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Newsletter |
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This Newsletter is published once a year in August and is sent to all on our mailing list.
Welcome to the 63rd Season of the Richmondshire Subscription Concerts.
Subscription held again at £35 for six concerts!! Last season we had a record number of 228subscribers and this has enabled us to hold subscriptions for a third year. A subscription to RSC must be one of the finest value season tickets in the country! It works out at less than £6 for each concert performed by nationally and internationally renowned professional musicians. We very much hope that you will continue to subscribe enabling us to afford the best possible musicians for our concerts! You can help even more by adding a little to your subscription to become a Friend of the RSC (the new name for “patron”) and this will also entitle you to attend a reception after the March concert where you can meet the artists and discuss the season with members of the committee! Friends are also listed in all the concert programmes and are sponsoring the December concert. This year your committee has had to face the fact that concerts in the Georgian Theatre cannot guarantee good seats to all subscribers who attend. The decision has been made to hold all concerts in the coming season in the Zetland Centre. Many improvements have been made in this venue over the last two years; new decoration, new heating and improved lighting and it is now a comfortable venue providing good seats for an audience up to 300. Season 2009-10 It is difficult to pick out highlights of another excellent season but most memorable for the editor was the concert by the Carducci Quartet. These musicians have a very appreciative following throughout the country and are firm favourites with our subscribers. They play with great passion and intensity and the Beethoven quartet was extremely fine. Unfortunately the editor missed both London Concertante and the Cleveland Chamber Orchestra but he is familiar with the playing of both ensembles and was not surprised by the very favourable reports of these concerts by members of our audiences. We tried something different with Travelling by Tuba for our Christmas Concert after making the decision to cease the Christmas Reception. The concert was interesting but not quite what we have been used to both in quality and style but the introduction of a longer interval with Christmas style refreshment seemed to go down well! However, an encouraging sign was the number of young people attending and there was lively interaction between them and the performers during the interval when people were encouraged to try playing many of the strange instruments from around the world. You will not be disappointed with this season’s Christmas Concert ( see later)! Season 2010-11 The season was to have opened in October with the young Finnish String Quartet Meta4. However, at the very last minute, just as we were going to press, they informed us that their cellist was seriously ill and all autumn In November we welcome internationally renowned pianist, Sarah Beth Briggs whose concert focuses on the 200th anniversaries of the birth of Chopin and Schumann. The programme is devoted entirely to some of the finest and most popular works of these composers. Sarah was one of the youngest ever finalists in the history of the BBC Young Musician of the Year at the age of 11 and has gone on to play concertos with many of the major orchestras as well as establishing a fine reputation as a chamber musician. Now well known not only for her performances but also for the witty, informative and engaging introductions to her programmes She will be a great hit with our audience! “..stunningly well played and compellingly shaded...” “ a dramatic insight and poetic flair that takes nothing for granted...”Classic FM Magazine. In December our special concert, with festive refreshments, is entitled “Nightmare in Venice” performed by Red Priest. Magical, mysterious, fantastical – this will be a theatrical presentation of some of the most extraordinary chamber music of the baroque era, featuring Vivaldi's Nightmare Concerto, Tartini's Devil's Trill sonata, Masque music by Robert Johnson, Gluck's Dance of the Blessed Spirits, Leclair's Demon Airs and Red Priest's own Fantasia on Corelli's La Follia. The quartet of baroque players is led by Piers Adams, recently heralded in the Washington Post as ”the reigning recorder virtuoso in the world today” The quality of the playing will not be in doubt and we hope you will be prepared to be swept off your feet by the programme. Last year we decided not to have concerts in January because of the possibility of cold and inclement weather. This proved to be well justified! In February we welcome violinist Victoria Sayles with pianist Martin Cousins brought to us through the Countess of Munster Recital Scheme. However, despite still being considered a rising star, she has already amassed a great deal of experience. As