I had a great time performing in two recitals last week with fellow YCAT artist James Baillieu. The first recital took place at the The Jaqueline Du Pré Music Building on June 10th 2011.
"Born in Oxford on January 26, 1945 Jacqueline du Pré is arguably the greatest talent to ever play the cello. She combined mind, heart, body and soul to produce the most expressive tones ever to emanate from the instrument."
" The Jaqueline Du Pré Music Building was the first purpose-built concert hall to be built in Oxford since the Holywell Music Room in the time of Handel. Its inspiration was the wish to create a living memorial to a great artist. A joint fundraising campaign by St Hilda’s College, of which Jacqueline du Pré was an Honorary Fellow, and the Musicians’ Benevolent Fund raised over £1 million with the support of a wide range of institutions and Trusts, and very many private individuals...The Building was opened in September 1995."
It was a privilege to sing in such a lovely venue ... and there was a Jacqueline du Pré bronze sculpture alongside us on stage which I loved! I have put a little picture below.
“The College is pleased to be able to draw on the support of Alumnae of the College, Friends of the JdP, private trusts and public funding bodies in ensuring that the artistic, educational and community programmes which take place in the JdP remain a truly living memorial of Jacqueline du Pré.”
http://www.st-hildas.ox.ac.uk/index.php/jdp/
The Spitalfields festival recital on 14th June 2011 was supported by the Mercer's company and Young Concert Artist Trust and took place at St Leonard’s Shoreditch church.
"Spitalfields Music: the home of exceptional music making in London’s East End. We create astounding live music experiences through performances and learning & participation. Inspired by the spirit of the area, its people and their global and local influences, we take live music as our core, exploring performance, artists and communities."
The Heath Quartet also performed with James Baillieu that evening - the quartet had just returned from performing a series of conerts in Salamanca, Spain and will be performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival across August 2011 and once again with James on 16th July 2011 at the Music at Paxton Summer Festival. They are all wonderful musicians -catch them if you can!
Thank you to everyone involved in organising the recent recitals and to the lovely audiences that came along to support them!