The són project – Southampton’s first ever professional orchestra – is the brainchild of conductor Robin Browning. As artistic advisor of the project, Robin and I had always planned a collaboration, and this Midsummer he presented a spectacular day of art activities, drama and music at Turner Sims Concert Hall, at the University of Southampton, with an illustrated concert at the core.
From face-painting and fairy wing workshops, to “Bottom’s Dream” performed in the lovely gardens, the pre-concert fun was properly festive in feel, and a wonderful prelude to the concert.
Dressed as Puck (my thanks to costume designer Antonio Reche-Martinez), I joined the superb són Orchestra for an extended suite from Mendelssohn’s incidental music for A Midsummer Night’s Dream, weaving storytelling around the sections of music.
The pictures were raffled for the Son Project’s outreach and educational work, and I subsequently auctioned off the art created for the posters and programme, a collage of Bottom and Titania.
It was a really lovely day, and I am now looking forward to our next joint venture, with a Fireworks theme… on November 5th! Tickets are already on sale – you can get yours HERE: http://www.thesonproject.com/events/fireworks-firebird/
Continuing the Shakespeare theme, I followed my Southampton trip with a return to my beloved Cheltenham Music Festival, where music festival director Meurig Bowen does so much to promote music to young audiences, and where I am always made so very welcome. The Princess Hall at Cheltenham Ladies College is a breathtakingly beautiful piece of Victorian Pre-Raphaelite, Arts and Crafts architecture, with almost Tudor-like wooden seating structures and the sweepingly romantic proscenium arch. Named after Alexandra of Denmark (the Princess of Wales between 1863 and 1901) it is one the loveliest venues in Cheltenham.
This was the setting for this year’s Cheltenham Music Festival family concert, and I was joined by the brilliant young Gloucestershire pianist Alex Kirk.
He played extracts from Prokofiev’s hugely demanding piano suite, drawn from his ballet music for Romeo and Juliet, which was truly hauntingly beautiful… I found it very moving.
As so often, it is through preparing for these concerts that I really get to understand the music and love it, in a way I would never have done as a passive listener. Alex added the formidably difficult fantasie on A Midsummer Night’s Dream, arranged by Liszt, no less, from Mendelssohn’s music.
And he gave a virtuoso performance, dazzlingly and dramatic. A very fulfilling event – not least because I got to dress as Shakespeare!
Both concerts were very warmly received by the large and enthusiastic audiences, so I want to thank all those who came, not least for their generosity: the art was auctioned for Cheltenham Festivals education work, raising over £400. Everyone works so hard to put these events together, so it is great when people turn up and show their appreciation. It really does make it feel so worthwhile, and I feel so proud of what Robin, and són, and what young Alex Kirk achieved with their stupendous musicianship. In a difficult and dangerous world, it is SO important to bring beauty and meaning, depth and emotion, storytelling, music and art, to new audiences, especially children. I am humbled and honoured to work with you all. Thank you!
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