Oxshott & Cobham

At last year’s AGM, I was asked to find a “super” concert to celebrate the 70^th anniversary of this society. So I set about chasing something suitable. In fact I think I wasted about six months trying to tie up loose ends in order to give you a Chamber Orchestra as a central Celebrity-style concert. I approached three professional groups, one, which eventually, I decided we could not afford, (-although it would have been much the best), and two others, which I felt would give ‘run of the mill’ programmes. In the end, I scrapped that idea, and after finding that various soloists were not available, decided that I would follow a different route, the result of which I hope you will enjoy.

Just before last Christmas, when I was still uncertain whether to engage an orchestra, I thought it might be a good idea to canvass opinion with a mini Survey. The quickest way was to send a Survey to all members with email addresses. -Again, I apologise for not contacting everyone else in the Society about the music we provide.

I asked what type of concert was the favourite, and then, for the other types of concert to be placed in descending order of preference. I had about 65 replies,- from almost all those with email addresses, and, to put that in context: about two thirds of our members.

The resounding preference was for :-

Both Piano recitals and String quartets in first place, in more or less equal parts, and, almost all members said they would also like a Good orchestra, and that they would be happy to have Mahler in the programme.

Solo instruments, Strings and Wind, came second, Voice third, with Early Music next. Brass in any form, was the least appreciated.

A number of respondents, made suggestions and comments about a variety of different types of musical entertainment, including our having an occasional organ recital and more modern composers, or concerts such as Eclipse ,-(early Spanish music accompanied by lutes, mediaeval harps, strange Double Flutes, Storytelling and beautiful Spanish dancing).

This was not a scientific survey, nor did everyone contribute, but actually, it was a good indicator of the way our members attend concerts, and of the way the visiting public spend their money, -as evidenced by receipts at the box office. We maintain a record of the numbers attending our concerts and so I had a reliable basis for comparison with the Survey results.

Since this 70^th season is a very special one, and a great deal of money is being spent on it for everyone’s pleasure, the Society really needs you to help the Committee to disseminate information. If you belong to The Womens’ Institute, the local History Society, to Probus, or you know chaps who are in another local Probus, the local Political Parties, or Residents’ Associations, the allotment societies, or if you are a Governor of a local school,- no matter your connections, -please ask us for leaflets to give or small posters to put on Shop windows, or at the railway stations and library noticeboards. We need to boost our numbers for this special year and these wonderful artists.

We exist as an organisation of people who think we know what we like, but sometimes we are caught unaware, and discover something new which changes our opinion. That is a wonderful thing; it revitalises us, and our outlook. It advances our knowledge, helps us to form opinions and be more critical. It encourages us to attend everything with open ears. Not attending a concert because we don’t think we will like an item of music, is closing the door on an opportunity.

 

This next season will be different from the previous seasons.

Since our “unofficial founder”, Moura Lympany, was a pianist, I have decided to feature the piano, and along with it, in honour of the Survey’s result, strings in various guises. So this will be a season for real Chamber Music lovers ……..

There will be two Celebrity Concerts, one before Christmas and one after, and because of the quality and musicianship of the players, I suggest you do not miss the first or last concert, and certainly not the second.

October 1^st The Elias String Quartet.

Regarded as perhaps the best Quartet to have appeared in the last ten years in Britain, chosen as New Generation Artists by the BBC, and featured on the cover of the March BBC Music Magazine, we are due to have an exceptional evening of music, concluding with guest artist, Malin Broman, of the Nash Ensemble and the Kungsbacka Piano Trio, joining the Elias Quartet for the Mozart Quintet in G minor K516. I regard this as an unofficial “celebrity concert,” and one which I would pay a lot of money to hear elsewhere.

 

Make sure your friends come and don’t miss it yourself!

 

October 29         The Nash Ensemble.   – Our 1^st Celebrity concert.

 

So well known, they need little introduction. The Nash Ensemble returns to the O.C.M.S. after, perhaps, fifteen years. On this occasion, they come as a quintet, playing a fantastic programme of the Schumann and Dvorak Piano Quintets, plus Haydn’s exciting “Gipsy Rondo” Piano Trio.

