The Concerts
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THE CONCERTS 45 1974 - 2019 OVER 240 CONCERTS Introduction Trevor Beale My father, Trevor Beale, started the wonderful tradition of concerts at West Lodge Park in 1974, and the season of concerts 45 each year has continued ever since for 45 years. This brochure celebrates over 240 concerts to be held at West Lodge Park, a wonderful milestone by any standard. The format is simple – enjoy good food, fine wine and high quality classical music in beautiful and civilised surroundings. Each evening starts with a sparkling wine and canapés reception at 7pm, followed by a starter and main course served in our Cedar restaurant. We then move to the delightful Lancaster Room for the first half of the concert before going back to our tables for dessert, liqueurs and coffee. The second half of the concert takes place back in the Lancaster room. The evening finishes with tea with the musicians in the lounge at around 11pm. What is particularly special about the concerts at West Lodge Park is the ability to enjoy top artists from the classical world in such an intimate setting rather than in a huge concert hall. This salon setting is how musicians would have performed in the eighteenth century. Come along to a concert at West Lodge Park some time and enjoy a wonderful evening out. Better still, book one of our beautiful bedrooms for the night, with privileged rates for all attending the concert, and look forward to falling straight into bed at the end of the evening rather than facing the M25! Andrew Beale Managing Director - Beales Hotels 2 THE FIRST CONCERT The London Harpsichord Ensemble as they appear now in 2010 27th January 1974 - Concert Dinner London Harpsichord Ensemble The very first concert at West Lodge Park was presented by the London Harpsichord Ensemble, comprising of Sarah Francis (oboe), John Francis (flute), Cecil James (bassoon) and Millicent Silver (harpsichord). This popular Baroque ensemble is highly praised for their stylish interpretation of 18th century music. This first concert was for one evening, but the ensemble were invited back to West Lodge Park on several other occasions; in April 1980 because of high demand and their popularity they gave concerts over two days (on the 5th and 6th) and, again in February 1984 they appeared for a two-day period (on the 10th and 11th). They then were invited back again at the 115th concert on 29th January 1993. The Programme for this first concert was as follows: Trio in F Jean Baptiste Loeillet Sonata in B minor Handel Trio in F Teleman The Apotheosis of Corelli Couperin The Italian Concerto Bach Concerto in G minor Vivaldi This was followed by a delightful Dinner in the Cedar Restaurant. 3 FAMOUS ARTISTS - during the 1970S Julian Lloyd Webber, Cellist On the 16th January 1976 Julian Lloyd Webber, then aged 25, appeared at West Lodge Park. He was accompanied on the piano by Rhondda Gillespie, and delighted guests with a programme which included pieces by Vivaldi, Britten, Saint Saens, Brahms and Bliss. Julian, the second son of composer William Lloyd Webber and Jean Hermione, is the younger brother of the composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. Julian was a scholar at the Royal College of Music (London) and completed his studies with Pierre Fournier in Geneva in 1973. He made his professional debut at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London in January 1972 when he gave the first London performance of the Cello Concerto by Sir Arthur Bliss. He delighted our guests at West Lodge Park, and we have followed his career with interest since that visit. Dame Felicity Lott , Soprano Felicity Lott sung at West Lodge Park on 3rd December 1976. She has earned an international reputation as a concert singer, collaborating with most of the great conductors currently active. She has a special love for French “mélodies”, German Lieder and the English song repertoire, particularly the songs of Benjamin Britten. Felicity Lott has received many honorary degrees, sang at the wedding of HRH Prince Andrew in 1986, was elected to the French légion d’honneur and made a DBE in 1996. Howard Shelley, Pianist Howard Shelley played at West Lodge Park on 14th January 1977. After winning the premier prize at the Royal College of Music at the end of his first year, Howard Shelley’s career began with a successful London recital and a televised Promenade concert with the London Symphony Orchestra under Michael Tilson Thomas in the same season. Since then he has performed regularly throughout the UK, Europe, Scandinavia, North America, Russia, Australia, and the Far East. He has also made over seventy-five commercial recordings. In 1994, an Honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of Music was conferred on him by HRH The Prince of Wales. Shelley was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2009 New Year Honours. 