World premier for new classic

Classical music composer John Casken, who lives in north Northumberland, has composed a piece of work that will be given its world premiere in the 2016-17 season.

John has composed a Song Cycle for the society, ‘Lines from a Wanderer’ which will have its debut performance on Tuesday, November 29, when baritone, Marcus Farnsworth, will include John’s composition in a programme of songs by Schubert, Butterworth and Britten.

On Tuesday, November 15, London-based, Canadian pianist Angela Hewitt will make a return visit to Alnwick. Angela, renowned for her performances of Bach in particular, will offer a recital including Scarlatti, Mozart and Beethoven.

The two other recitalists during the season are Alexandra Dariescu and Martin Roscoe.

Alexandra Dariescu, the young Romanian pianist, has recently been named as one of the 30 young pianists destined for a spectacular career.

The season before last she appeared at the Sage with the Royal Northern Sinfonia and gave a wonderful performance. She comes to Alnwick at the beginning of the season on Tuesday, August 30, with a programme that includes Mendelssohn, Beethoven, Faure and Tchaikovsky.

The season will end on Tuesday, May 2, with the return of the society’s president, Martin Roscoe.

Martin has been and remains a stalwart of the classical music scene and a great friend of the society for many years.

His recital includes works from Bach to Beethoven, Schubert to Smetana and Chopin to Ravel.

Every year the society welcomes the winners of the London International String Quartet competition and the winner in 2015 was the Van Kuijk Quartet who, despite the name, hail from France.

They were unanimously judged to have won the competition in the face of stern international competition. #

They will play a programme of Haydn, Ravel and Beethoven on Tuesday, October 11.

Gina Mc Cormack, the former leader of the Sorrel Quartet, who now lives in the Borders, will play on Tuesday, February 21, accompanied by the pianist Nigel Clayton. Her programme will include works by Mendelssohn, Prokoviev and Strauss.

Brass will be back in the society’s programme this year with the Opera North Brass Ensemble along with an eclectic programme with many pieces including Verdi’s Overture from the opera Nabucco and Gerswhin’s Promenade, ‘Walking the Dog’ on Tuesday, April 4.

Chairman of Alnwick Music Society Roy Todd said: “This is the most ambitious programme the society has ever mounted and includes a classical repertoire to satisfy all tastes.”

Concerts take place at the Playhouse at 7.30pm.