Interview with Nick & Tony Bicât including poems by Aleksandr Pushkin

Letter from Abroad

Last Orders

The Sun Will Shine Again

Days of December

Aspen Lullaby

Beslan: Two Voices

All musical works by Nick & Tony Bicât. There will not be an interval. Andrew Parrott Conductor Emily Van Evera Soprano Frances M Lynch Soprano James Rhoads Tenor David Jones Baritone Andy Armistead Bass -- Adam Bushell Percussion Holly Cook Flute Daniel Gea Sam James Accordion Raya Kostova Piano Dave Malkin Guitar Stephen Street Introduction

The collaboration of Nick and Tony Bicât The interplay of words and music forward to bring this haunting is the theme of tonight’s performance. work to a live audience. The piece is Brothers Nick and Tony Bicât, remarkable for its elegiac poetry and composer and wordsmith respectively, instrumentation, but above all for the have collaborated on many projects dramatic juxtaposition of the widow over a number of years. We will mourning her lost daughter and the hear a range of songs and poems ‘Black Widow’ contemplating the culminating in their truly remarkable effects of her suicidal terrorism. memorial cantata for the victims and The words are important; perpetrators of the calamitous Beslan you will find in your programme School Siege of 2004. the words of all the songs, Beslan, What many will not know is that and also a translation of the Russian the Bicât family has close roots in poems of Pushkin. We are most the Caucasus, as their grandfather grateful to Irina Belaia for her choice was a Chechen. After the Russian and reading of these. Revolution he was President of Cantata Dramatica has acted as the the short-lived National Assembly promoter of this concert. We came of The North Caucasian Republic across Beslan when promoting the and leader of the diplomatic mission first live performance of Nick Bicât’s to the Paris Peace Conference in equally haunting Requiem in 2012. 1919. The republic disappeared It is a privilege to be able to bring such when the Bolsheviks took over in outstanding and unusual musical 1922. Their grandmother Natasha works to live audiences. was brought up in the very cosmopolitan city of Odessa. Of course, this wouldn’t have been possible without the enthusiastic To mark these antecedents, support of our conductor, soloists, we have incorporated extracts from singers and instrumentalists, or the Odessa verses of Pushkin’s Onegin’s the access to venues as beautiful Travels, which celebrate that city, as this Georgian Church of St and the last stanza of the same poet’s George the Martyr, or the support A Prisoner of the Caucasus, that ends of our sponsors and hard work of with lines imagining a peaceful our brilliant administrative team. future for the region. Thanks to all of them! While most of the songs and music We hope that you enjoy this in the first half have been performed concert, and please bear in mind before, and Beslan has been recorded, our forthcoming performances of this is the first public performance Nick Bicât’s Perpetua in Southwark of Beslan. We are extremely grateful Cathedral on Wednesday 1 October. to Andrew Parrott, our conductor, Further information and tickets are and to sopranos Emily Van Evera available from the Cantata Dramatica and Frances M Lynch (both soloists website, www.cantatadramatica.com. on the recording) for coming

Nick Pitts-Tucker Chairman, Cantata Dramatica Beslan

Beslan is the third largest town in the Republic of North Ossetia- UKRAINE Alania, a federal subject of Russia Republic of North to the north of Georgia. Ossetia-Alania What became known as the Beslan Massacre began on 1 September 2004, during the family-attended ceremony Beslan that marked the beginning of the Russian school year, called Knowledge Vladikavkaz Day. Islamic separatist militants, mostly Ingush and Chechen, occupied a school in Beslan, North Ossetia RUSSIAN and held over 1,100 people hostage Black for three days with no food, water Sea FEDERATION or medical supplies—including 777 children. The militants’ main demand was recognition of the NORTH CAUCASIAN independence of Chechnya at the UN, FEDERAL DISTRICT KAZAKHSTAN and withdrawal of Russian troops from the nearby republic.

The siege ended when Russian Chechen security forces stormed the school Republic after several explosions were triggered. GEORGIA All but one of the terrorists were Caspian Sea killed. Of the 334 hostages killedTURKE Y during the siege, more than half were children. Close to 200 hostages remained missing or unidentified.

