NEWS

DON'T MISS TALKS BY KATHRYN AND NORIKA !

When Alnwick Music Society purchased a full-sized Steinway Concert Grand, it enabled us to attract and book top international pianists. Many of our members will recall the early impressive recitals given by pianist KATHRYN STOTT and, a little later, by NORIKA OGAWA. This was in the days when the Castle Guest Hall still had a stage and the walls were covered with an array of animal heads - a stark reminder of the days when shooting anything that moved - however rare - was considered acceptable . In APRIL ( SATURDAY 7th , 2-4pm)) Norika will be presenting her musical passions in a 2 hour programme for "BBC SATURDAY CLASSICS" This should be an interesting programme because she has made a name for herself, particularly as an interpreter of Debussy, but she has also been responsible for introducing the now well-known Japanese composer Takemitsu . Later in the month, at the same time, 2 - 4pmSATURDAY 28th, KATHRYN STOTT will present a programme on the Music of France. It is worth reminding everyone that, in 2006,, the French Government recognised Kathryn's outstanding contribution to French music by conferring upon her the prestigious title of "Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Arts et Lettres" - an honour rarely bestowed upon a non-French citizen !  Myra Armistead.

STOP PRESS - The FINAL of BBC's YOUNG MUSICIAN of the YEAR is at the SAGE on SUNDAY 13th MAY Hall One, 3 - 6pm I know that many of you will have been watching and listening to the instrumental stages of the competition over the last week or two. If you look at a list of today's artists, it is interesting to note that many of them had their career kick-started by the competition. It is important to point out that many of them were not the outright winner e.g. violinist JENNIFER PIKE, but were winners of their instrumental stage e.g. clarinettist MICHAEL COLLINS and pianist BEN GROSVENOR. We can strongly recommend that you go down to the Sage to attend this exciting event - we found the atmosphere last time , to be electrically exciting ,as the Hall was packed witenthusiastic friends and relatives. (Tel 0191 443 4661 - there should be plenty of room in Hall One)

As our season finishes with John Lill's recital on Wednesday 9th May - there will be no more listings until next season begins in October.. BUT - keep your eye on the website which will give you details of some of the many summer and autumn music festivals which are held throughout the UK

Myra Armistead.

MAY LISTINGS

Composer of the week - RICHARD STRAUSS - usually 12 noon and 6.30pm
Monday 7th 1pm	Pianist LEON McCAWLEY -Chopin, Schumann,
Tuesday 8th 1pm	Lunchtime concert today and for the rest of the week are from New York with String quartets, singers, pianists and violinists
Thursday 10th 7.30pm	Mozart Symphony No 40 and Mahler Das Lied von der Erde with the HALLE,. ALICE COOTE and LARS CLEVEMAN
Friday 11th 7.30pm	Concert from Aberdeen - BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra - Mozart Clarinet Concerto and Bruckner Symph. no 7
Saturday 12th 9am	Building a library CHOPIN 'S MAZURKAS
Sunday 13th 6pm	*** Don't miss the FINAL of the BBC YOUNG MUSICIAN of the YEAR from the SAGE ***
Tuesday 15th 1pm	Lunchtime concerts today and for the rest of the week are from ST.GEORGES, BRISTOL , with a variety of young artists
Wednesday 16th 7.30	HALLE Orchestra with pianist SOFYA GULIAK - Tchaikovsky and Borodin

Composer of the week - EDVARD GRIEG 12 noon and 6.30pm
Monday 21st 1pm	BRAHMS and BRITTEN cello and piano sonatas with Johannes Moser and Paul Rivilius at the WIGMORE
Tuesday 22nd 1pm	Britten Sinfonia - Strauss "Till Eugenspiegel" and Bruch Septet
Wednesday 23rd 1pm	Britten Sinfonia - Handel, Andre Previn and Poulenc
Thursday 24th 1p.m.   7.30pm	Britten Sinfonias - Franck Piano Quintet and Bedford -new work BBC Symph. Orch. from the BARBICAN - Brahms Violin Concerto with ISABEL FAUST - violin
Saturday 26th 9pm	Building a library - MESSIAEN'S TURANGALILA SYMPHONY repeated Monday 11am
Composers of the week COLE-PORTER and IRVING BERLIN
Monday 28th 1pm	Pianist EFFLAM BAVOUZET - Debussy and Liszt. . We heard him at Martin Roscoe's annual Ribble
Thursday 31st 7.30pm	Philharmonia Orch. with pianist David Fray - Mozart Piano Concerto No 2, Janacek Sinfonietta and Dvorak Symph No 7