Gettin’ to know you: Michael

This time we’ve turned the tables and asked our caffeine-fuelled Marketing & Communications Officer Michael to tell us more about him. 

What was the first CD you bought?
Ha! A safe, non-embarrassing question to start with… I’m not sure whether it was actually my first CD, but 1999’s eurodance hit Blue (Da Ba Dee) by Eiffel 65 is definitely up there. As was a recording of Holst’s The Planets. I was an eclectic if precocious child.

There are no words…

Do you have a favourite composer? If so, who?
So many to choose from… I’m a big fan of Britten, Byrd and JS Bach – disparate choices but each brilliant in very different ways. However, I’d have to say Poulenc. He wrote some beautiful a cappella choral music (Quatre petites prières de St François d’Assise for example) and some inventive instrumental works. I just get the impression from his music that he was a lot of fun!

What was the last concert/gig you went to?
It was last night actually! I went to the London Sinfonietta’s Blue Touch Paper showing at the Village Underground. This was three new inter-disciplinary pieces presented as works in progress – all very intriguing and exciting works with puppets, punch bags and carrier bags. (Although admittedly I’m slightly biased as I used to work with the scheme!) If you’d like to find out more, check out the London Sinfonietta website.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
There are many professions I entertained going into, and I’m sure I had moment of impassioned fervour about each and every one… To name but a few: teacher, paramedic, publican, fireman, pianist, a member of each of the armed forces, chef, interior designer (thanks, Changing Rooms), composer, doctor, singer… the list goes on.

‘Will do anything for coffee’

What were you doing before coming to work with Spitalfields Music?
Before I came into my current role, I was working with the London Sinfonietta as an Assistant Producer for Creative Projects, which was part of the DCMS Jerwood Creative Bursaries scheme. This meant I got to work closely with players and composers as they created brand new works for the ensemble, and really excitingly working on the inter-disciplinary Blue Touch Paper programme.

What excites you most about working with Spitalfields Music?
I think above all it has to be the atmosphere of constant exploration in our work, whether this is done through exploring new spaces, new works, new ways of presenting music, new ways of learning and participation. You always know you’re going to get something interesting with Spitalfields Music.

Who/what inspires you?
I don’t know about inspires, but I’m certainly motivated by anyone who brings me a coffee!

And finally, would you share an interesting fact about yourself with us?
Ooo… Er… I don’t know whether it’s interesting, but I’m related to the Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy, who’s my aunt.

In the family, Michael’s Poet Laureate aunt

Staff Pick: Gallicantus

As the Winter Festival draws ever closer, Marketing & Box Office Assistant, Michael Duffy, shares why he thinks Gallicantus’s Dialogues of Sorrow is one of the unmissable events this festival.

So, Gallicantus may be one of this festival’s lesser known artists, but are most definitely one of the most unmissable! Their early-seventeenth century programme is taken from a period of national mourning (for Henry, Prince of Wales) that has probably never been matched or produced such a large extraordinary outpouring of grief-stricken and wholly beautiful music.

What is also striking is the sheer variety of what emerged  (as the selection for this concert demonstrates), with lute songs such as John Coprario’s O Grief, lamenting madrigals like Tis Now the Dead Night by Thomas Ford and sacred anthems using texts describing King David’s loss of his son Absalom. Some of the works may be familiar, but many won’t and are a treat to discover.

Gallicantus deliver this with ease and clarity – do check out their tracks on our Spotify Winter Festival playlist (some of which are in their Dialogues of Sorrow programme).

Gallicantus perform on Thursday 15 December, 7.00pm at Shoreditch Church (St Leonard’s). Book your tickets online.

Intern Diaries: I guess it’s time to say goodbye

So here we are, at the point which five months ago looked so far away but has arrived more quickly than a speeding kangaroo. (Happy Australia Day!)

My final few weeks at Spitalfields Music has seen the wrapping up of the brilliant 2010 Winter Festival, with some truly amazing performances of Monteverdi’s madrigals. Since then, the office has become very reflective, evaluating all our activity since June. It got me thinking about all the things I’ve had to do while being an intern (which as it happens, was a lot!). Writing press releases, designing e-flyers, managing leafleters, formatting programme book text, learning how to use Twitter, lots of social networking, writing blog posts, engaging local press, distributing publicity, market researching, time on Facebook, creating Spotify playlists, website management, recording a webcast, planning sessions with big felt-tip pens, and engaging with all parts of Spitalfields Music’s programme. I guess I’ve been pretty busy!

It’s very sad to be leaving a team that is as brilliant and fun as Spitalfields Music’s. I’d like to thank everyone for the opportunities, advice, and laughs I’ve had since I sat down in that first team meeting, unsure of what exactly was going on!

Michael Duffy
Marketing & Communications Intern (Sept 2010 – Jan 2011)

My Favourite Place: Michael

It’s time for more weird and wonderful local gems from members of the Spitalfields Music team. Sharing their favourite place this week is Marketing & Communications Intern, Michael.

Micha is a small food-counter in Old Spitalfields Market, on the Lamb Street side. It offers a variety of fresh Mediterranean style sandwiches, salads, pastas and hot dishes; wholesome, filling portions; friendly staff and (mostly) all for under a fiver! Need I say more?!

Address:
Micha
Old Spitalfields Market
London
E1 6BG

Underground and mainline:
Liverpool Street, Aldgate East, Shoreditch High Street.
Bus: Bishopsgate 8, 26, 35, 42, 47, 48, 78, 149, 242, 344, 388

Find more choice selections on our website.

Best of the Fest (and the Rest)

For our final instalment of the Spitalfields Music staff’s picks from the Winter Festival and the rest of cultural London, we have Marketing & Communications Intern, Michael sharing his favourite forthcoming events.

The concert I’m most looking forward to this festival is Monteverdi, Opera & Beyond (6 January) being given by some of the most renowned names of the English early music scene. In addition to the superb tenor Paul Agnew, there is harpsichordist, Mahan Esfahani, gambist Jonathan Manson and lutenist David Miller – a truly great line-up! Their exploration of recitative (an unusual take on the Monteverdi madrigal strand running through this winter’s programme) also allows them to touch on some lesser known gems, such as Nicholas Lanier’s epic Hero and Leander, as well as some more well-known items from Henry Purcell.

After a well-earned rest following the end of the festival this week, I’m quite looking forward to mezzo-soprano Christine Rice and pianist Roger Vignoles in concert at the Wigmore Hall on Sunday 16 January. The programme includes some real musical gems, such as chansons by Debussy and Poulenc, and Britten’s brilliant Cabaret Songs.