AZERBAIJAN Beslan: Two Voices was composed by Nick Bicât The work is scored for five solo voices accompanied by a in collaboration with his brother Tony, as a response small instrumental ensemble. The two female soloists give to this tragedy. Nick had been working with his friend a fictional voice to two women. The first is a mother taking the conductor Andrew Parrott (of Taverner Fame) to evolve her youngest daughter to her first day at school, and the a musical style without any pre‑formed idea of idiom. second is one of the so-called ‘Black Widows’, whose For Beslan, Nick combined this approach with research husbands had been killed by the Russians. The female into traditional Caucasian music to find a lean modern soloists also intermittently join the rest of the singers in the style which serves the narrative. The result is a highly vocal consort, setting the opening scene and drawing the concentrated and lyrical piece, full of drama and emotion, audience into the narrative. When the school siege is over, where every note counts and the listener is relentlessly only the grieving mother is left alive: her cry goes up, drawn into the tragedy as it unfolds. ‘Give me a body to mourn’. from Кавказский A Prisoner пленник in the Caucasus И смолкнул ярый Hushed now are the furious shouts of war крик войны: All is in subjection to Russian arms Все русскому мечу подвластно. The proud sons of the Caucasus fought on. Кавказа гордые сыны, They suffered dreadful losses; Сражались, гибли вы ужасно; But nothing could save them— Но не спасла вас наша кровь, Not the carnage inflicted on us, Ни очарованные брони, Nor their fabled weaponry, Ни горы, ни лихие кони, Not their mountains or their spirited horses, Ни дикой вольности любовь! Nor their devotion to an unnamed freedom, Подобно племени Батыя, Like the Mongol hordes, Изменит прадедам Кавказ, the mountain folk of the Caucasus Забудет алчной брани глас, Will not stay true to their ancestral ways: Оставит стрелы боевые. They’ll forget the call of hungry conflict К ущельям, где гнездились вы, And put aside the arrows of war Подъедет путник без боязни, The travellers will ride without fear И возвестят о вашей казни Up to the mountain fastness where they lurk; Преданья темные молвы. And sombre tales will be told Of how their murderous raids were punished. А С Пушкин A S Pushkin я жил тогда в Одессе…... I lived then in Odessa... Я жил тогда в Одессе пыльной... Там долго ясны небеса, Там хлопотливо торг обильный I lived then in Odessa, whose endless skies Свои подъемлет паруса; Blew the cobwebs from my head Там все Европой дышит, веет, There the hustle and bustle of trade Все блещет югом и пестреет Spread its sails to the wind and the sound of Europe. Разнообразностью живой. Happy streets ring with the golden tongue of Italy Язык Италии златой Such variety! Proud Slavs strut, Frenchmen preen Звучит по улице веселой, Spaniard greets Armenian Где ходит гордый славянин, And the sweetmeat-fat-Moldavian walking by the sea Француз, испанец, армянин, Tips his hat to the Egyptian И грек, и молдаван тяжелый, The pensioner-pirate Moor Ali. И сын египетской земли, Корсар в отставке Морали. * * Everywhere rings with masons’ hammers Like smithies beating out bronze horseshoes Но уж дробит каменья молот, They set new stone into old pavement И скоро звонкой мостовой Saving the town. Покроется спасенный город, Though humid, Odessa has no water Как будто кованой броней. Could this be a problem? Should we sit and pine? Однако в сей Одессе влажной Imagine of all things to want, water! Such a bother. Еще есть недостаток важный; No, my friends, who could ask for more Чего б вы думали? - воды. Than a land the gods have blessed Потребны тяжкие труды... We have the ocean and summer sun Что ж? это небольшое горе, And who cares for water Особенно, когда вино When there’s so much smuggled wine? Без пошлины привезено. Но солнце южное, но море... A S Pushkin Чего ж вам более, друзья?

А С Пушкин LETTER FROM ABROAD LAST ORDERS 1968 1975 I was in France, in those days we wrote letters. From David Hare’s play Teeth ‘n’ Smiles Royal Court Theatre. The palindromic structure of Nick’s harmonies I wrote the lyric on the train down from Birmingham, seems to echo the formality of the love-letter poem. where I was casting my TV play Glitter. I gave it to Nick and David when I arrived at the Court, where they were rehearsing. It was sung by Helen Mirren in the last act of the play.

