Sunday 27th January @ 7.00pm
Clare McCaldin (mezzo-soprano)
Nigel Cliffe (baritone)
Paul Turner (piano)
Programme to include songs by Schubert and Barber and Hugh Wood's Laurie Lee Songs
It is a great delight and treat to welcome back Clare McCaldin to open the 2013 series who has given two fabulous solo recitals in previous years and now returns in company with Nigel Cliffe and the pianist Paul Turner. All three are highly experienced artists: Clare has sung solo roles at Covent Garden and the Salzburg Easter Festival and made her debut BBC Proms appearance in Debussy's Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian last year; Nigel Cliffe has given solo recitals at the Wigmore Hall and worked with conductors such as Rostropovich, Sir Colin Davis and Sir Simon Rattle; Paul Turner has performed all over the world and the sensitivity of his playing has been richly praised by the national press. They bring a programme that they will be performing at the Royal Opera House lunchtime concert series in February and will be including a sneak preview of octogenarian Hugh Wood's Laurie Lee Songs which receive their official premiere at the ROH a month later. Wood's last most recent song cycle, Beginnings, which Clare McCaldin premiered in 2010 was described as "luxurious post-Wagnerian Romanticism tinged with Expressionist intensity.... lit by the joy of youth and shaped by the cool-headed wisdom of experience" - so expect to be wowed!
As ever the concert is free with complimentary wine and soft drinks and you are invited to bring something (not too noisy!) to do whilst you listen if you want to. The retiring collection will be for the work of Centrepoint, doubtless too familiar to need much introduction but still, unfortunately, providing a vital resource for ever-increasing numbers of homeless young people.
The next concert will be on February 17th when the Melvin Piano Trio will be performing trios by Haydn and Beethoven.
January 13, 2013