What’s On

INTERNATIONAL CONCERT SERIES

Following on from her immensely successful London recital appearance earlier this season distinguished international pianist Angela Brownridge makes a welcome return appearance at Steiner Hall with a programme featuring music by Schubert, Debussy and Chopin.

The New York Times described her as ‘one of the world’s finest pianists’. The Guardian remarked ‘true genius. Her performances were passionate, rhapsodic and totally compelling. She is a marvellously exciting artist with a strong sense of musical structure’. French music critic Adrian Quanier noted her as ‘a pianist of the highest echelon’.

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Tickets for this event are only bookable online in advance of the performance via Eventbrite here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/336858582087

Door ticket sales are not available for this event.

TICKETS: Full price: £30.00 Concessions: £20.00

Concessions are available to: Under 21s | Those in full time education | Senior citizens | Income support claimants | Disabled people (ID required at the door for concessions)

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Programme:

Sonata in A minor D537 SCHUBERT

Images (Book 1) DEBUSSY

Fantasy in F minor Op.49 CHOPIN

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The promoters reserve the right to substitute artists and programmes without prior notice. Tickets are non refundable. Latecomers will only be admitted if there is a suitable break in the performance.

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FAQs:

Is there disabled access in the venue? Yes, there are two wheelchair spaces in the auditorium. Please get in touch with the promoter in advance if you wish to book one of these spaces. There is also a cloakroom on the ground floor with facilities for disabled people.

Is there a dress code for this event? There is no specific dress code for this event.

Do I need to wear a face mask on the premises? The wearing of face masks is voluntary since the lifting of all Covid restrictions in England on 1st April 2022.

I have never been to a solo piano recital before and I am not certain of the protocol for clapping - what is the general practice in this connection? It is usual to clap at the end of each piece. Where a piece comprises a number of different movements these are numbered on the programme and it is customary to clap at the end of the piece. If in doubt as to when to clap just follow the other audience members and you should soon feel at ease!

Who should I contact if I have any additional questions? Please contact the concert organiser who will be pleased to answer any questions you may have regarding this event.

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The promoters reserve the right to substitute artists and programmes without prior notice. Tickets are non refundable. Latecomers will only be admitted if there is a suitable break in the performance.https://www.youtube.com/embed/cwhcjr9NRT4

ANGELA BROWNRIDGE - Biography

“One of the world’s finest pianists” New York Times

At the age of six Angela was hailed as a genius by Max Pirani who adjudicated a Beethoven piano competition which she won in the City Hall Hull. Constantly improving and composing a year later several of her compositions were published. By the age of ten she had performed her first concerto, and the same year won the Lorna Tetley Prize for young pianists and shortly after was asked to broadcast a recital. At twelve she made her debut in London’s Wigmore Hall and throughout her teens appeared as concerto soloist in many parts of the UK, on tour in Germany and in Norway where she broadcast the Grieg Concerto live in Stavanger aged thirteen. She later won a piano scholarship to Edinburgh University and after graduating B.Mus. was awarded a further scholarship for a two year period of study with Guido Agosti in Rome. She continued her studies in London with Maria Curcio, winning the Arts Council International Piano Competition. Since then she has appeared in major venues worldwide, and with many major conductors and orchestras, recording twenty five CDs for EMI, BMG, ASV, Hyperion, United, Classic FM and Cameo Classics. Several of these have been selected as “Critics’ Choice” in the UK and as “Record of the Year” in the Absolute Sound magazine of America. Her recordings include the first collections of works by Gershwin, Samuel Barber and Kenneth Leighton. In 2017 Angela was invited to make three CDs of Beethoven, Chopin and Debussy for Challenge Classics in the Netherlands, which have received rave reviews. International festival engagements include Bath, Buxton, Edinburgh, Warwick, Grizedale, Newport Rhode Island, Bratislava, Brno, Hong Kong and Maastricht.

Critics have compared her with such legendary pianists as Solomon, Rachmaninov, Cherkassky and Bolet. She began her life in an atmosphere of freedom and individualism almost impossible to find today, and under the guidance of Maria Curcio, herself a pupil of Artur Schnabel for many years, she learned to deal with differing requirements of a varied range of composers which recalls Cortot in his prime. In an age that has become obsessed with mere technique and seeks a degree of perfection offered by over-edited CDs Angela’s playing restores spontaneity, character and beauty of sound to the platform. Although regarded as “a major star in classical music” Angela’s musical world includes works with a jazz element. She has recorded an album with some of the jazz greats such as Ike Isaacs guitar, Jeff Kline bass and Phil Seaman drums, and has appeared live with Jools Holland. She is much in demand as a lecture recitalist, in masterclasses and as a mentor for Talent Unlimited which supports students from the Royal College and Academy in London.