The adjectives of sadness form a square Last orders on the Titanic There are no trees Set up the fol de rol It’s very empty here Tell the band to play that number The monument before me is very hard to see Better get it in your soul They’ve turned the fountains off before they freeze Put the life boats out to sea We've only got a few The adjectives of sadness fill my spoon Let the women and children drown The taste is bitter Man we've gotta save the crew But before it’s noon I’ll have to drain them up have to drink the cup Because the ship is sinking The sign has gone they’ve painted out the moon And time is running out We got water coming in Your body stalks my shadow in the sun Places we don't know about And though they say The tide is rising There isn’t any one It's covering her name I know that that’s not true and I believe in you The ship is sinking My holiday is not tremendous fun But the music remains the same Your breath is on the window by the door The music remains the same And though you say Last orders on the Titanic There isn’t any more Put your life belts on I know that it’s a lie I have to say goodbye We can't hear the captain shouting I love you very much and now that’s done Cos the band goes on and on I only want to tell you That you have my sympathy But there has to be a sacrifice And it isn't going to be me Last orders on the Titanic Get up and paint your face Deck hands in dungarees And millionaires in lace I only woke you baby To say I love you so But the water is up around My knees goodbye I have to go THE SUN WILL SHINE Days of December AGAIN 1992 1985 This song grew out of my conversations with the Romanian actor Ion Caramitru, while we were filming in Prague his scenes Nick had the tune but all his musical instruments had been for Exchange of Fire, a two-part film I wrote and directed for stolen. We wrote this in his shed on a borrowed Argos keyboard Channel Four. He had played a prominent real-life role in the with toy-town sounds. It’s a song about immigrants arriving fall of Ceausescu, and both he and our Polish cameraman Jacek in Britain during the Second World War. Petrycki were in very different ways critical of what followed on from their successful revolutions.

Night tossed on a stormy sea We danced after curfew Never a hint of shore Out after dark Till we are beached in England in England Taking a walk We’re out out in the open sea Through Victory Park And on the farther bank To the roughest of bars We can see bridges burning in England in England On the wrong side of town Where the shutters stay up Oh and if the sun should ever shine again And the drinkers fall down If even the wildest dreams come true again We’ll roll back the clouds of war from the white cliffs of The lessons of winter Dover Easily taught And here among Englishmen The promise of freedom The sun will shine again Heavily bought The sun will shine again A castle of liars A prison of lies Tales tales to tell our kids And the tanks on the streets How we were lost and found Under darkening skies Stranded a while in England in England Sun shining forever the rest of the year Some tale tale to tell our folks Burning away all the shadows of fear Landed on stony ground For love makes us reckless and life makes us strong We didn’t ask for much here in England in England And the days of December are never so long We passed by the statue On Victory Square Broken in pieces Eyes open in fear But the people are silent And no one is free Though we buried the leaders They shot on TV We took the old path Through Liberty Park Where people still whisper Afraid in the dark Aspen Lullaby 2010 A “genuine” Russian Folk Song—but written by us. The Aspen tree has a strong and often contradictory tradition in all folklores, especially Russian.

Aspen tree shake your silver head Hungry for times Watching the children play Not easily found Here on the banks of child hood But the roughest of bars Winter has faded away had been closed and burnt down. Angry words of warning Sun shining forever the rest of the year Mothers and fathers say Burning away all the shadows of fear Beware the river flowing fast For love makes us reckless and life makes us strong Carrying children’s dreams away And the days of December are never so long Never trust the muddy bank Or the stranger’s smile The silver lines you learned in class Are the slippery tongue of a snake in the grass Osina, osina the aspen tree Echo the winds that cry Shake your head to make your leaves Sing us a different lullaby BESLAN: Two Voices Part One

