Welcome to our twenty-eighth newsletter – designed to keep you informed about our activities, as well as other local chamber music events.
Do visit our redesigned website at https://www.stringsattachedmusic.org.uk . It has (virtually) everything you need to know about what Strings Attached can offer and is a joy to behold.
THE 2017/18 COFFEE CONCERT SEASON HAS ENDED – BUT AN ADDITIONAL CONCERT IS STILL TO COME. What’s more, details of the dates of the 2018/19 season are now available, see below.
The concert on 25 March given by Trio Isimsiz was an extraordinary success. Schubert’s “Trout” quintet, considered “breezy” and “easy going” by some, was transformed into an ode to joy. For reviews, see https://www.stringsattachedmusic.org.uk and click on ‘Reviews’ in the main menu.
The extra concert will be given on 29 April at 11 am in the Attenborough Centre by Quatuor Arod. This is an addition to the series and so is not covered by 2017/18 season tickets. Tickets specifically for this concert may be obtained as detailed under ‘Practicalities’.
They will be playing:
- Haydn String Quartet Op. 74 No. 3 “The Rider”
- Benjamin Attahir “Al Asr”
- Beethoven String Quartet Op. 59 No.2
Founded in 2013 they continue our tradition of engaging young exciting chamber groups. As BBC New Generation Artists and winners of the Munich and Carl Nielsen Prizes they are both young and exciting. The piece by Attahir is especially interesting. It was composed for this quartet; indeed, it evolved as the quartet learned to play it. I don’t imagine it’s been heard in the UK before.
The concert has been made possible by the generosity of Strings Attached founder member Christina Gee.
The concert will be dedicated to the memory of Dr Caroline Brown MA, Hon D Mus (Sussex), ARCM (1953 – 2018), who was Artistic Director at the Old Market, Hove 1998 – 2010. In addition, the Hanover Band is organising a Memorial Service and Concert for Caroline to be held at St Margaret’s Church, Westminster on 13 June at 4 pm. Admission is only possible for those who have registered. This can be done at eventbrite.co.uk . Search for ‘Caroline Brown’.
For those who like to prepare for a concert, programme notes are available on https://www.stringsattachedmusic.org.uk under ‘Coffee Concert Season 2017/18’.
THE 2018/19 SEASON
The dates for the next season are as follows:
21 October 2018
18 November 2018
9 December 2018
27 January 2019
24 February 2019
24 March 2019
Details of performers and programmes, as well as any additional concerts, will follow as soon as they are finalised.
PRACTICALITIES
The Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts (ACCA), formerly the Gardner Centre, is at the University of Sussex at Falmer. The move to ACCA, as you will recall, is temporary during the extensive refurbishment of the Brighton Dome Corn Exchange.
There is free parking at the Sports Centre close to the Attenborough Centre and at other car parks on the campus nearby.
It has come to the attention of Strings Attached that some people find the stairs at ACCA daunting. We are happy to point out that there is a lift from the entrance lobby which means that people can access seats high in the auditorium without climbing stairs.
There are excellent public transport links:
- by train from Brighton or Lewes, or
- by bus: No. 25 from Hove and Brighton, No. 23 from Brighton Marina or Nos 28 and 29 from Brighton, or, coming the other way, from Tunbridge Wells via Uckfield and Lewes.
Help with transport A happy tradition is established whereby Strings Attached members offer lifts to others who would otherwise have difficulty with transport. If a lift has not already been arranged for you and you would either like a lift, or would like to offer one, please email the secretary Margaret Polmear on m.polmear@btinternet.com It will only be possible to find a lift for you if there happens to be someone in your area who is offering one.
Tickets are £18.50 (concessions £16) and are available from the Strings Attached website www.stringsattachedmusic.org.uk , from the Brighton Dome Box Office (01273 709709) or www.brightondome.org or from the Attenborough Centre on the day.
Tickets for those aged 8 – 25 are free as part of the Cavatina Scheme. They can only be booked by visiting the box office in person. The Brighton Dome box office can issue tickets in advance; the ACCA box office will be open on the morning of the concert. Either the young person should be present at the time of booking, or the person booking for him or her must show proof of age, e.g. a passport. Under 14s must be accompanied to the concert by a paying adult.
OTHER CHAMBER MUSIC EVENTS
Brighton Festival opens on 5 May. The programme includes plenty of classical music including our very own Heath Quartet who will be on stage with four actors in the programme called The String Quartet’s Guide to Sex and Anxiety. Well, it is the Brighton Festival!
The Lewes Chamber Music Festival returns on 14 – 16 June. Note that that’s a Thursday to Saturday. Tickets are available from www.leweschambermusicfestival.com . For those who don’t know it, this is a festival like none other. Talented young musicians combine with players of international renown, in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. They will be playing old favourites (Beethoven, Mozart, and Schubert) alongside ambitious discoveries from the archives (Kreisler, Schmidt, Walter Rabl) as well as more well-known 20th century composers (Webern, Schoenberg, Bliss). And this year they are back in St John’s sub Castro with its excellent acoustic. For many local chamber music lovers this is one of the highlights of the year.
The Peasmarsh Chamber Music Festival will be held from 21 – 24 June. As always, Anthony Marwood and Richard Lester are co-directors. Players include the Navarra Quartet and the Britten Sinfonia. Details are on https://peasmarshfestival.co.uk .
Another festival to note is the South Downs Summer Music Festival, previously Alfriston Summer Music, 24 – 29 July. Based at St Andrew’s Church, Alfriston, it features international players in a glorious setting. For details see www.southdownssummermusic.co.uk
Details of concerts at Brighton churches (St Luke’s, St Nicholas’ the Unitarian Church and the Chapel Royal) and those organised by other music societies in Steyning, Seaford, Lewes, Eastbourne, Ditchling and Chichester can all be accessed via the Strings Attached chamber music calendar. Go to www.stringsattachedmusic.org.uk and choose ‘calendar’ from the menu.