Olympic Action at Victoria Park

Today’s the big day that London’s been waiting for these past seven years! So we thought we’d take this opportunity to tell you a bit about our evening at Victoria Park next Thursday (2 August), as part of the BT London Live coverage.

We have the stage from 5.00pm – 9.00pm, and have invited some of our favourite recent festival artists to come and perform to the masses, and celebrate the Olympics alongside all sorts of other activities.

She’Koyokh at Midsummer Street Party

London Contemporary Orchestra begin the showcase, performing Steve Reich and Xenakis, with a special guest appearance from songstress Mara Carlyle. This is then followed by klezmer phenomenon She’Koyokh, who wowed the stage at our Midsummer Street Party. The stage will then be taken over by 35 singers from the London Bulgarian Choir, who we’ve been lucky enough to include in two of our recent festivals, and to round the evening up, our recent Associate Artist, tabla master Talvin Singh takes to the stage for a solo performance, mixing analogue electronics with tabla.

Aside from listening to some great live music, there will be three giant screens from which to watch the London 2012 Olympics Games action live, the largest of which is 70 metres-squared!

Talvin Singh

There are plenty of other activities to get involved in – from ‘Have-A-Go Sports’, ‘In the Zone’ (an interactive sports science experience for the whole family), to mass participation dance events from Big Dance. There will also be a 55-metre-high BT Observation Wheel offering stunning views of both the Olympic stadium and the city’s skyscrapers, a 320-metre long zipline high above Victoria Park’s trees, bungee trampolines and water zorbing.

It’s free to attend (some of the activities have entry fees) so to find out more and how to get there, visit the BT London Live website: www.btlondonlive.com – we hope to see you there!

Gettin’ to know you: Cathy

This time it’s the turn of our swashbuckling Programme Manager: Learning & Participation, Cathy to bare her soul for the blog!

What was the first gramophone cylinder you bought? *
Sadly my penchant for a nice charity shop bargain hasn’t yet stretched to a phonograph, though I did once have a tinkle on a player piano.

Do you have a favourite composer? If so, who?
Enduringly Shostakovich, though I’ve been known to veer into the Hindemith camp from time to time over the years. I think there’s a starkness in both that appeals to me, but also a great deal of wit and inventiveness in texture and harmony that keeps you on your toes.

Almost a dancer, now an L&P Programme Manager

What was the last concert/gig you went to?
Not sure if it quite counts but I went to the semi final of the Musical Comedy Awards recently which was brilliant. Really good to see also that those through to the final are “musicians that are really very funny” rather than “comedians who throw in some music as something a bit different”.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
As a small child a ballet dancer, despite the best efforts of my formidable teacher to dissuade me. I believe the exact words she used to my 6-year-old self were, “You’ll never be a dancer, you’re too tall and your feet are too big. The only good thing about you are your shoulder blades”, before vigorously impaling hair pins into my bun and – I maintain – head. Luckily the lady who played piano for our class was more on the relaxed side and took me under her wing as a piano pupil. Probably worked out for the best as she was right, I do have pretty big feet.

What were you doing before coming to work with Spitalfields Music?
Before coming to Spitalfields Music I spent a year as Orchestral Assistant at the Royal Academy of Music, busily trying to ensure that the right music and the right students were in the right place at the right time. Not always an easy task!

Prior to that I did my master’s with research focused on an impossible (literally!) piece of Ferneyhough, Cassandra’s Dream Song, which I also attempted to play. Luckily for me the score comes with lengthy instructions including that “a ‘beautiful’, cultivated performance is not to be aimed at”. Phew!

Red or white wine?
Ooo, yes please. That would be lovely.

What excites you most about working with Spitalfields Music?
My role in L&P means that I’m out and about lots of the time making music with different groups from all over our community. When every day is different they’re mostly pretty exciting.

Who inspires you?
I’ve always found explorers and travellers inspiring. Not just for heading out into the unknown, but for having the even greater courage to up sticks and leave the comfortable behind.

And finally, would you share an interesting fact about yourself with us?
I am a pirate. No, not really. Though I do live on a sailing boat that looks like this…

 

Cathy’s boat, the Mooi Maisga (Friesian for Beautiful Girl)

*We should point out that this was a reaction to Cathy complaining that she was too old for her first recording to have been a CD.

Gettin’ to know you: Phil

Ever wondered about the faces behind everything going on at Spitalfields Music? Well, now you have a chance to get to us a bit better as our speed-interviews with members of the team return to the blog! This week, new boy and Development Administrator, Phil Chandler shares some secrets exclusively with us.

Development Administrator or basketball star?

What was the first CD you bought?
Five’s Greatest Hits – there is simply no excuse.

Do you have a favourite composer? If so, who?
Benjamin Britten – for writing one of my favourite operas, Peter Grimes.

What was the last concert/gig you went to?
Shostakovich’s Symphony No.5 at the Brighton Dome – an exhilarating work performed with power and aggression by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Also on the bill was Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini – Rachmaninov at his brilliant and irresistible best.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
A basketball player – a goal that was almost entirely down to watching Space Jam well over one hundred times.

What were you doing before coming to work with Spitalfields Music?
After graduating with a Music degree from the University of Sussex, I worked as an intern for the Brighton Early Music Festival and the London Mozart Players before getting my first full-time job at Spitalfields Music!

What excites you most about working with Spitalfields Music?
Having the chance to work with a fantastic team of people who are passionate about the work they produce.

Who inspires you?
Bruce Parry – for embracing every opportunity for adventure, and greeting all cultures he encounters with a huge smile, open mind and complete disregard for his safety!

And finally, would you share an interesting fact about yourself with us?
I once played the steel pans in front of the Queen (although it was amongst a forty piece steel band and I don’t think she was really listening anyway).

If you have any quirky questions you’d like to put to the Spitalfields Music team, let us know!

Winter Festival Reviews and Pictures!

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 InstituteA Musical Feast – The Sixteen at Galvin La Chapelle
Mercy & Grand: The Tom Waits Project
A Musical Feast – The Sixteen at Galvin La ChapelleA 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

The Duke of Uke!

The Crypt at Christ Church Spitalfields will be hosting a series of benefit concerts over the next few days to mark the fifth anniversary of one of Spitalfields’ most unique shops, The Duke of Uke. As Britain’s only dedicated ukulele shop, Duke of Uke, based on Hanbury Street has become a major destination in the local area, not just selling ukulele’s but also holding regular ukulele lessons and recording sessions. Unfortunately this small business is now under threat. Head over to Spitalfields Life to read The Gentle Author’s post about the Duke of Uke’s uncertain future  and why this unique shop should be saved! 

Find out how to donate to the Duke of Uke by clicking here.