It’s been a busy year, and wonderful to be back with audiences after the lockdowns in the COVID pandemic. I think we all appreciate the real world more, and my admiration for musicians, who have fought to survive these difficult times, is boundless.
Most concerts this year have been celebrations of my book “Once Upon A Tune”. Unfortunately, a couple of planned events at the Three Choirs Festival and the Lake District Chamber Music Festival were revised because of COVID, and I couldn’t be there in person.
However, I was fortunate to be able to continue my relationship with the London Mozart Players, first with “Carnival of the Animals”, narrated by the legendary Floella Benjamin. I gifted her the painting of The Swan – I am, after all, one of her “Play School Babies”. She was superb – and gave a masterclass in how to engage an audience; they adored her – and so did I!
“Carnival of the Animals” was repeated at Grayshott, with “Peter & The Wolf”, first with a schools performance, narrated by the brilliant music educator Polly Faber, and then in the Autumn, at a gala performance in Grayshott church with Simon Callow narrating superbly. What a warm and generous man he is, and what a privilege to share the stage and hear that rich, resonant, distinctive voice in real life!
It was a joy to return to Saffron Hall in September for a “Once Upon A Tune” concert, focussing on Spooky Tunes. It’s the first time Toto has joined me on stage since we married, so it felt extra special, painting to “The Sorcerer’s apprentice”, “Swan of Tuonela”, the “Witch’s Ride” from “Hansel & Gretel” and Wagner’s “Flying Dutchman” overture!
I also returned to the Hatfield House Chamber Music Festival, who celebrated the book “Once Upon A Tune” in superb style, with brilliant performances by students from the Purcell School of Music. The repertoire was especially arranged by the dazzlingly clever George Morton, and over 500 school children came to hear the concerts and see the live art. A jam-packed public concert concluded my time there, which included a day at The Purcell School, running art & music workshops.
One of the schools concerts was filmed and you can watch it here:
This was followed by my debut with the City of Cambridge Symphony Orchestra at West Road Concert Hall. What a superb orchestra they are, so skilfully conducted by Robert Hodge. Together we presented two performances of Holst’s “The Planets” – a matinee for children and a full evening concert for… older children! (complete with a haunting off-stage chorus at the end). A wonderful day!
Earlier in the Summer, I was again in Hatfield, at the university, with my old friends Robin Browning and the De Havilland Philharmonic Orchestra, presenting ALL the stories from “Once Upon A Tune”…
BUT the year is not over yet! I’ll be back in Hatfield, at the Weston Auditorium for TWO “Fairy Tales and Panto” Christmas Concerts, on Advent Sunday, November 27th. A gorgeous programme of music, including Rossini’s Cinderella overture, a dance from Nielsen’s Aladdin, and Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty suite. You can find details in the EVENTS section above, or visit:
SEE YOU THERE!
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