Bury Recorded Music Circle

6:39am Thursday 15th May 2008

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LIFE member Chris Horridge presented Some Lesser-known Gems of Mozart to the Bury & District Recorded Music Circle.

Chris opened by explaining that the majority of Mozart's works are listed with letter K, this refers to Ludwig von Kochel who catalogued the works.

Chris opened with the Symphony No 1. K16 written when Mozart was eight years old, followed by Sonata for Organ and Orchestra No3 in D, K69, written at the age of eleven.

Next we heard a Soprano Aria from the Opera Lucio Silla, K135 written at the age of 16, followed by Concerto for Three Pianos, K242 written at the age of 20; the Sinfonia Concertante in E Flat, K364, written at the age of 23; the Adagio in B minor, K540, written at 32, a Bass song Per Questa Bella Mano, K612, written in the year of his death in 1791at the age of 35, as was the final item, Eine Kleine Freimaurerkante, K623.

In this programme, Chris demonstrated what a truly great composer Mozart was with the wide range of music played and the years represented.

Chris was thanked for all the effort put into compiling this programme as finding recordings of little known items must have been difficult and time consuming.

We are gratefull to Chris who makes the annual visit with wife Shirley all the way from Swadlingcote.

Last Friday evening, Derek Kinsey of the Swinton Circle presented Andre Previn - Polymath.

He very cleverly matched the pieces of music played to the various talents enjoyed by Previn.

Andre Previn was born of Jewish parents in 1929 in Berlin, he was named Andreas Ludwig Priwin.

The family emigrated to the United States in 1939 to escape the Nazi regime.

Previn first came to prominence in 1948 composing and arranging film scores in Hollywood, among these were Gigi, Porgy & Bess, Irma La Douce and My Fair Lady, for which he won Oscars.

He was an award-winning pianist, conductor and composer.

Derek opened with With a Little bit of Luck from the film My Fair Lady sung by Stanley Holloway, followed by Previn playing a jazz version of the tune on the piano.

Next we heard Previn as a concert pianist in the final movement of Gershwin's Piano Concerto.

This was followed by two of his songs Shelter and Gently and Why Do They Shut Me Out Of Heaven sung by Barbara Bonney with Previn on the piano.

We then heard Previn and Ashkenazy in piano duet by Rachmaninov.

Next came a dazzling scherzo by Vaughan Williams conducted by Previn.

That was followed by Previn as a rhythmic conductor with Woozy Waltz by Rachmaninov, the Second Movement of Symphony No 5 by Shostakovich and the Third and Fourth Movement of Prokofiev's Classical Symphony.

To end, Derek played the Ascot Gavotte and songs from My Fair Lady in Jazz form with Previn on piano with drum and bass accompaniment.

Summing up, Derek explained what a versatile and gifted person Previn was: Hollywood whiz kid, jazz and classical pianist, song composer, accompanist, arranger, duettist and last and not least a conductor of world renown.

Derek was warmly applauded by the members for his effort.

Next Friday Joe Sowden will present Media Music.

J.S.