North Devon Sinfonia – the winners of BBC Two’s Great Orchestra Challenge in 2015 – are representing the UK at the Seoul International Community Festival, but are in search of £13,000 to fund their 5-day trip.
Read the book then listen to the music
Catherine Clover’s new book – a 15th century historical novel entitled The Templar’s Garden – has at its heart a variety of settings of Psalm 42. It’s also set in Oxford – where Catherine spent her student days and, judging by this video, where her heart has taken up permanent lodgings.
St John’s Smith Square launches a new season of concerts for 2017/18
The St John’s Smith Square season launch is a fixture in my calendar. I’ve been to three.
Every year it’s been stiflingly hot, the cool interior of the rebuilt Baroque church offering sanctuary from the heady intensity of London in July.
St John’s Smith Square is where I discovered a glorious musical celebration of Westminster, gasped at the musical delights created when pianist Christina McMaster and a pupil of her joined forced on stage, and heard an electrifying performance of Brahms 1 from (fanboy alert) the brilliant Aurora Orchestra.