4 Concerts at West Lodge Park during the 1970S Concert Date Artist Concert Number 1 27.1.74 London Harpsichord Ensemble Baroque ensemble 2 24.2.74 Jill Nott Bower & Robert Spencer Soprano & guitar 3 22.3.74 Duke Trio Piano trio 4 26.4.74 Malcolm Binns Piano 5 2.6.74 Marisa Robles, Flute and harp Christopher Hyde-Smith 6 1.11.74 Duke Trio Piano trio 7 29.11.74 London Harpsichord Ensemble Baroque ensemble 8 24.1.75 Macnaghten Quartet String quartet 9 28.2.75 Derek Hammond Stroud Baritone & piano 10 16.5.75 La Serata Trio Clarinet, soprano, piano 11 24.10.75 Medici Quartet String quartet 12 28.11.75 Anthea Gifford Guitar 13 16.1.76 Julian Lloyd-Webber Cello & piano 14 20.2.76 Yaltah Menuhin Piano 15 26.3.76 Sarah Francis & Cummings Trio Oboe quartet 16 22.10.76 Dumka Trio Piano trio 17 3.12.76 Felicity Lott & Geoffrey Parsons Song recital 18 14.1.77 Howard Shelley Piano 19 21.2.77 Amici Quartet String quartet 20 9.4.77 Sally Le Sage, Anthony Ransome Song recital 21 10.4.77 Coull Quartet String quartet 22 30.9.77 Levon Chilingirian Violin & piano & Clifford Benson 23 22.10.77 Laureate Trio Piano trio 24 13.1.78 The Sheba Sound Baroque ensemble 25 10.2.78 Nina Milkina Piano 26 25.3.78 Charles Peebles, Soprano, violin, piano Penelope Price-Jones, Philip Martin 27 26.3.78 Amici Quartet String quartet 28 6.10.78 Blyth Ensemble Clarinet, soprano, piano 29 17.11.78 Richards Trio String trio 30 27.1.79 Timothy Walker Guitar 31 9.3.79 Alfredo Campoli Violin & piano 32 14.4.79 Raphael Wallfish, Cello & piano Antony Hopkins 33 15.4.79 Bochmann Quartet String quartet 34 12.10.79 Camerata of London Elizabethan concert 35 7.12.79 Trio Zingara Piano trio 5 FAMOUS ARTISTS - during the 1980S Alexander Baillie, Cellist On the 4th December 1981 Alexander Baillie, recognised as one of the finest cellists of his generation, appeared at West Lodge Park. He began playing the cello at the comparatively late age of twelve having been directly inspired by the late Jacqueline du Pré. He went on to study at London’s Royal College of Music with Joan Dickson and Anna Shuttleworth and with Andre Navarra in Vienna. Appearances with British orchestras have included the Elgar Concerto with the London Symphony Orchestra under Andrew Litton, the Schumann Concerto with Marek Janowski and the BBC Symphony at the BBC Proms, the Walton Concerto under the late Sir Alexander Gibson with the Royal philharmonic, the Dvorak Concerto with the City of Birmingham Symphony under Sir Simon Rattle. He has also directed and performed the Haydn and Boccherini concertos with the English Chamber Orchestra. Alexander’s programme for West Lodge Park, with the accompaniment of Kathron Sturrock on the piano included the Prelude and Fugue from Suite No.5 in C minor by Bach, Sonata in A Minor by César Franck, Fantasiestücke Op.73 by Schumann and the Pezzo Capriccioso by Tschaikovsky. Raphael Wallfisch Cellist, and Peter Wallfisch Pianist West Lodge Park prides itself in spotting excellent talent and on the 5th December 1985, Raphael Wallfisch, one of the most celebrated cellists performing on the international stage, was invited to give a concert, accompanied by his father Peter, himself a celebrated pianist. 6 FAMOUS ARTISTS - during the 1980S Raphael was born in London into a family of distinguished musicians, his mother the cellist Anita Lasker-Wallfisch and his father the pianist Peter Wallfisch. At an early age, Raphael was greatly inspired by hearing Zara Nelsova play, and, guided by a succession of fine teachers including Amaryllis Fleming, Amadeo Baldovino and Derek Simpson, it became apparent that the cello was to be his life’s work. While studying with the great Russian cellist Gregor Piatigorsky in California, he was chosen to perform chamber music with Jascha Heifetz in the informal recitals that Piatigorsky held at his home. Raphael plays a 1760 Gennaro Gagliano cello. He now lives in London with his wife, the violinist Elizabeth, and has three children, Benjamin, Simon, and Joanna. Raphael and Peter’s programme at West Lodge Park comprised Sonata in G major by Bach, Sonata by Bridge, Adagio and Allegro, Op.70 by Schumann and the Sonata in E minor, Op.38 by Brahms. Leslie Howard, Pianist Leslie Howard played at West Lodge Park on 15th April 1988 His mature debut as a pianist came at the age of 13, with Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2. He learned the oboe at an early age, and has even performed Mozart’s Oboe Concerto. He often gives masterclasses at the Royal College of Music and Royal Academy of Music.