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| Mendelssohn 200 Festival |
| St Martin's celebration of the music of Felix Mendelssohn, commemorating the 200th anniversary of his birth, continues with performances by the Belmont Ensemble, Elysian Singers and Academy of St Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble. |
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Mozart and Mendelssohn |
| Saturday 6 June, 7.30pm |
Helena Wood (violin) and the Belmont Ensemble conducted by Peter G Dyson perform Mendelssohn's popular Violin Concerto in E minor. The concert also includes Mozart's Symphony No 41 'Jupiter' and overtures from Cosi Fan Tutte and Marriage of Figaro.
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| Music for Choir and Strings |
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| Tuesday 23 June, 7.30pm |
Making their debut at St Martin's the Elysian Singers with conductor Sam Laughton perform a selection of the great composer's works for choir and string ensemble. The programme also includes the Bach Mass in F and Lobet den Herrn.
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Academy Classics |
| Tuesday 30 June, 7.30pm |
On Tuesday 30 June the Academy of St Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble returns to St Martin's to perform a delightful programme centering around Mendelssohn's Octet in E flat. The programme also includes String Sextet from Capriccio by Richard Strauss and Mozart's Clarinet Quintet in A.
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| Further Highlights |
| Coronation Music |
Saturday 6 June, 7.30pm
4.30 - 5.30pm – Family Concert
7.30pm – Evening Concert: Coronation Music with Audience sing-along |
 To celebrate HM The Queen's official birthday, the LMA Orchestra and Orpheus Singers directed by John Landor present a sumptuous programme of choral works  by Handel, Purcell, Parry and Arne including Jerusalem, Rule Britannia, God Save the Queen and the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah at the royal parish church of St Martin-in-the-Fields. Sing-along at the evening concert or bring the whole family for a fun exploration of a selection of these works at the Family Concert in the afternoon. |
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| Monteverdi Vespers by Candlelight |
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| Friday 19 June, 7.30pm |
Experience Monteverdi's moving Vespers performed by the Canticum choir with the QuintEssential Sackbutt and Cornett Ensemble under the direction of Mark Forkgen in a candlelit St Martin's.
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Second Concert for Peace and Youth: Carmina Burana |
Thursday 25 June, 7.30pm
Concert in aid of Footballs4fun, a charity helping children in Africa |
The London Chorus led by conductor Ronald Corp perform Carl Orff's rousing Carmina Burana. The evening's eclectic programme also includes an appearance by the Darius Brubeck Quartet.
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| Lunchtime Concerts: Some to Watch |
St Martin's continues a proud tradition stretching back more than 60 years of support for young and emerging artists providing a central London performance platform and boasting appearances by extraordinary talent from across the globe. The free concerts are held every Monday, Tuesday and Friday at 1.00pm.
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St Martin-in-the-Fields Organ Series
Monday 1 June, 1.00pm
Assistant Organist at the Temple Church Greg Morris continues his series of performances of the best of Bach's works for organ.
A Lingual Posey
Friday 12 June, 1.00pm
German artists Silke Mandle (soprano) and Florian Kaplick (piano) perform a delightful programme of songs by composers including Schubert, Haydn, Vaughan Williams and Charles Ives
Pianists of the World Series
Friday 26 June, 1.00pm
Neil Cooney (piano) of the Republic of Ireland performs works by Bach, Chopin and Irish composer John Field. |
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| Meet The Artist |
| Warren Mailley-Smith – Piano |
 "This young musician is about to make a huge impression on the classical circuit"
Classic FM
"Rising Star - Great artists of tomorrow"
BBC Music Magazine
Warren Mailley-Smith is one of the UK's outstanding new generation of concert pianists. His playing has won numerous awards, has seen him perform on many of the UK's leading platforms for young performers and has been featured on Classic FM and Radio 3. Warren returns to St Martin's on Tuesday 9 June performing a fabulous programme of Beethoven, Gershwin, Chopin and Rachmaninov closing with Gershwin's original solo piano version of Rhapsody in Blue.
ITP: Warren, it is very kind of you to answer a few of our questions. We were worried we wouldn't catch you between CD releases, Carnegie Hall debut and preparation for the filming of your new DVD here at St Martin's! Will the second half of 2009 slow down at all for you?
WMS: It has certainly been a busy few months and I am looking forward to a nice relaxing summer. In terms of the rest of the year, I have recently embarked on a rather ambitious multi-disc recording project which is going to be taking up a lot of time over the next couple of years in fact. I am also looking forward to a return performance at Carnegie and a tour in the States and possibly China, along with performances in the UK. I am also involved in the launch of a new educational project which is very exciting and will be getting off the ground next year.
