The Programme of the Sir Edward German Music Festival taking place at Whitchurch, Shropshire from 23rd April to 28th April 2009.

The Festival combines the creative talents of the community with those of world class musicians.

Please note that the Friends of Whitchurch Heritage reserve the right to change the programme, artists, venues and times without notice where necessary. 

Thursday 23rd April 2009

Morning:

Exhibition Opening

Edward German - A Life of Music

To be opened by the Mayor of Whitchurch

Councillor Doris Ankers

An exhibition of photographs, manuscripts, letters and other unique items illustrating German’s personal and professional world that provide many fascinating glimpses into his life in Whitchurch and London.

Presented by The Edward German Archive and on display throughout the Festival at Whitchurch Heritage Centre .

followed by

Dr David Russell Hulme

Edward German's Tom Jones - A Lecture.

Dr David Russell Hulme, the Festival’s Senior Music Advisor, and a foremost authority of the music of Edward German, talks about German’s romantic light opera, ‘Tom Jones’, with illustrations from the new complete Naxos recording on which he conducts The National Festival Orchestra and an international cast of singers.

Tickets: Free entry
Donations to Friends of Whitchurch (Shropshire) Heritage welcome

Evening:

Opening Gala Concert

featuring

   EMMA JOHNSON

clarinet

EMMA JOHNSON is one of the few clarinettists to have established a busy international career as a soloist. Emma performs across Europe, the USA and the Far East, as well as in Africa and Australia and has appeared with many leading orchestras including London Symphony, Philharmonia, Royal Philharmonic, Hallé, Tokyo Philharmonic, Salzburg Camerata and  Netherlands Philharmonic in repertoire which includes over forty different concertos.  Emma has sold well over a quarter of a million discs worldwide. Details of her recordings are available at www.emmajohnson.co.uk.  Emma was awarded an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list in 1996.

and

   JOHN LENEHAN

piano.

John Lenehan's performances and recordings have been acclaimed throughout the world. As a soloist he has regularly appeared with leading British Orchestras. In a performing career spanning more than 25 years He has collaborated with many of today's leading instrumentalists and is recognised as one of the leading accompanists and chamber musicians of today. John has made more than fifty CDs and is active as a composer having written and arranged for Kennedy, Julian Lloyd Webber, Tasmin Little and Emma Johnson. This is Johns second visit to Whitchurch; he performed alongside Julian Lloyd Webber during Festival 2006.   For further information please visit John's website:    www.lenehan.dsl.pipex.com

Programme

Tartini / Jacob: Concertino

Brahms: Sonata in E flat op. 120 No. 2

Widor: Andante and Rondo

German: Romance and Song without words

Vaughn Williams: Studies in English Folk song

Verdi / Bassi: Rigoletto Fantasy

Venue :             Parish Church of St.Alkmund

Time:                             7.30pm

Tickets: All £15
Event code: EJ