VOICE ONE VOICE TWO I hide my tears for The webbing cuts into my breast You in your sister’s blue coat As the night truck She grew like your father Rolls down the mountain Though broader I do not look back God rest his soul There is nothing left to see Too fast to wear it out I just think—men cannot sew Lunch tin flowers When they asked Pencils pens a notebook Asked not commanded All this save the flowers Death-in-life had already volunteered me. The subject of much debate If this is hell then what comes after For what does the State provide these days? Must be heaven Hair brushed you’re ready All those I loved had been taken I smile but I would weep Fruit picked and squashed underfoot An end to your dandelion clock Even devout women All the world’s wisdom yes Do not concern themselves too much with God But the price will be your days There is too much to do. Cut like a cake But now I have nothing but time For too many clamorous mouths Only to feed myself The beginning of the end of childhood What is the sense in that? The blue coat will do. Queuing in the market baking a loaf for one I have patched the hem Better some place in their heaven No-one will notice the mend I am clean You look like a memory of him My body is clean Standing expectant But my soul is dirty Your sister tore it Like washing ripped up by shrapnel Playing wild by the railway line A virgin’s bridal sheet I told her not to go there Held up for the laughter of drunkards. Had your father been alive All that I know is She would have obeyed. They should feel for one moment No-one will notice the mend my love How I feel You will be good Every hour of every day Respect your teachers That is not a holy purpose Not like her But it is necessary Growing too fast running in the night The corset itches now Thinking if she sends money from the city They talk openly of how the stuff sweats It makes it all right It cannot always be relied on. The road is a ruin the truck leaps like a goat I left their pictures at home The village is our prison now Take nothing they said Officials come But what would I have taken? There are no answers only anger Had I a daughter I would have stayed They look they speak they go But what to teach her? We get what we expect—lies This is how you burn your identity card They leave we cannot They are praying My daughter who is lost to me I close my eyes move my lips Does not return But only to say their names She says I should join her in the city Fathers uncles husbands But who will tend the grave? And his brothers and my sons My sister has no grave she says My love could not save any of you There will be I swear it So we are here The tests are not completed We will wait till dawn to do this It’s a question of funding I should have guessed In any case all they will prove is from the calendar She was there and now she’s not Allah the merciful Sweepings in a dish The first day at school Mingling with threads from a cloth Not seen round here On the blackboard a single tense Part Two I weep you weep he weeps The Beslan siege lasted 3 days. She is gone vaporised Standing next to the blast There were 32 attackers—some say more. Her DNA mixed with that of the Black Widow Two of them were women, wearing explosive belts. Who killed her One hostage-taker was captured and put on trial. One was hiding underneath a truck They got only one There were 730 estimated wounded, mainly hostages. Only one of many There were 344 dead. But if he suffers worse than Christ There was no room in the town cemetery for the dead. He could not atone Justice cannot heal a heart so torn Of the dead hostages 186 were children. The cemetery is full Many of the bodies were charred beyond recognition. Lord give me a body to mourn Some parents had to wait for DNA tests to confirm the fate of their children. Nick BicÂt Composer Nick Bicât has composed extensively open air concert for the International Red for film, television, and live performance. Cross in Geneva, and in 2000 Symphony Twice nominated for BAFTA and Ivor in Morris Minor, performed in Oxford Novello Awards, he has worked many to an audience of 50,000. times at the RSC and the National Theatre. Nick has written songs for artists His opera The Knife was nominated for best as diverse as Emma Kirkby, Deniece musical score in the 1989 New York Drama Williams & P.J. Harvey, whose recording Andrew Ogilvy Desk Awards. His orchestral work Under of his song Who Will Love Me Now? was the Eye of Heaven was performed at the voted BBC Radio 1 top film song for 1998. Barbican and Arena. Other concert The London première of Nick’s dramatic performances include When Will There cantata, Perpetua, will be given in Be Peace?, an internationally televised Southwark Cathedral on 1 October.

Tony Bicât Librettist Tony Bicât has been writing lyrics for his Co-opting the great arias of Mozart, brother’s music since they were teenagers. Verdi, Wagner and co, Tony wrote the They have maintained and refreshed their libretto for Flashmob the Opera, BBC3’s creative partnership over four decades live TV opera from Paddington Station, and parallel careers in film, theatre and which won numerous awards. television. His collaborations with Nick Tony continues to explore and experiment include Class (BBC Radio), Teeth and Smiles with lyrics and poetry. He recently (Ivor Novello Award) and Symphony performed as one of the finalists in the in Morris Minor. Tony has written and Oxford area heat of the Hammer and directed many original TV films, all Tongue poetry slam and was involved scored by Nick, including Cotswold Death, in creating an instant pantomime for The Laughter of God and Exchange of Fire The Chipping Norton Theatre. and two ground breaking TV musicals Glitter and Facelift. Andrew Parrott Conductor Andrew Parrott has always kept Baroque (both 19th‑century and contemporary and earlier music at the centre of his Slovak music) and in Sweden (Beethoven’s musical activities (both as performer complete piano and orchestral works, and researcher) and is perhaps best with Ronald Brautigam). For Toronto’s known for his work with the Taverner Opera Atelier Parrott has conducted Consort, Choir & Players. In addition seven productions (Lully, Gluck, Mozart), he works widely in later repertoire with and in the UK he premièred (and later Dan Porges modern-instrument orchestras, choirs recorded) Judith Weir’s A Night at the and opera companies. A former music Chinese Opera. Besides co-editing the New director of The London Mozart Players Oxford Book of Carols (1992), he is the and of The New York Collegium, he has author of numerous scholarly articles in recent years recorded in Slovakia and a book, The Essential Bach Choir (2000). Emily Van Evera Soprano Emily Van Evera has sung on over sixty for chamber orchestra, and a live recordings, amongst them award-winning European broadcast by solo voices discs of Italian 16th-century solo song, of Bach’s St Matthew Passion. Elizabethan song, Hildegard of Bingen, Emily has appeared at the BBC Proms Monteverdi, Bach and Handel. She also and in staged works by Monteverdi, Lully, sings traditional folk song and new music, Charpentier, Handel and Haydn, and most recently an anti-war oratorio and in a dramatised concert of Tudor solo songs by Vladimír Godár (Querela pacis/ song for BBC2. Recent releases include Pavian, So Sweet a Melody/Somm). Current Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo, and the title role projects include songs by Charles Ives, in the BBC-commissioned recording works of 17th‑century singer-songwriter of Purcell’s Dido & Aeneas (Taverner Barbara Strozzi, and French Airs de cour. Players, Avie). Emily lives and gardens Recent engagements include Mahler’s in Oxfordshire. 4th Symphony in the 1921 arrangement