ITP: Only moderately busy then! Congratulations on a return to Carnegie. You're often involved with musical education, can you tell us a bit more about this coming project?
WMS: Over the past couple of years, I've increasingly found myself giving workshops in schools in conjunction with concerts that I have been giving in the area. So I decided to co-ordinate my approach and collaborate with some similar artists, to offer a new service to mainstream schools to directly assist with their curriculums. I think it is very important for kids in schools to experience music-making with and by professional musicians in a relaxed, low-pressure and fun setting. Initially we are focusing our efforts in one particular geographical location.
ITP: In terms of your own development, Chopin seems to have been a key player. You have highlighted some of his more rarely heard early works in recitals over the past few years. His works are also a main feature of your programme with us. How would you describe the composer's influence?
WMS: Chopin's influence generally has, of course, been enormous on composers, pianists and audiences alike for generations. Personally, I have played Chopin's music for as long as I can remember and despite the fact that so many other pianists play Chopin, I have been keen to immerse myself in as much of it as possible. I think it is important to play music that you genuinely feel moved by and one of the things I love about Chopin's music is the enormous scope to put your own particular stamp on an interpretation. He was such an amazing performer himself and his music offers so much opportunity to be spontaneous in performance. I can't imagine ever getting bored of playing his music even 60 years from now!
ITP: Along with this evident passion for Chopin, you have been described by Musical Opinion as "Tall and talented...the embodiment of a modern Romantic concert pianist" however, the range of your repertoire is extensive, do you think you have found your 'voice'? Would you consider yourself a 'modern Romantic concert pianist'?
WMS: Well, it's a very nice way to be described. I guess it's hard to give an exact definition of what a modern romantic concert pianist is, since concert pianists of today all have very different stories and approaches to their careers. Personally I am committed to performing as much as possible whilst doing whatever I can to help develop a new generation of audiences for traditional classical music. I do probably feel most at home with romantic and late classical repertoire although I adore Bach and much 20th century and contemporary music too.
ITP: You originally studied to be a lawyer, was it a difficult decision to take the financially insecure path and become a professional musician?
WMS: I must confess that finances didn't factor in my considerations, funnily enough. A bit reckless, perhaps. But then, I imagine that probably not many classical musicians decide to go into music just to get rich per se. Whilst it is a very different approach to earning your living from the legal profession, you just can't beat getting up in the morning and practising for a few hours, before heading off to perform and get paid for doing it! I think that prospect made it a very easy decision to take for me.
ITP: Finally, could you tell us a little more about your programme for 9 June? You have some wonderful works in there including the Beethoven 'Appassionata' and 'Moonlight' Sonatas and Rachmaninov's 'Prelude in G minor' not to mention Chopin of course! How did you go about putting this programme together? Are there any pieces of personal significance to you?
WMS: Well, I quite simply chose a programme of some of my favourite music by some of my favourite composers. A number of the pieces I've been playing for many years so it is very nice to revisit them on an occasion as big as this. I'm particularly looking forward to playing the piano solo version of the Rhapsody in Blue. In the absence of a full orchestra the pianist gets double the note-load so it will be fun to be both Orchestra and soloist for a change.
ITP: Warren thank you again for your time and we are delighted to welcome you back to St Martin's fresh off the Carnegie Hall press! We very much look forward to your fantastic programme on Tuesday 9 June. |
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| Jazz In The Crypt |
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| Wednesdays at 8.00pm |
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The ever-popular jazz series held in St Martin's Café in the Crypt continues this month with tastes of soul, blues, Dixieland and New Orleans.
Zena James Quintet – 3 June
A blend of jazz, soul and blues, the gutsy voice of Zena James brings a distinctive heart-felt passion to popular standards and less known jazz gems.
The Fabulations – 10 June
Marion J and the Fabulations return for another classic evening of jazz, daring disco and latest hits.
Sparky and Marky – 17 June
Four unique musicians bring a blend of cutting edge retro and eclectic funk jazz.
TJ Johnson's Bourbon Kick – 24 June
Hot favourite, TJ Johnson returns for a night of jazz – New Orleans style! |
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| ITP Competition |
Congratulations to May's ITP Competition Winner Janice Lucas.
For your chance to win two tickets to a concert of your choice and a meal voucher for two at the Café in the Cryptsimply send your answer to the question below to music@smitf.org by 5.00pm on Wednesday 10 June with 'competition' in the subject field.
Which composer's 200th Birthday are we celebrating at St Martin's this June? |
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