well as playing for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra for two years she has led many ensembles and orchestras under major world class conductors. She is a keen chamber musician and has played in many countries. She plays a wonderful programme with music by Handel, Ravel, Elgar, Brahms and Sarasate. In March we hear, for the first time in many years, a wind quintet, the Gallimaufry Ensemble (clarinet, oboe, flute, bassoon, horn). Formed in 2000 at the Royal Academy of Music they were subsequently awarded the prestigious Leverhulme Chamber Music Fellowship. Described as “dazzling” by the Times and “arresting” by the Guardian they have performed with energy and vitality at major venues in this country and throughout Europe. Their programme of works mainly composed in the 20th century may, at first sight, seem challenging but one should realise that almost all of the best music for this combination of instruments has been written since 1900. This programme highlights the best of the wind quintet repertoire. You will not be disappointed. Our final concert in April is given by the Barbirolli String Quartet, another highly talented young quartet, playing works by Mozart, Venables and Schumann. Formed at the Royal Northern College of Music in 2003, they hail from Canada, Wales and Australia and have performed in major venues at home and abroad. “forthright, full-blooded musicians” , The Times; “suberbly realised performance” and “the precision of ensemble at formidable rates of energy”, The Strad. Darlington Music Society You are reminded of the arrangement we have with Darlington Music Society. If you take out a Richmondshire subscription you will be able to purchase one for Darlington at half their normal price – that is only £29 for 7 more excellent concerts! An added bonus for subscribers Each subscription ticket has a unique number. Before each concert a draw will be made and the lucky subscriber will receive a £25 token which can be exchanged for books or compact discs at Castle Hill Bookshop. We are grateful for their generous offer which they give in the hope that it will encourage more people to take out a subscription! Friends and Sponsorship Now grants to arts organisations have all but dried up we are reliant on Subscribers, Friends (do please become one!) and Sponsors to enable us to book artists of high calibre. We are fortunate in having some corporate sponsors and these are listed on the brochure but there is also a need for personal sponsors and you are invited to consider this. A sponsor provides some help towards the cost of a concert and has his or her name associated with it. Personal sponsorship qualifies for tax relief through Gift Aid making every pound given worth £1.25 to the society. It can be linked with a family occasion or dedicated to a loved one. Personal sponsors have given one off payments of between £100 and £500 over the past four years and these donations have been a great help to the society. Please discuss this with Douglas Waugh or any other committee member when the occasion is appropriate. Email addresses If you have email please let us have your up to date address either on the subscribers’ form or by emailing it to Nick Reckert. Volunteers After the fine help given by subscribers in mounting the opera, Marriage of Figaro three years ago it was decided to keep a record of those who would be prepared to help in the organisation of concerts. If you could help occasionally with some aspects: selling programmes, acting as ushers, providing accommodation, meeting and greeting artists, helping to feed them before concerts, helping with stage management or with page turning for pianists please contact John Furniss.
OUR SPONSORS, SUPPORTERS AND FRIENDS
ALT-BERG- based in Richmond, they are makers of the finest walking boots. CASTLE HILL BOOKSHOP- our local book and CD stockists with a range for all tastes. They are generously giving a prize for the winning season ticket number at each concert. COUNTESS OF MUNSTER MUSICAL TRUST- provides a platform and financial support for young performers embarking on a professional career. DAVID CARR FOUNDATION- provides assistance for local sporting and cultural activities. GUITAR HOUSE- based at Castle Hill Walk, they are suppliers of guitars and accessories. JONATHAN FRY & Co. Ltd.- an independent Financial Advisory firm based in Richmond; regular supporters of our concerts. RICHMOND ALE- independent local brewers of fine ales worthy of the name they bear. SHERWOODS OF DARLINGTON- the area’s main Vauxhall dealers. Their sales outlet and showroom is the envy of the trade and well worth a visit. thecitysecret- fast growing specialist outsourcing technology company, based in Richmond, who have given generous support in hosting and supporting our website. THE YOUNG CONCERT ARTISTS TRUST- selects and manages the most outstanding musical talents during their first years within the profession. |
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Richmondshire Subscription Concerts
NEWSLETTER 2010-11 |