New Season of Putney Music Talks
Begins with 'From Borsetshire to Biscay' with Roger Royle and Zeb Soanes
Putney Music has published the programme for the series of talks planned by the society for the next six months.
Highlights include a visit from Sir Mark Elder and Simon Callow as well as regulars such as David Mellor.
The series kicks off on 21st September with two well-known voices from radio. Radio 2's Roger Royle from the Sunday Half Hour is joined by Radio 4's Zeb Soanes best known as the voice of the shipping forecast.
Roger Royle
Putney Music is a society of music lovers who meet fortnightly from September to April to hear some of the world’s most celebrated musicians talk about their lives and work. Guest speakers come from all fields of music – the concert hall, recital platform, opera, ballet, television and film; and also include producers, broadcasters, critics and writers.
Meetings are held in The Dryburgh Hall, Putney Leisure Centre, Dryburgh Road, at the junction with Upper Richmond Road, Putney, SW15 1BL.
Putney Music: 2015-16 Season
2015
21 September - From Borsetshire to Biscay
Two familiar voices on Radio, Roger Royle from Radio 2, Sunday Half Hour etc, and Zeb Soanes (Radio 4, presenter, news reader and voice of the shipping forecast) talk about the part music, radio and the performing arts play in their lives.
5 October - Keeping it in the Family
Martin Neary and his cellist daughter Alice Neary reflect on the similarities and divergence of their professional lives.
19 October - Past Encounters and Present Thoughts
For a decade Piers Burton-Page’s interviews with musicians have enlivened evenings at Putney Music. Now, in the year of his standing down as a Vice-President, he reflects on a life as a Radio 3 producer, broadcaster and critic.
2 November - Palace Aforethought
Judith Weir , who became Master of the Queen’s Music last year, talks to Tom Hutchinson about the role of the composer in public and academic life.
16 November - Piers Lane interviews a leading musician TBA.
30 November - Sweet is the song, beautiful the words
Catherine Bott, the soprano, baroque specialist and Classic FM presenter talks to Ian Partridge about balancing a performing, academic and broadcasting career.
7 December - Exchanging Bows
Actor Simon Callow is interviewed by Steven Isserlis, the cellist. Expect insights about performance from their respective standpoints.
2016
18 January - Hallé of Fame
The conductor, Sir Mark Elder, Music Director of the Hallé Orchestra, talks about working with musicians in the concert hall and in the opera house.
1 February - Party Music (7.30pm start)
President David Cairns and Vice-president Martin Neary introduce their choice of music for Putney Music’s New Year social.
15 February - Nicholas McCarthy
The pianist Nicholas McCarthy, born without a right hand, has made a speciality of music written for the left hand alone. Peter Avis talks to him about his wide-ranging repertoire, the challenges and triumphs of his student years, and his recent recording contract with Warner Classics.
29 February - From South Kensington to East Anglia
RogerWright , the Chief Executive of Aldeburgh Music and former Controller of BBC Radio 3 and The Proms, tells Peter Avis about his life with music and musicians.
7 March - David Mellor
Makes his popular annual appearance at Putney Music.
21 March - Lord and Lady of the Ring
David Cairns closes the season with a portrait of two great Wagnerian opera singers – the soprano Frida Leider and the tenor Jon Vickers, who died in July 2015.
Meetings usually take place fortnightly on Monday evenings at 8.00 p.m. at the The Dryburgh Hall, Putney Leisure Centre, SW15 1BL from September to April. They last for about two hours with a short interval when tea, coffee & wine are available. Members & young persons are admitted for free with visitors charged £5.
Putney Music was founded in 1950 by the critic and writer, Ralph Hill. It began as a Gramophone Society, and now provides a place where members and visitors can meet internationally renowned musicians in an informal setting.
The Society enjoys a membership of over two hundred members, some of whom have a considerable knowledge of music while others have very little, but all share a great love of music.
Additional donations to the Society are always welcome.
September 17, 2015