PREVIEW: A Midsummer Night’s STeam

Lincoln is a small city but, with a iconic cathedral, 2 universities, Choir and amateur dramatic companies a-plenty, an impressive history, and festivals such as Sonophilia it has, perhaps, more than its fair share of cultural events.

One of the most famous events is the annual ‘Steampunk Festival‘ which takes place in several sites around the city over the August Bank Holiday weekend.

The ‘Asylum‘ gave Colin Brimblecombe, director at Perfect Fifth Productions, the idea of combining Shakespeare with Steampunk and so, this August bank holiday, to coincide with the Steampunk Festival, the company will be putting on ‘A Midsummer Night’s STeam’.

Shakespeare’s ‘Dream’ play – one of his most popular – includes a Royal wedding, warring fairies, incompetent amateur actors and a man who turns into an Ass!

Added to all this, the production is being presented in a Steampunk style which should make it all very exciting.

In the play, which supposedly all takes place during the course of one night, two young lovers, Hermia and Lysander, elope into the Athenian forest but are pursued by their rivals, fairies, and a collection of artisans who are intent on some artistic activity!

Additionally, the production will include live music.

The production can be seen at two venues over the August Bank Holiday weekend – TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE FOR BOTH VENUES.

• Perfect Fifth Productions are giving two performances of ‘A Midsummer Night’s STeam‘ at Lincoln Drill Hall on Friday 24th and Sunday 26th August. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS.
• They are also giving two outdoor ‘Beer & the Bard‘ performances of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream‘ in the garden of The Bottle and Glass, Harby on Saturday 25th and Monday 27th August. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS.

Friday’s concert…. a little taster

On Friday the Isle of Axholme Orchestra are performing a concert called ‘BACK TO BASICS‘.

Peter Humphries will be soloist in Mozart’s Bassoon Concerto

There’s a Suite by me alongside an overture, a concerto and a symphony.

Have a listen to Beethoven, Mozart and Haydn!

Chapel Classics: 8th July 2018

Following the continued success of Classical Coffee (and the return of Classical Christmas in December), Team Hannah/Rob have a brand new venture starting next month!

A new series of classical concerts by candlelight in the beautiful 13th-Century Church of St Margaret of Antioch in Waddingworth, right in the middle of rural Lincolnshire.

St. Margaret of Antioch, Waddingworth

St Margaret of Antioch used to be the parish church and then became a mortuary chapel. In 1808 it was rebuilt having fallen into a state of dilapidation which also happened in the early 20th Century. These days the chapel sits dormant much of the time and the current owner, Chris Hind, would like to see it being used.

The first Chapel Classics recital will take place on Sunday, 8th July and will feature the harpist Charlotte Nénert and violin duo ‘4 Strings A Piece‘.

Charlotte Nenert (harp)

There will be informal music from about 6pm to accompany picnics (please bring your own picnic – if the weather is inclement picnics can be eaten inside the chapel) and the candlelit recital will begin at 8pm.

4 Strings A Piece (Ruth Birkett & Hannah Borrill – violins)

The evening will end at about 9pm.

Tickets are priced £7.50. Space is very limited so, please, to avoid disappointment please book early. Booking details can be found on the Facebook event.

Back to Basics with the Isle of Axholme Orchestra: 29th June 2018

On Friday 29th June, I’ll be conducting the Isle of Axholme Orchestra in a concert called ‘Back to Basics’ – unlike some of our recent concerts with big subject themes like Female composers, music inspired by water or a silent movie to accompany this concert has an overture, a Suite, a concerto and a symphony!

Beethoven – ‘Coriolan Overture’
Steadman – Suite from ‘Sense & Sensibility’
Mozart – Bassoon Concerto
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Haydn – Symphony No. 104 (‘London’)

A painting of London by Canaletto

The concert will open with Beethoven’s ‘Coriolan Overture’ and followed by my ‘Suite from Sense & Sensibility’ arranged for flutes and clarinets (they don’t have parts in the concerto so it was only fair they had a piece to play!).

Peter Humphries, our own bassoonist, will then be the soloist in Mozart’s rather wonderful Bassoon Concerto.

Peter Humphries – soloist for Mozart’s Bassoon Concerto.

After the interval there is just one piece: Haydn’s last Symphony, No. 104 (‘London’) which, like the Beethoven overture, makes a great deal of use of silent bars to create tension.

The concert is at Ashby Memorial Methodist Church, Ashby High Road, Scunthorpe, DN16 2JT starting at 19:30. Admission is free (there will be a retiring collection).