14 September 2023 Abingdon Music Sunday afternoon concert at Stonevale On 7 May, Thomas, Walter, Laurence, Daniel and Josef took part in Stonevale’s series of house-concerts, which have been running since 2006. The varied programme of solo and combined works was expertly performed by all the musicians. The programme opened with a work by Gurlitt, followed by some Debussy, Sibelius, Dragonetti, Chopin and Pierné; as well as a jazz sonata by Woods; and an impromptu rendition of Mike Cornick’s Jamaica Farewell for six hands at the piano as an encore. Our annual summer concert took place on 23 June - the last for our Director of Music, Michael Stinton, who is stepping down after 36 years at Abingdon. Opening with the Gospel Choir, a great myriad of music followed from the Abingdon Academicals, the Concert Band, and the First, Second and Chamber Orchestras. Pieces included the themes from Schindler’s List and Big Country, as well as medley’s from Fiddler on the Roof and Burt Bacharach tunes. One of the greatest highlights was the Bruch Violin Concerto with Oliver (Upper 6th) as soloist. Christine Bovill On 5 May, the eve of the coronation, we welcomed Glaswegian singer, Christine Bovill to the Amey Theatre stage. Fresh from sell-out shows at the Edinburgh Festival, we were treated to a heartfelt programme of French chanson, charting its development over a period of some 35 years. The programme was delivered with heartfelt commitment in songs made famous by the likes of Piaf, Greco, Barbara and Aznavour through to the “Yé Yé era”, the period of Johnny Halliday, France’s answer to Elvis. Christine’s narrative describing the evolution of chanson was engaging and personal as she described her teenage years of disenchantment with studying French at school - and how a vinyl record of Piaf changed her life. Summer concert On 9 May, the final solo concert platform of the year was hosted. It was a splendid occasion with some exceptionally memorable performances including David performing Mozart’s Concerto for Clarinet, KV 622, complete with string quartet; Laurence demonstrated his technical prowess on the trumpet, playing a movement from Arutiunian’s Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra. The concert concluded with fireworks, as Ryan performed Ravel’s Tzigane - a suitably joyous way of concluding the series. Congratulations to all musicians who performed this year. Final solo concert platform
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