Some comments by the audience following a recent Cadogan Hall recital:

“I felt honoured to hear such wonderful playing …sheer joy”.

“An evening of piano perfection. Her performance was world class, thrilling and a privilege to listen to”.

“The concert was the best I have heard. It ended with two encores - lovely improvisations”.

“Great concert in a beautiful venue. Angela Brownridge is a top class pianist and we enjoyed a varied programme. We also enjoyed stunning encores highlighting the artist’s versatility”.

“This was just sublime. Angela Brownridge is a top class artist and then some. A programme of Chopin and Debussy was played with beautiful precision, surpassing technique, making the music her own - brio and elan. She then improvised two encores of pieces by Gershwin and Nat King Cole. Amazing!"

Awakening Our Connection across the Threshold

At Emerson College, Forest Row, East Sussex

Many of us have experienced loss and bereavement of loved ones at first hand. We may also fondly remember individuals who were active in our anthroposophical circles and have crossed the Threshold. Where are they now? How can we reach them? How can we support them and, no less importantly, how can we enable them to support us in these challenging times, when so many of our anthroposophical institutions have closed down or are facing huge challenges?
What part do the spiritual Hierarchies play in this? How can we learn to recognise them in our meditative life? How can we learn to work with them in ways that are truly fruitful not just for ourselves but for humanity as a whole? In fact, how do we know what is truthful and what is perhaps delusional? In addition, how can we connect with the elemental beings around us and work with them consciously? These are questions we may carry, but often they remain personal and private.

Nevertheless, working with and caring for beings on the other side of the threshold is as important for our world as the practical love and support we offer to our fellow human beings around us. During this year’s conference for members and friends of the AS in GB, we want to explore these themes in an atmosphere of warmth and trusting care for one another and the beings that surround us in the spiritual worlds.

We shall have three key speakers to guide us through these themes - Bodo Von Plato from Germany, Interfaith minister Annie Blampied-Radojcin and Tom Ravetz, Lenker of The Christian Community in Great Britain. They will offer their insights and facilitate ways for us to ponder and share in smaller groups. There will be creative and artistic workshops to choose from, which will seek to bring aspects of the spiritual world to us from their different approaches - through Eurythmy with Diana Fischer, the Spoken Word with Adrian Locher, Painting with Mary Anne Paterson, Creative Writing with Paul Matthews, Connecting with the world of Elemental Beings with Michael Fuller and Biographical review and storytelling with Annette Gordon.

Later in the afternoons there will be Panel Talks, where a number of people will share their research and experiences on topics such as Reading to the Dead, Near Death Experiences and Life before Birth, which will then be followed by contributions from the floor.

Regarding the evening events, Bodo Von Plato will speak on the opening evening.

On Thursday August 4th, at 7.30pm there will be a Eurythmy performance, followed by eurythmy, speech and collaborative audience involvement. There will be a Celebration of the Dead on Friday evening, with music and contributions from conference participants. On the last evening we hope to have a Ceilidh. Although the conference is open to full time participants only, local members and friends are very welcome to attend the evening Eurythmy event on Thursday, August 4th, and join the Ceilidh on Saturday August 6th.

To register, please book online at: https://emerson.org.uk/event/anthroposophical-summer-school-awakening-our-connection-across-the-threshold/

In these annual summer conferences we address relevant themes in the light of Rudolf Steiner’s anthroposophy and seek to deepen our understanding and practice of the path of inner development. After a a two-year gap, when we were unable to meet, we have chosen a theme we feel addresses a real need of this present time.

House Tours

Join us at Rudolf Steiner House, the only example of expressionist architecture in London, as part of the Open House London season.

Free admission

For more information: www.openhouselondon.org.uk/

By Peter Oswald with Alexander J Gifford after Friedrich Schiler

1605 Orthodox Russia stands alone, defiant against the Roman Catholic and Protestant West. The Kremlin has suppressed all opposition and keeps a ruthless grip on power with the support of the church and an appeal to nationalist sentiment.

In Poland, a formidable young opponent appears: Dmitry. At his back a Polish army fuelled by fear of the Russian threat marches on Moscow.

BUT IS HE WHO HE THINKS HE IS?

An explosive new version of the great German writer, Schiller’s last, unfinished play - resurrected in the unique, pulsating dramatic verse of Peter Oswald to be premiered in a production directed by Tim Supple.

A brilliant poetic drama that cuts to the psychological, political, and spiritual heart of the epochal Russian story on London’s newest stage.

For more information visit: https://www.marylebonetheatre.com/productions/dmitry

Tickets: https://marylebonetheatre.ticketsolve.com/shows/1173626120/events/428495135

Cast

To be announced

Creatives

Director
Tim Supple‍

Designer
Robert Innes Hopkins

Lighting Designer
‍Jackie Shemesh

Casting Director
Helena Palmer