We received this lovely track from our Women sing East leader – Laka D and just had to share it with you!
We hope you all have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Box Office holiday opening times:
Phone: 020 7377 1362 – Closed Saturday 23 December
until Tuesday 3 January 2012
Online: Booking available at spitalfieldsmusic.org.uk
throughout this period
Booking for Summer Festival 2012 opens late January
Posted in Spitalfields Music
We would like to say a big THANK YOU to all those who attended our Winter Festival events this December. We hope you enjoyed your visit! Below are just some of the reviews of the Festival and also some pictures taken by our Festival Photographer – James Berry of Mr November Photography
EUBO: A Breath of Enlightenment The Telegraph 5*****
“Wonderful, uplifting stuff.”
Mercy & Grand/I Fagiolini The Independent 4****/5*****
“Walker may be primarily an opera singer, but her cabaret instinct is wonderfully sure“
London Contemporary Orchestra The Guardian 4****
“Its [Vivier's Pulau Dewata] alternately florid and simple ideas rang vividly around the church, the generous acoustic of which gave warmth to the players’ keen attack.“
I Fagiolini’s 25th Birthday Cocktail The Guardian 5*****
“This was a meaty programme for such an occasion, with substantial elements as well as some purely entertaining ones“
To read the rest of the Festival reviews click here
Christmas Market – Homeless Oratorio
Open Ears – Schools Project at Shoreditch Church
Neighbourhood Songs – Spitalfields Singers at Bishopsgate Institute
A Musical Rumpus – The Brady Centre
Open Ears – Schools Project at Shoreditch Church
Neighbourhood Songs – Spitalfields Singers at Bishopsgate Institute
A Musical Feast – The Sixteen at Galvin La Chapelle
Mercy & Grand: The Tom Waits Project
A Musical Feast – The Sixteen at Galvin La Chapelle
A Musical Rumpus – The Brady Centre
Christmas Market – Crispin Place, Spitalfields E1
Mercy & Grand: The Tom Waits Project
All photographs credit James Berry www.mrnovemberphotography.co.uk
Our Learning & Participation Programme Director, Clare Lovett shares with us some of her favourite places in the area.
For thinking, meetings and catching up with friends: Skylight Cafe
I’m always on the lookout for great meeting spots, and I’ve recently discovered the fantastic Crisis Skylight Cafe on Commercial Street. The cafe is just beyond the hustle and bustle of the market, and has plenty of space to spread out! They have amazing coffee and cakes; lunch here is also delicious! Recent meetings have included discussions with potential Associate Artists and there’s usually a whole bundle of folks catching up and planning projects. It’s an inspirational space, which also happens to provide on-the-job training and experience for homeless people and ex-offenders. If you’re in need of a still point in a mad world of shopping, sightseeing or planning your next project, then Crisis Skylight Cafe is your thinking place.
For people watching, chilling out at lunch and spotting interesting Art: Bishops Square
There’s always something going on at Bishops Square. On the rare occasion that I can pause for lunch, it’s my top place to sit and watch the world go by. Recent activity has included a new installation of butterflies in jam jars, with confuses city workers and tourists trying to work out whether they’re real or not (they’re not)…the wonderful Spitalfields E1 Routemaster is often parked outside and there’s a real sense of relaxation before the onslaught of the afternoon stint of work. Grab a falafel wrap from Pilpel, or a hot sandwich from Golds and watch the world in microcosm!
Posted in Favourite Places, Local community, Staff Picks
Tagged Bishops Square, Bishopsgate Sq, comunity event, favourite places, my favourite place for..., neighbourhood songs, spitalfields music, Spitalfields Music winter festival, Spitalfields Singers, staff pick, winter festival, winter festival 2011
Spitalfields is looking prettier than ever since all the Christmas lights are up in the market and festive cheer is in the air! The Spitalfields Music Winter Festival is now underway, after opening last Saturday with the Christmas Market in Crispin Place which saw puppetry, fashion and of course, live music to get people into the Christmas spirit!
Christmas lights are up in Spitalfields Market
It has been really busy here at Spitalfields Music HQ. The Winter Festival now the Winter Festival is in progress and I am really excited as this is the first time I’m working at our various venues in Spitalfields!
I also recently attended the City of London Sinfonia’s first ever CLoSer event! It was amazing and had a really relaxed atmosphere. After the main performance, individual musicians were available for informal Q&A sessions. The Strings Masterclass event was held at Village Underground which is a great venue (it used be a Victorian warehouse!) I also discovered that the trains on top are actually offices used by the Village Underground staff. There are two more CLoSer events coming up in 2012; head over here to find out more.
I have also been working on our Winter Festival Learning and Participation events’ inserts, and they have been sent to the printers which is very exciting! The festival has an awesome mix of events for the whole family which means we will be drawing in great crowds – I can’t wait!
Niharika Jain
Marketing & Communications Intern
The Winter Festival is now on with tickets available from £5! See our website spitalfieldsmusic.org.uk for further details on contact the Box Office on 020 7377 1362 (Mon-Fri, 10am-6pm).
Posted in Festival, Intern Diaries, Learning & Participation, Spitalfields Music
Tagged City of London Sinfonia, Closer, CLoSer: Strings Masterclass event, CLS, niharika, niharika jain, Spitalfields Market, spitalfields music, Spitalfields Music winter festival, spitalfields music winter festival 2011, winter festival
This winter I’ll be getting my Festive fix from Jogleresa, with their marvellously medieval programme of traditional English music. Think jousting, dancing, carolling and period instruments! What more could you want?!
The group, directed by Belinda Sykes have been performing their mix of ancient and traditional music since 1992 combining elements of Medieval, Middle Eastern, Flamenco and Celtic sounds. Their Winter Festival programme includes English, Spanish and Italian carols from the twelfth century to the sixteenth. Originally these carols (made up of song and dance) would have been rooted in pagan traditions and had no religious connections but, as most carolling was done on religious feast days the church gradually stifled the carol until nothing was left other than a religious song to be performed. What I love about Jogleresa is the way they embody the boldness and raw sounds of the original carols whilst mixing in hints of their multicultural backgrounds creating a unique and exhilarating sound!
Rebecca Steel
Communications Manager
Have a listen to some of Jogleresa’s tracks on this Spotify Playlist
Yoolis
Monday 19 December 7.00pm
Shoreditch Church
Tickets: £5 – £15
www.spitalfieldsmusic.org.uk/yoolis
Posted in Festival, Staff Picks
Tagged BBC Radio 3, Carol, Carolling, christmas, Dancing, English, Itallian, Jogleresa, Jousting, medieval, Period instruments, Period Performance, Spanish, Traditional, Yoolis
