 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||||
WLMP Reviews 2010
The
Sabrina Piggot Band, the Bootham School Chamber Choir
and Kate Chruscicka - a review by John Clarke
Sabrina Piggott opened the programme at the Wakefield Live Music Project
Variety Fundraiser at the Orangery on Wednesday 17th November and from
the first note it was clear that a banquet was being laid before us. Sabrina
treated the audience to her take on traditional music fused with modern
influences. Guitar and voice beautiful as always, she was backed by the
multi-talented djambi player, Mark Taylor, cellist David Hornberger and
Jimi Andrex showing virtuosity on the harmonium, all of whom laid down
a rich texture of sound amidst the superb acoustics of the Orangery.
The Bootham School Chamber Choir was next to contribute to the feast. Directed by Paul Feehan, the choir demonstrated its full astonishing range: classical sacred music, barber shop harmonies and popular swing numbers. Clapping along enthusiastically to a sublimely performed African hymn, the many young people in the audience were in no doubt about their particular favourite.
Confession time: at the break your reviewer was sated; thinking he couldn't accommodate any more of WLMP's "Pure Music." How wrong can you be? Kate Chruscicka on the violin accompanied by Paul Feehan on the piano placed more temptations before us: Vivaldi, Beethoven and Mozart all featured in an ecstatically received set, but the final piece, Massanet's Meditation on Thais, a brave choice given its familiarity, was the icing on this particular gateau of a musical extravaganza.
We
were denied the sliver of an encore but we had feasted well all evening
and there's no virtue in gluttony.
About The Wakefield Live Music Project
WLMP knows inspiration is key to learning and quality listening experiences are critical to the progress of student musicians. We twin this with the vital need for performance platforms for young professional musicians and bring brilliant live music events close to home!
Family Friendly
" Our unique Gigs for Kids scheme means under 18s gain free access to all our events and accompanying adults are half price.
" Most of our events are held during the weekend day-time so they are easy to get to for busy parents and their kids.
" We aim for a relaxed and informal approach where young people are warmly welcomed and programmes and artists relate to the needs and expectations of today's young audiences.
" We aim for a wide mix of venues to enable easy access and bring our top quality musicians to as many areas of Wakefield as possible.
Plus...
Because
we know live performance opportunities are hard to come by we had the
idea to launch "Hot
Spot" so any young musicians in fulltime education could
perform at some of the districts most popular venues. Click
here to find out more.
And...
Because we are right behind some of the best UK young professional musicians we have a Featured Artists Scheme. Our Featured Artists for 2011/12 are The Ligeti String Quartet. Hear them in the first of a series of events hosted by WLMP at The Orangery in July.
To
find out more about Featured Artists and us Email wakefield.lmp@gmail.com
A completely enthralling evening was had by all who experienced the talents of the Barbirolli String Quartet at The Orangery, writes Lauren Fox. Each of these great string players displayed their superb individual musical gifts which made for an awe-inspiring quartet. From the opening Haydn no.27 in D major, they proved themselves fearless musicians with stunning technical skill.
The moving and compelling performance of this diverse quartet was fascinating for every audience member; even those who insisted that "this is not usually my thing" claimed to be "amazed" and "truly touched" by the passionate commitment of this ensemble to playing music.
The support for the evening, poet Gerard Benson, added an extra diversity with his ability to send the audience into a deep state of hilarity one moment and deeply move them the next.
As the ensemble closed (tremendously) with Debussy's only string quartet, it was clear from the buzzing atmosphere that the joys of live music had been appreciated by everyone in the room - a full house - and isn't that the point? If you missed it, you missed out!
Here are some other wonderful things people said at this gig:
"Sensational"
"The exuberance of youth and stunningly talented. Great expression and drama"
"Never too late to learn and discover another form of music - thank you, it was excellent"
"Thanks for the wonderful evening, a really successful way to make music more accessible"
"Beautifully weighted and timed poetry, thoroughly enjoyable"
"Best quartet I've heard for years"
Top Back to WLMP homepage
Barbirolli String Quartet
Elysian Quartet, The Hop (Wednesday 14 April)
WLMP's latest offering saw vintage instrument abuse on a grand scale at the Hop (Andy Owen writes). Anyone who previously associated string quartets with Mantovani-esque politeness was in for a shock as the Elysian sawed and hammered beautiful swirling blocks of sound out of the cold Wakefield night.
Just when you thought that through sheer mathematical inevitability, the tonal possibilities of old wood and wires might be in danger of exhaustion, one of them whips out a stylophone to push the sonic envelope even further.
Max de Wardener's "Bees" conjured up rich soundscapes that referenced Robert Fripp or Tangerine Dream as much as contemporary classical influences. Keith Tippets Quartet No 1 was like pizzicato musical karate on a giant mbira and the improvised sections provoked spontaneous giggles on and off stage. But, this was no musical joke, this was music that said "Why not?" The sound of having fun and being whisked off to a post modern fairyland without the need for anything stronger than Limelite Bitter.
Support Seth Bennett's opening, untitled, double bass improvisation took the audience off somehwere that, if you had to locate it on a map, would be in the border region between Bulgaria and Turkey.
The evening ended with a rare performance of Meredith Monk's Stringsongs and although physicists might argue, time was suspended in a beautiful way. There was a sudden realisation only a handful of people on this planet have ever heard this piece's lyrical, abstract gorgeousness. In that moment you knew, for once, Wakefield was the only place to be.
Post gig: Elysian cellist Laura Moody said:
"It was a real pleasure to come and play for The Project. The amount of work put into promoting the event really paid off."
Other lovely comments included:
"Inspired choice of venue!", "simply amazing music," and "can't wait for the next one!"
Top Back to WLMP homepage
Elysian Quartet