 

November 19     The Lawson Piano Trio.

This is the first of our young artist ensembles in this season. Each year the society engages at least one group or soloist at the start of their career, or perhaps at the next stage when they are building the equivalent of a ‘fan club’. These concerts are a vital step in the steep learning curve of public performance: they provide an opportunity to practise programme planning, - learning what type of work goes down well with an audience, and where to place a particular style of composition for maximum effect. They appear before our friendly audience, which is larger than many they will have experienced previously, and which treats them as artists, giving them consideration, and complete attention. Rarely does one hear rattling of papers, noisy coughing or whispering.

The Lawson Piano Trio has been selected for the Concert Promoters’ Network, and their programme includes:

Works by Mozart, Debussy, Brahms and a specially commissioned piece by David Knotts.

 

January 29         MAIASTRA.

Another example of the success of this “encouragement” type of concert was the opening programme of this season, when the Akiko Ono Ensemble, led by professional violinist, Arisa Fujita, played the string quintets of Mozart, Beethoven, and Brahms.

This year we have decided to give you a treat, following the precedent set a number of years ago. We are preceding our annual New Year Party Dinner with a concert commencing at 6 pm.

Last January, the students who will present this concert, completed a week of intensive study of major Chamber works under the auspices of the Aidan Woodcock Charitable Trust.   You know from last October’s concert how exciting the first concert of this season was, and now you know what to expect next January. From their advanced study, you will have the opportunity to hear the beautiful Ravel and Tchaikovsky quartets. I can tell you that the famous Andante will send shivers down your backs! – and, you will be longing to talk about it over your dinner. I think it will be a wonderful night out!

 

February 25       The Rose Trio and Friends.

This wind ensemble comes to us, highly recommended by the Countess of Munster Charitable Trust and by the Royal Overseas League, of which they won last year’s Ensemble Prize. Their programme will probably include works by Poulenc, Francaix,Glinka and the quintet for piano and winds, by Mozart.

 

March 17.          SIMON TRPČESKI  - Our 2^nd Celebrity concert

This concert falls in the centre of the Third Claygate Festival, which is organised by two of our members, Rukshana and Jehan Master. The Festival provides the local population with a wonderful celebration of music and art from the different organisations in the area, and we are fortunate, (despite our name!) to be regarded as an asset and an integral part of the local area. This is also for us, an opportunity for publicity, since it is surprising how few people still know of our existence.

We have been exceptionally lucky to persuade the pianist, SIMON TRPČESKI to return for the second time. He will give us a wonderful programme of Liszt and Schubert, commencing with Liszt’s arrangement of Bach’s organ Prelude and Fugue in A minor. This is Liszt’s anniversary year so we will also have examples of his own compositions including two of his Rhapsodies…. Schubert’s German dances and the magnificent Wanderer Fantasie conclude the programme.

Do you remember the tremendous publicity last time he played for us, prior to his appearance in London? We were exhorted to “beg, borrow or steal a ticket!” Well, the same will apply this time. He is one of the great young pianists of our time, and nice with it!

Do tell everyone about him. Remember that all the young student pianists, and their friends, up to 25years, can come to all our concerts FREE, and please remember that this society can only function, and continue to provide excellent musicians for your concerts, if people support them. Please act as our voluntary PUBLICISTS !

 

 

I would like to thank everyone who helps us, the Patrons, and those who make a donation, -all those who, before, after and during rehearsals and concerts, assist us in so many ways.

In particular, I would like to thank the page turners. Our musicians are very complimentary about the assistance given, and if a few more people would offer, it would mean that the job could be shared. I know that there is a responsibility involved, but when you have a special skill, it is such a wonderful thing to be able to help the society selflessly in this way, once in the season. May I urge anyone who can, to come forward and give a little of your time next season. If there are enough people, it will mean just page-turning for half a programme. There will be wonderful music, and the opportunity to meet the performers personally