Frances M Lynch Soprano Frances is a performer, director, and Minerva Scientifica, a project composer and teacher who has pursued exploring the work of women scientists an international career at the forefront and composers, at King’s College London. of contemporary vocal music, specializing Lynch has a small specialist teaching in Music-Theatre, , Opera, practice in North London and composes and Chamber Music. She has appeared as for drama, choirs, music theatre, art a soloist with Kent Opera, BBCSO, Scottish exhibitions and plays, and also produces Chamber Orchestra, Ensemble Moderne, commercial recordings for Herbtracks. The Lost Jockey, Communicado Theatre Frances performs and composes for the Company, Second Stride Dance Theatre, children’s concert duo Big Mouth Piano Extemporary Dance Theatre, and many Tales and is an associate member of the more. Her music-theatre company electric Sond’Ar-te Electric Ensemble, Lisbon. voice theatre (electricvoicetheatre.co.uk) is currently developing Harmony Squared www.francesmlynch.co.uk with The Great Tapestry of Scotland, James Rhoads Tenor James was a chorister at St George’s auditioned for the Genesis Sixteen Cathedral in Perth, Western Australia. under Harry Christopher and Eamonn He started his Bachelor of Music at the Dougan for the 2013/14 academic year. Western Australia Academy of Performing Currently he is studying a Bachelor of Arts before going on to a two year choral Music at King’s College London, where Scholarship at Worcester Cathedral. he sings in the Chapel Choir. James is also He then became a Choral Scholar studying voice under Alexander Ashworth at Wells Cathedral and successfully at the Royal Academy of Music.

David Jones Baritone David Jones studied at Oxford University with Co‑Opera Co. in which “his deadpan and Trinity Laban, supported by the Morag sense of humour and immaculate timing Noble scholarship. Recent highlights proved irresistible” (Opera magazine). have included playing Jesus in Jonathan He has played the title role in Hamlet Harvey’s Passion and Resurrection for the and Ariel in The Tempest with Oxford Voices of London Festival and singing Chamber Theatre, and first worked on Radio 3’s In Tune with the Blossom with Cantata Dramatica on the Street Singers. He appeared as Ko-Ko première of Perpetua. in an acclaimed production of The Mikado

Andy Armistead Bass Andy Armistead is a low bass who came Pastor (Cunning Little Vixen) Castro late to singing but has already begun (La Fanciulla del West) and Čekunov/ to establish himself as a professional Don Juan (From the House of the Dead). opera and oratorio singer, alongside his His future engagements include roles postgraduate studies at Trinity Laban, in La Traviata, La Clemenza di Tito where he won the Morag Noble Award and Tosca as well as in a première for 2014/15. Operatic roles include of an oratorio by Hewetson. Osmin (Die Entführung aus dem Serail), Visit www.andyarmistead.com Commendatore (Don Giovanni), Badger/ for more information.

