Concerts in the West goes online with 18 specially pre-recorded classical concerts

Despite the restrictions imposed by Covid-19, classical music charity Concerts in the West is delighted to be in a position to invite its audiences to enjoy some wonderful classical music online in 18 unique pre-recorded concerts, giving people a taste of future live concerts.

The online concerts feature a fantastic line-up of top class musicians, including those who were due to play for Concerts in the West audiences this year, had not the pandemic sadly forced their cancellation, as well as those who have been invited to play in 2021 and 2022.

All these musicians have made a tremendous effort to perform together and record their music especially for Concerts in the West’s exciting series of virtual concerts. A short video explaining why Concerts in the West decided to create its Online Series can be viewed on You Tube: https://youtu.be/Py8y_9QvqGs

Ranging in length from 30-45 minutes, the performances can be viewed from 20 August to 22 October 2020 - for one month from the date of transmission - on Facebook, YouTube and www.concertsinthewest.org.uk

Concerts in the West’s website: www.concertsinthewest.org - go to videos, the concert videos will be available on the date advertised
You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCesxFzxz-ooM3gnLB7hZCJg?view_as=subscriber
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ConcertsintheWest

Catherine Maddocks, the founder and director of Concerts in the West, has been working hard throughout lockdown organising the digital concert series, as well as rebooking this year’s musicians to play in 2021 and even in 2022. So audiences will still have plenty of live performances to look forward to.

Catherine remains positive about future concerts, saying: “It is wonderful to be able to start thinking ahead and we can't wait to welcome the musicians and our audiences back again to our quirky and individual venues. In the meantime, we hope people enjoy our online series, which is being funded from our own resources. We aren’t selling tickets, so it would be lovely if our audiences could donate to support us and the musicians.”

Details of how to donate can be found on the Concerts in the West website: https://www.concertsinthewest.org/page/donations/63/

Catherine is passionate about keeping the classical music concerts going despite the difficulties caused by Covid-19:

“Shock, sadness and fear clutched at everyone in March 2020. Gradually we adapted to the life we were being asked to live. For many, the thought that live music would disappear from our lives was appalling and so we have been working on what to do about it.

“As we gradually came to realise that live venue performances in the UK were going to take some time to get going again we had to make the decision to cancel 2020 and start again in March 2021. We are optimistic that we will be able to.

“In the meantime we want to keep music alive for our audiences and have therefore decided to create an online series, which will run over several weeks in the late summer and early Autumn. Riccardo Pes has been helping us with this, particularly on the technical side. He organised the Andrà tutto bene Festival early in the lockdown so is very active and knowledgeable in this field.

“We are delighted that a lovely group of musicians has agreed to take part. They have worked hard to find venues to work in safely and have only recently managed to get together under the Government guidelines.”

Riccardo Pes, Technical Director, said: “It is thanks to organisations like Concert in the West that the music is surviving during this unprecedented time.”

Concert details:

20 August - 6pm - Carmenco - Emily Andrews (flute/voice), David Massey and Francisco Correa (guitars). Programme: Ian Clarke, Amos Coullanges, Tarrega, Bizet, Garcia-Lorca, De Falla, Ravel, De Narvaez www.carmenco.co.uk
24 August - 6pm Solem Quartet - William Newell violin, Amy Tress violin, Stephen Upshaw viola, Stephanie Tress cello. Programme: Rimsky-Korsakov, Byrd, Schumann, Gabrieli, Bartók, Adès www.solemquartet.co.uk
27 August - 6pm Mariela Shaker violin and Riyad Nicolas piano. Programme: Schubert, Mozart, Maias Alyamni www.riyadnicolas.com www.marielashaker.com
3 September - 6pm Colin Scobie violin, Manuel Vioque-Judde viola, Zéphyrin Rey-Bellet cello. Programme to include Dohnányi Serenade In C www.maxwellstringquartet.moonfruit.com/colin-Scobie/ www.vioque-Judde.com

www.zephyrinreybellet.com

7 September - 6pm Savitri Grier and Olivier Robin violins. Programme: Bartók, Leclair - Wieniawski - Pleyel www.savitrigrierviolin.com
10 September - 6pm Linos Piano Trio - Prach Boondiskulchok piano, Konrad Elias Trostmann violin, Vladimir Waltham cello. Programme: Debussy, CPE Bach, Beethoven www.linospianotrio.com
14 September - 6pm Askew Sisters - Emily and Hazel Askew, voice and multi-instrumentalists. Programme: together they rework and reinterpret English folk music songs and dance tunes. www.askewsisters.co.uk
17 September - 6pm Consone Quartet - Agata Daraskaite violin, Magdalena Loth-Hill violin, Elitsa Bogdanova viola, George Ross cello. Programme: Beethoven www.consonequartet.com
21 September - 6pm Katharine Dain soprano, Sam Armstrong piano. Programme: Debussy, Messiaen, Dutilleux, Kaija Saariaho www.katharinedain.com www.samarmstrongpianist.com
24 September - 6pm Emma Halnan flute and Eblana String Trio - Jonathan Martindale violin, Lucy Nolan viola, Peggy Nolan cello. Programme: Mozart, Sibelius, Andrew Norman www.emmahalnan.co.uk www.eblanastringtrio.com
28 September - 6pm Pelléas Ensemble - Henry Roberts flute, Luba Tunnicliffe viola, Oliver Wass harp. Programme: Rameau, Bissill, Ravel www.pelleasensemble.co.uk
1 October - 6pm Jubilee Quartet - Tereza Privratska violin, Julia Loucks violin, Lorena Cantó Woltèche viola, Toby White cello. Programme: Haydn, Schubert, Beethoven www.jubileequartet.co.uk
5 October - 6pm Trio Klein and Yuki Negishi piano - Kamila Bydlowska violin, Shiry Rashkovsky viola, Riccardo Pes cello. Programme: Gideon Klein, J Turina, Morricone www.trioklein.com
8 October - 6pm Stephen Upshaw viola. Contemporary Programme: Benjamin Graves, Georgina Bowden, Heather, Stephenson, Marc Yeats, Jonathan Harvey www.stephenupshaw.com
12 October - 6pm Alasdair Beatson piano. Programme to be confirmed. www.alasdairbeatson.com
15 October - 6pm Naomi Burrell violin, Gavin Kibble cello, David Gerrard harpsichord. Programme: Bach www.facebook.com/gavin.kibble www.naomiburrell.com
19 October - 6pm Fenella Humphreys violin, Cara Berridge cello, Daniel Grimwood piano. Programme: Beethoven - Archduke Trio www.fenellahumphreys.com www.caraberridge.com www.danielgrimwood.eu
22 October - 6pm Ferio Saxophone Quartet - Huw Wiggin, Ellie Mcmurray, Anthony Brown, Shevaughan Beere. Programme: A selection from their highly successful recordings Flux and Revive. www.feriosax.co.uk