I went solely to watch Jemma Redgrave who is an amazing actor and person and she was indeed fantastic narrating A Soldier's Tale. It was a bit windy and cold on the 23rd July and the music tended to fly around a bit, and Jemma was not only the narrator, but music rescuer and occasional page turner. The orchestra was also very good, although in truth I am not really into classical music, but the combination of a beautifully read story by a terrific actor and classical music made for a perfect evening.
Thank you very much.
Heather Burdett
On Thursday July 22nd, the curtain will rise for the first time on Courtyard Classics Live! in the beautiful surroundings of Beckenham Place Park. This four day festival will feature some of the UK's top musicians and actors onstage at this new concert venue. Each day until Sunday 25th you can choose from two daily performances, the first starting at 1900, why not join us after a long day at work for a pre-dinner drink whilst listening to some of the greatest music ever written? Or if you prefer, come and watch the sun set over Beckenham Mansion at the 2100 show. Concerts last one hour. We are being hosted by the wonderful Homestead Cafe who will be on hand to serve a full range of soft drinks, alcoholic beverages including locally brewed craft beer, teas and Squaremile coffee as well as a large selection of snacks. Their pizzas are awesome or for those with a sweeter tooth, there's a delicious array of cakes, including gluten free and vegan options.
The Courtyard boasts a wonderful natural acoustic and has an almost Mediterranean feel when the sun is out, the perfect venue for a return to live performance in a Covid friendly environment. Audience numbers are limited for your comfort.
These concerts are designed to be informal, relaxed and fun, we look forward to welcoming back our old audiences but especially anyone looking to give classical music a try for the first time. YOUNG PEOPLE (aged 8-25) GO FREE!
Programme :-
Day One, July 22nd - Midsummer Mozart
Come and 'meet' the man himself, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, brought back to life here by an actor through his letters, accompanied by some of his best chamber music for wind ensemble, as heard in the film 'Amadeus'.
Day Two, July 23rd - A Soldier's Tale
A septet of London's top musicians unravel Stravinsky's virtuosic score, reliving the Russian folk tale of a soldier who trades his fiddle for unparalleled gain. This darkly witty theatrical work, narrated here by a well-known actor, was first seen in 1918 but the planned run of performances had to be cut short due to the Spanish 'flu epidemic.
Day Three, July 24th - Schubert's Octet
Back in 1830s Vienna, this piece became one of Schubert's most popular pieces, played widely across the city. This entertaining work is a musical journey, full of extremes of character with beautiful serene melodies and jaunty peasant dances. New to classical, this could be the perfect place to start!
Day Four, July 25th - Bijou Baroque
Bijou Baroque features some of the gems of 18th century music. A small string orchestra accompany a solo soprano singing arias such as Handel's 'Let the bright seraphim' and 'Eternal Source of Light Divine', as heard at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Courtyard Co-operative takes its players from London's top orchestras and chamber ensembles. Already signed up are principal players from the Philharmonia, London Philharmonic, Royal Philharmonic, BBC Symphony, English Chamber and Aurora orchestras as well as the Academy of St Martin's in the Field and the Sacconi String Quartet. Solo performers to be announced soon, see social media.