Jacqui Dankworth and Charlie Wood

09 December 2016 at Stamford.

Jacqui Dankworth is the daughter of Cleo Laine and John Dankworth.  Charlie Wood is her American husband and a terrific pianist. A thoroughly accomplished pair, and a highly enjoyable evening. I think "Autumn in New York" has become one of my favourites.

Sarah Connelly and Joseph Middleton at Leeds, Howard Assembly Rooms

If there were dreams to sell
Sarah Connelly, mezzo-soprano, and Joseph Middleton on piano.

Leeds,  Howard Assembly Rooms, Grand Theatre.

26 November 2016

A programme of songs. First there were four poems by Hans Christian Andersen set to music by Robert Schumann.  Next Ravel's Scheherazade, settings of Tristan Klingsor's poems inspired by the Arabian nights.

After the interval came English songs by John Ireland, from poems by Harold Monro, Thomas Hardy and Thomas Lovell Beddoes.  Then four songs by ivor Gurney, and lastly A charm of Lullabies by Benjamin Britten. Some unusual lullabies here.

All wonderfully performed by the two musicians.

Eve Loiseau as Piaf

with Fiona Barrow on violin and Edward Jay on piano accordion. Arrangements by Edward Jay.

At Uppingham Theatre on Friday May 4th.

Well worth watching - she sang the songs with duende, and had the necessary stage presence. A lovely evening.

Edith Sitwell

As a child, I remember seeing her name on books, along with those of her brothers Sacheverel and Osbert, but I didn't read them.
Today we listened to a CD of English songs, and some of the songs have words by Edith Sitwell. They're playful and witty, and have whetted my appetite to find more about her, and the rest of the family.

Madam Mouse trots,
Gray in the black night!
Madam Mouse trots:
Furred is the light.
The elephant-trunks
Trumpet from the sea....
Gray in the black night
The mouse trots free.
Hoarse as a dog's bark
The heavy leaves are furled....
The cat's in his cradle,
All's well with the World!

Paul Verlaine's version:

Dame souris trotte
Noire dans le gris du soir ,
Dame souris trotte ,
Grise dans le noir .

On sonne la cloche :
Dormez les bons prisonniers ,
On sonne la cloche ,
Faut que vous dormiez .

Un nuage passe ,
Il fait noir comme en un four ,
Un nuage passe ,
Tiens le petit jour !

Dame souris trotte ,
Rose dans les rayons bleus ,
Dame souris trotte ,
Debout paresseux !

Quite different, but clearly the first two lines inspired her poem.