Concert sponsored by Canadian Arts Council
We are delighted to welcome back Taiwanese-Canadian musician Judy Hung who enjoys a versatile career as violinist, pianist, violoncellist da spalla, artistic director, and teacher.
Passionate about Historically Informed Performance, Judy released her solo baroque violin and solo harpsichord album, "Essence Baroque," in 2022. Following this success, her solo historical piano album, “Essence Romantique,” was released in 2023.
Judy has delivered solo and chamber music recitals at prestigious venues worldwide, including at Teatro Olimpico Vicenza (Italy), Music-at-Hill Bach Festival (UK), l’Église de Rougemont (Switzerland), and Pollack Hall (Canada), among others.
Judy Hung holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Violin Performance with an Orchestral Conducting minor from Louisiana State University. She has also earned Master’s degrees in Violin, Piano, and Early Music Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Syracuse University, and McGill University, respectively.
Our concert hall will only hold 40 people so please book early to avoid being disappointed.
back to topGary Branch (piano) and Kate Semmens (soprano) will perform a selection of pieces around the theme of Haydn in London.
Haydn had met Mozart in Vienna in 1784. There was great mutual respect between the two composers, they dedicated works to each other and were known to have played quartets together. Haydn even joined Mozart’s lodge in 1785. Mozart was part of the farewell party as Haydn set off for London.
Haydn was already popular in London and had taken over as the favourite composer following the death of CPE Bach. There had been many attempts to bring him to London, but Haydn was tied to his services for Prince Nikolaus in Esterházy. After the death of the prince in 1790, Haydn was less needed in court, and they were willing to let him travel.
Haydn left Vienna in December 1790, travelling with the violinist Salomon with whom he was to stay in London. They travelled via Bonn where Haydn met the young Beethoven. Haydn and Beethoven were to stay in touch and Beethoven became Haydn’s pupil between his visits to London. Haydn arrived in London on New Year’s Day in 1791. He had not seen the sea before his arrival in Calais for the crossing.
This programme celebrates the compositions that Haydn wrote while in London, particularly focusing on the songs that he wrote which set the poetry of Anne Hunter. These songs are performed within the context of contemporary songs of the other composers that were prominent in his life during that period.
Tickets £20 to include refreshments
back to topPrivate concert for Tunbridge Wells Civic Society
featuring Maggie Cole (fortepiano) and Sebastian Comberti (cello)
Born in London, Sebastian Comberti studied in Italy with Amedeo Baldovino and later with Derek Simpson and Sidney Griller at the Royal Academy of Music, from where he graduated in 1977.
In 1976 he became a founder member of the Bochmann Quartet giving concerts throughout the British Isles and in Europe. In 1983 he became principal cello with the London Mozart Players, with whom he has appeared frequently as soloist, as well as being an active member of the LMP Chamber Ensemble.
A keen interest in historically informed performance has resulted in participation with a great many of London’s period instrument groups, frequently appearing as principal cello with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and soloist with the Hanover Band.
As soloist for CPO he has recorded 4 Cds of the Sinfonia Concertantes of JC Bach, while as a member of several chamber groups he has recorded for CRD, EMI, Harmonia Mundi, Hyperion, Meridian, Phoenix and RCA. In April 2001 Sebastian Comberti founded Cello Classics, a label devoted to recordings of rare repertoire and artists, for which he has himself released CDs of hitherto unknown sonatas by Boccherini, quartets for 4 cellos, early 19th Century sonatas with fortepiano, and discs of Sonatas by Stephen Paxton and concertos by Haydn and Zumsteeg with the OAE.
Born in the USA, Maggie has made her home in the UK for the past 40 years. During this time, she has enjoyed a career playing harpsichord, fortepiano and piano. She will always be grateful for the superb tuition received here, most notably from Jill Severs on harpsichord, and for the extraordinary opportunities that living in Europe has brought to her. She is harpsichordist with Britten Sinfonia and has performed with The Nash Ensemble and London Sinfonietta in music that ranges from JS Bach to Henri Duttileux.
Maggie has recorded a diverse repertoire which includes on harpsichord, Scarlatti and Soler solo sonatas, Bach’s Goldberg Variations, his violin sonatas with Catherine Mackintosh and his flute sonatas with Philippa Davies . Another particular delight was in recording Poulenc’s “Concert Champêtre” with Richard Hickox and the City of London Sinfonia. On fortepiano she has recorded trios by Haydn and Beethoven with Trio Goya, ‘Mozartiana with Sebastian Comberti and a CD of Boccherini cello sonatas with Steven Isserlis. She can be heard on modern piano in a recording of romantic flute music by Philippe Gaubert with Idit Shemer.
Maggie is professor of fortepiano at the Guildhall School of Music and teaches all three keyboard instruments from her home in West London.
In the early phase of the Covid pandemic, Maggie had the great pleasure of recording the solo harpsichord music used in the play ‘Bach and Sons’ at the Bridge Theatre.
back to topConcert given by international performers including Gary Branch, Susanne von Laun, Maki Rousseau and Jean Phillips.
Music on Clementi square and Clementi grand piano.
As a tribute to Christopher Clementi who sadly passed this year, we are hosting a concert featuring music by Muzio Clementi and his contemporaries.
back to topThere's nothing remarkable about it. All one has to do is hit the right keys at the right time and the instrument plays itself
Johann Sebastian Bach