A Concert and rain.

Up in Essex this weekend with Pete as last night (Friday) we were off to a concert at Saffron Hall.

The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment was conducted very ably by Marin Alsop. 

Their first piece Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 4 The Italian- excellent and captivated me in each

The second half - had Nicola Benedetti taking the lead roll in Beethoven's Violin Concerto.  As always, Nicola playing beautifully with such feeling for the music.

All in all a most enjoyable evening and a full house at the concert hall.

Today off to meet some friends for a coffee

 and the intention was we'd head off to for a wander to Wimpole NT.  However by the time we were ready to set off, it was raining hard, so given my wine 'store' was in need of replenishing we went to Baythorne Hall to stock up.

Plan B - off to Finchingfield for lunch and a wander.. lunch was great - rain stopped play for a walk.. so that was it.

Hoping for better weather tomorrow..

Saffron Hall - a wonderful afternoon

It's been a very dreary day weather wise today but this afternoon it was as if the sun was shining.  Having intended to visit Audley End before the concert the weather dictated we went straight to the concert... and wow!!

We were at Saffron Hall for some musical delights provided by the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra with the conductor Edward Gardener.

The first piece, was
Greig's Peer Gynt Suite

 -  a piece that I grew up on but today was the first time I heard/saw a live performance - one of excellence

Second on the agenda was Elgar's Cello Concerto in E minor Op85 - the cellist being Leonard Elschenbroich - the orchestra and cellist kept me enrapt throughout.. one of my favourite choices.

The final programmed piece was Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra (1943) - not a piece I am familiar with and generally not a great fan of Bartok's.  However, today I had my mind changed.. and loved the fourth and fifth movements in particular.

And the encore???  Well anyone who had to rush away really missed a great treat - Elgar's Nimrod from the Enigma variations.. always manages to bring a tear (of pure joy and emotion) to my eyes

Thank you to all concerned for a wonderful afternoon....

Audley End and a Musical visit to Saffron Hall

We were off to Saffron Hall this afternoon... the sun was shining so we visited Audley End first.

the lake was crystal clear

and one of the residents... looks as the he'd been having a roll in the school!!

Lots of buds on the fruit trees...

First ladybird of the year!

Messrs Quacks & Ponders enjoying the sun..

Catkin-laden tree

Then on to Saffron Hall..

The Orchestra - Oslo Philarmonic
Conductor - Vasily Petrenko.
The Pianist - Simon Trpčeski

The first piece was Edvard Grieg's 'Ganga' from Lyric Suite, Op. 54 - beautifully played.

This was followed by Rachmaninov's Piano Concert No. 2 in C minor, Op 18
Amazing piece of music and magical playing by Simon Trpčeski with equally wonderful performance by the orchestra - just loved it!!

Simon then invited the young cellist Louisa Tuck to join him in his encore which was Rachmaninov's Vocalise... just spellbinding. Simon dedicated the piece to Louisa's father who was in the audience.. what a wonderful gesture..

And the second half , Gustav Mahler's Symphony No.5 in C sharp minor.

The drama in this piece is wonderful, and the contrasts in tempo and temperature - the calm to the energetic - captivating...

I was spellbound throughout the entire programme.

Thank you to every musician involved for a wonderful concert

The Sixteen in concert.....

Last night (Sunday) I was at Saffron Hall with Pete, for my last concert of 2015 .. where has the year gone.

I've loved choral music for some years so was delighted that pieces by Thomas Tallis and William Byrd were included in the quite varied programme.  .  The theme for tonight's programme was based on The Virgi Mother and Child

I particularly liked a piece called 'The Lamb' - but all the music was superb and I really can't choose a favourite.

We were treated to an encore of two pieces - the second being Ding Dong Merrily on high... I wish I'd known the title of the other piece... it was very familiar.....

An excellent evening and looking forward to seeing them in concert in February when it will be a very different programme and the orchestra will be joining the singers.

We will be visiting Saffron Hall again next month... it's becoming my favourite concert hall.....

Alison Balsom and the London Concert Orchestra

Quick nip into Rye Meads

 and then off this afternoon to Saffron Hall for a concert.  This is one of my favourite concert venues for several different reasons.  Apart from the obvious attributes of the acoustics etc, the seating is very comfortable and the Hall has a great atmosphere.

Today it was a treat... The London Concert Orchestra started proceedings with Concerto Grosso Op.6, No.8 in G Minor by Arcagelo Corelli.  This was followed by Alison Balsom taking centre stage with Tartini's Trumpet Concerto in D major D.53 - a piece originally composed for the Violin but expertly performed by Alison

This in turn followed by J.S.Bach's Orchestral Suite No.3 in D major.. which, of course, includes the Air - popularly know as Air on a G String... beautifully played.... emotional stuff.

After the interval, followed

Geminiani Concerto Grosso No. 12 in D Minor

Albinoni's Oboe Concerto in B flat Major, Op.7 No 3 and arranged for Trumpet

Vivaldi's Concerto for Three Violins in F major, arr. for Trumpets - which was superb and Alison advised us that this was arranged for this concert by a friend .   the fee was a case of wine..

finally, Handel's Oveture to The Occasional Oratorio

Alison is an amazing solo performer and equally as part of the orchestra... always so generous in praise of her fellow trumpeters (Ross Brown and Adam Wright) and her good relationship with the orchestra was obvious.

A wonderful afternoon..... would love this combination of artists to be repeated - thank you to all who entertained us so beautifully