Stop Press 26 January 2012:
Nicholas Daniel awarded the Queen's Medal for Music
see News, Views & Reviews
Welcome to the 2011/12 Lunchtime Concerts at New Walk Museum & Art Gallery
An introduction from Artistic Director Nicholas Daniel
Dear Friends,
It is once again another season of Music at the Museum. Don't they come round quickly!
First of all, I should like to thank our incredibly loyal and enthusiastic Lunchtime Concert audiences. Audience numbers have built up to such an extent over the last three years that, very sadly, we have had to turn people away because the house was full. Season ticket sales have soared and now make up well over half of the audience. Full houses of happy music lovers in turn enthuse the artists to give their finest performances creating the perfect storm - of applause!
The success of the Lunchtime Concerts is down to three main factors. As in the Leicester International Music Festival, we bring you world class artists from the UK, Europe and beyond. Incidentally, the word has got out that Leicester is the place to play and we now get artists asking to come. We believe artistic quality should never be compromised. Secondly, the Festival Board Trustees, who of course manage the Lunchtime Concerts, freely give of their time to make sure all our artists and our audiences enjoy a welcoming and warm reception. I can assure you that this doesn't happen at all the venues we play in. Thirdly, the Art Gallery at New Walk Museum is a wonderful venue both aesthetically and acoustically, and has the most amazing piano for miles around. We wouldn't get Charles Owen, Katya Apekisheva, Kathy Stott, Imogen Cooper and Stephen Hough playing for us without that piano.
So what of this season? We have tried once again to get balance of new and old friends. The wonderful accompanist Anna Tilbrook brings the soprano Emma Bell. Emma has had an exceptional summer starring with Opera North and with a critically acclaimed performance at the BBC Proms. In my time, we have never had a French horn concert so I asked Richard Watkins, formerly Principal horn of the Philharmonia and one of the finest horn players in the world to play for us. He will be accompanied by one of Leicester's favourite pianists the impeccable Julius Drake. Very popular, Charles Owen, fresh from superb performances at this year's Festival, will give a solo recital of Brahms and Schumann. The Navarra String Quartet is making a big impact at the Wigmore Hall and numerous venues round the world. It is led by Magnus Johnston who of course also leads the Aronowitz Ensemble. The next concert is very special. Our much loved Festival cellist, Natalie Clein asked if she could come and play the Tchaikovsky Trio with her friends the equally loved Festival violinist Priya Mitchell and pianist Katya Apekisheva - who could say no! Then I shall be with you with the Haffner Wind Ensemble to make up for not being able to come last year. So that's up to Christmas!
The new year begins with my favourite Carducci String Quartet and some very interesting repertoire including Philip Glass. One of the UK's finest clarinettists, Joy Farrall, returns with pianist Min Jung Kym to play Brahms, Milhaud and Finzi's exquisite Five Bagatelles. The applause was so loud last year, we just had to bring back virtuoso violinist Jack Liebeck and pianist Katya Apekisheva and, for the same reason, the Waldstein Ensemble. Guitarist Craig Ogden, who gave a special Spanish flavour to this year's Festival and wowed the crowds in Highcross with his Shoppers'Concert at Canas y Tapas, has a whole Lunchtime Concert to himself. And, finally, he's here again, the brilliant violinist Sasha Sitkovetsky with his Trio. Just so you know, it is not a rumour, Sasha has married his pianist Wu Qian!
Enjoy the season!
Nick
