London

Judith Weir was appointed Master of the Queen’s Music in 2014.  As Master of the King’s Music, she composed an overture, Brighter Visions Shine Afar, for the coronation of King Charles III in 2023.  She will discuss the history of this position and focus in more detail on holders of the post since Elgar.

The independent recording producer Andrew Keener talks of his work in the studio with artists past and present, including such distinguished Elgarians as Daniel Barenboim, Martyn Brabbins, Sir Andrew Davis, Sir Mark Elder, Vernon Handley, Nigel Kennedy, Andrew Litton and Leonard Slatkin.

Thanks to the advice of an inspirational music teacher in Barry Boys’ Comprehensive School, Andrew Keener read music at the University of Edinburgh. After an undistinguished eighteen months teaching in a Scottish High School, he worked behind the counter at EMG Handmade Gramophones in London’s Soho Square, also writing articles and reviews for The Guardian, The Gramophone, The Strad and Hi-fi News & Record Review. During this time he met the great and good of the recording profession, and thanks to their support began his career as an independent recording producer. Since then he has produced around 1500 recordings, many of them with some of the most renowned Elgarians, past and present.

Jacqueline Edwards (mezzo-soprano) presents a highly entertaining and informative illustrated talk on the life and career of her distant ancestor, the celebrated Edwardian contralto for whom Sir Edward Elgar composed a number of works including his song cycle Sea Pictures. Comparisons with other notable contraltos of the age will be discussed, as will the radical changes in vocal technique, style and musical taste from Clara’s time to the present day.

After her death in April 1920, Edward Elgar wrote to a friend “All I have done was owing to her and I am at present a sad & broken man…”    It is often said that behind every great man is a great woman. In the case of Edward and Alice Elgar, this proverb is most certainly true, due to the multi-faceted roles she played in the life and music of her genius husband. Through an illustrated talk, Simon explores the life of Lady Elgar, examining various aspects of the life of this extraordinary lady and her devotion to one of the world’s greatest composers.

Simon Baggs is a conductor and violinist specialising in the music of Elgar and other British composers.   

In conversation with Andrew Neill, the composer Colin Matthews OBE discusses his career. This will cover his time as an assistant to Britten, his work with Deryk Cooke on a performing version of Mahler’s Tenth Symphony and, of course, the music of Elgar, Holst and other British composers.

George Parris explores poetry, meaning and symbolism in Elgar’s part-songs, particularly in Op. 57: Go, Song of Mine and Angelus. Despite being composed side-by-side on a Tuscan holiday in 1909 and published under the same opus number, in many respects one is the complete opposite of the other – yet another Elgarian mystery.  George was awarded the Elgar Society’s Certificate of Merit at the age of 18. He is a choral conductor and is Artistic Director of The Carice Singers, a professional choir named after Elgar’s daughter.

During Elgar’s lifetime his fame was enhanced by transcribers whose expertise ensured that his music reached a wider audience. Through the medium of the concert or military band, Elgar’s music received numerous additional performances not only in Great Britain, but around the world.  The transcribers were often leading musicians of the day, including Sir Dan Godfrey.

Tom Higgins studied conducting at the Guildhall Schol of Music and Drama, then with James Lockhart. He now specialises in the music of military and concert bands and has made a number of world première and acclaimed recordings.

Mitra Alice Tham gives performances and masterclasses arounf the world, particularly in the UK and Asia.  She is also a skilled composer and arranger.

The recital, at 7.45 p.m., will be preceded at 7.00 p.m. by the Branch AGM.