A highly anticipated Harrogate performance by an international soprano has been cancelled due to the rail strike.
Elizabeth Llewellyn was due to perform a song recital accompanied by pianist Simon Lepper at the Wesley Centre on Monday.
Born to Jamaican parents, Ms Llewellyn is widely regarded as today’s must-see soprano in the world’s opera houses and concert halls.
But the latest round of strikes called by the RMT rail union has scuppered the lunchtime event, which was called off before the strike action was cancelled.
However, acclaimed pianist Steven Osborne has agreed to step in instead.
Steven Osborne
His programme includes Debussy’s Pour le piano and two Rachmaninov pieces: the Nunc Dimittis from All-Night Vigil and his piano sonata number one 1 in D minor.
Monday’s concert starts at 1pm and tickets costing £10 will be available on the door.
It is part of the long-running series of lunchtime concerts organised by Andrew Hitchens at the Wesley.
The rest of this season’s programme includes:
December 5 — Elisa Tomellini (Italian pianist)
January 9 — London Horn Duo
February 6 — Harmoniemusik (Four woodwinds and piano)
March 6 — Kitty Whately (mezzosoprano) and Joseph Middleton (piano)
April 3 — Emma Abbate and Julian Perkins (piano, four hands)
May 8 — Gareth Brynmor-John (tenor/winner of the Ferrier 2013) and Christopher Glynn
June 5 — Susan Tomes
July 3— Jazz concert with the Richard Weatherall Trio
There will also be two evening concerts, details to be announced.
New music festival celebrates remarkable composer buried in HampsthwaiteAn ambitious new two-day music festival in a small Harrogate village began last night.
The Amy Woodforde-Finden Music Festival was created to promote a female composer who is buried in Hampsthwaite.
About 70 people attended a recital of her songs at St Thomas a Becket Church, featuring London mezzo-soprano Patricia Hammond.
A guided tour of Amy’s Hampsthwaite this morning will be followed by a concluding concert this evening featuring two baritones and talented local musicians at St Thomas a Becket.
It is hoped the festival will become an annual event, promoting the work of Amy and other female composers, as well as engaging local artists and schools.
Amy’s music was much sought-after at the turn of the last century but her reputation fell into obscurity following her death in 1919.
Amy Woodforde-Finden’s tomb
Her tomb in St Thomas a Becket Church attracted little attention for a century until the German composer and pianist Thomas Flessenkaemper was appointed director of music for the benefice of Hampsthwaite, Killinghall and Birstwith.
Mr Flessenkaemper noticed the tomb during his interview for the role and when he took up the position he became curious. He said:
“I set out to track down this extraordinary artistic personality. I quickly realised that I had struck gold and read everything I could find about Amy Woodforde-Finden.”
He became “completely drunk on the colourfulness of her musical language” and set about establishing a festival to promote her work.
St Thomas a Becket Church last night
Mr Flessenkaemper accompanied Ms Hammond at last night’s recital, the highlight of which was Amy’s four-song Indian Love Lyrics.
The programme notes included a supportive quote from international pianist Stephen Hough, who said he “immediately fell in love with the alluring melodies, the exotic harmonies and the ultra-sentimental words” of Amy’s music.
A video set to Amy’s music featuring Hampsthwaite is available here.
Tickets for this evening’s concert are available here and at the church door tonight.
Read more:
- New music festival to mark composer’s link to Nidderdale village
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