You may remember that back in June we held a Salon Musicale at Lawn Road with violinist Madeleine Mitchell and her quintet – and lots of good food! Well, you will be glad to hear that it was not just a one off. Indeed we have held two further evenings since then and have two more planned before we move out of Lawn Road.
Using our rather beautiful Victorian drawing room to host private concerts just seems to be such an ace idea. So ace indeed that I am now thoroughly hooked on it and plan to continue to do so when I move (assuming that all goes to plan) to Highgate where I will have another large and gracious room – although the acoustic may not be quite up to Lawn Road….
Meanwhile, for those of you who missed them…..
Early in September, Soumik Datta (sarod player and TV presenter) and tabla player Aniruddha Mukherjee – gave us a wonderful hour of Indian classical music. Here is a brief clip, thank to Kirsty of SkinInsight and the FreeFrom Skincare Awards.
Soumik’s concert was such a success that it was instantly decided that we should stage another one, which we are on December 10th. But……. before anyone gets too excited, we already have a waiting list! In fact, we were booked out within 24 hours of ‘booking opening’! (I obviously need to be buying a bigger house…)
But we did not rest on our Indian laurels. Early in October Trio Silvanus was in town. Charles Whittaker (viola), Epsie Thompson (flute) and Bethan Griffiths (harp) – who played us pieces by Debussy, Dubois, William Matthias and Don Davis (he of the Matrix Trilogy and Jurassic Park III!).
On this occasion our new artistic advisor and sound engineer, Matthew, did a fine job of recording the whole concert on one of James’ rather smart recording devices – which means that we can offer you a short sample – the Don Davis piece. (For a high quality version or to access the whole concert, email me. We are not yet quite sure how we will get it to you, but we are working on it!)
Again we had a packed house and on this occasion Boris decided to join us. Having wandered in in the middle of the Debussy, he had a good sniff around the pedals on Bethan’s harp (she admirably managed not to lose her place or her cool), checked out Charles’ chair and then settled himself among the audience to listen to the rest of the concert!
Both evenings ended with a tasty supper, though I say it myself – ham this time plus the most delicious smoked mackerel from Pinney’s of Orford with samphire and tiny potatoes and a spicy rice version of my ‘ploughed field lentils’ – ending with strawberries, raspberries and those yummy soft Medjool dates.
If you would like to be informed about our ‘programme for 2020……’ please email me with your email address and I will add you to the mailing list. Apart from Soumik’s second concert in December, we are very much hoping that Madeleine and her colleagues will play for us again at the beginning of January. Then I fear the will be a break probably till April or May as we deal with the 2020 FreeFrom Food Awards and…. I move house.
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