfordschool.co.uk

Free mandala exhibition

We are thrilled that the Tashi Lhunpo Monks are returning to the Museum of East Dorset once again as part of their 50th Anniversary Tour. Taking place over the Wimborne Folk Festival period, the monks will construct an intricate sand mandala, exemplifying the Tantric tradition of meditation daily from Wednesday, June 7, through to Sunday, June 11. These two-dimensional representations of a Buddha’s palace are made out of millions of grains of coloured sand, painstakingly put into place over a period of five days. Through this mandala exhibition, the highlyskilled monks offer a unique opportunity to experience this

Yesterday will be here soon

Open air cinema comes to West Moors on August 12, when the Richard Curtis Beatles movie ‘Yesterday’ will be shown, in a fundraiser for the village youth club.

The evening starts at 6pm with music performed by local artists, followed by a screening

Celebrations at village school

St James First School and Nursery in the village of Alderholt is celebrating its 40th anniversary with an event this coming Saturday, June 10.

Visitors will be able to explore the grounds and enjoy toddler play in the new nursery playground.

There will also be a bouncy castle, old fashioned games, craft stalls and a history of the school.

The celebration is from 10am2pm.

The home of Country House opera in South West England featuring renowned soloists, a full orchestra and a large chorus of emerging young artists