Adam Bushell Percussion Adam Bushell started playing Michael Finnissy and Spiers & Boden. percussion at the age of 7 in his dad’s Adam plays with a number of bands village band. His musical curiosity around the South East, including Duck and sense of adventure have led Soup (folk) and Baby (improv) and can him to explore traditional , be found performing anywhere from contemporary classical music the BBC Proms to tiny function rooms and experimental improvisation, in pubs. He is currently researching the and he has worked with musicians role of improvisation in traditional music including Chris Wood, Steve Beresford, at the University of Newcastle. Holly Cook Flute Holly Cook studied flute with Anna Skinny Lister. Holly has also played Noakes and was Richard Carne flutes, panpipes and whistles at the Junior Fellow at Trinity Laban in Spitalfields Music Festival, in ENO’s John 2011–12 after completing her MMus Cage Musicircus, and with ’s in 2009. She performs on classical Will Gregory and his Moog Ensemble. flute, non‑Western flutes and Holly is currently a selected artist for whistles and has performed on BBC Making Music’s Concert Promoter’s Radio 3’s In Tune and Late Junction, Group (with harpist Tamara Young), as well as recording on Katie Melua’s and was awarded an Emerging Excellence 2013 album Ketevan and with folk band Award from the MBF in 2012. Daniel Gea Violin Daniel Gea studied towards his won the Vera Kantrovich Competition bachelor’s degree in violin in Spain for Solo Strings, and was finalist at with Olga Vilkomirskaia. As a chamber the Vivian Joseph Classical concerto music player, he has represented Trinity competition. He studied for his MMus Laban at the Britten Intercollegiate in violin at Trinity Laban with John String Quartet Competition 2013, Crawford on both a TCM Scholarship and was awarded the John Thompson and a Leverhulme Orchestral String Quartet Prize 2013. In 2013, he Mentorship Scholarship.

Sam James Accordion Sam is establishing himself on the Company of Musicians, he has British jazz scene, having performed performed in various contexts across at many renowned venues across the Europe. His studies have given him country. At the age of 18, he received an extensive knowledge of harmony and a scholarship to study at Trinity Laban, rhythm, cultivating an appetite for music

George Ross George where he gained several awards. that is challenging and adventurous. Having been nominated for the City His particular interests lie in exploring Music Foundation award, as well as the pianistic sound-world of Jaki Byard, being a finalist for the Worshipful Fred Hersch, and Lars Jansson.

Raya Kostova Piano Bulgarian pianist Raya Kostova made In 2013, Raya was awarded the Kathleen her concerto debut with the Bulgarian Creed and TCL scholarships for the Chamber Orchestra at the age of 11. Postgraduate Diploma course at Trinity In 2009 she received the Elsie Prater Award Laban to study with Mikhail Kazakevich to study at the Royal Academy of Music and she will continue her studies on with Tatiana Sarkissova. She has performed the Artist Diploma course next year. in Cadogan Hall and Wigmore Hall and She performs regularly with her husband, participated in many major masterclasses the baritone Thomas Humphreys. with acclaimed musicians. Dave Malkin Guitar Dave Malkin studied the guitar of The National Youth Guitar Ensemble with Mark Ashford before receiving at The Bolivar Hall and with Phantom Of a scholarship to study at Trinity Laban The Opera lyricist Charles Hart for a rare under Graham Devine and Joe Townsend. performance of William Walton’s Facade. He has performed alongside the London He is also one third of contemporary Philharmonic Orchestra at Southbank folk trio, Tandem, who released their Centre, with the Joe Townsend Quartet first album in the summer of 2013 and at St. John’s Smith Square, as co-principal have supported Goldfrapp and Lau.

Stephen Street Double Bass Stephen Street is a 3rd year bassist and took up tuition on both instruments. studying both jazz and classical studies. Stephen gained a full scholarship to He has a wide interest in musical styles Trinity Laban and has been thriving and takes great pride in being involved with the opportunities given to him. in as wide a range of music as possible. He relishes the chance to play solo At first Stephen was mostly self-taught, repertoire and looks forward to a creative playing bass guitar as a hobby until he left career with his own projects. sixth form, when he started double bass

Nick Pitts-Tucker Interviewer During a long and successful career Perpetua. The third is Cantata Eliensis, in banking, Nick found the time to the story of Ely Cathedral in three acts, develop an interest in powerful stories each put to music by a different young from each century of our era. The first composer. The fourth, Memoirs of a Snub was the story of William Carey, self-taught Nosed Cat, is being written for radio. educator of early Raj India, which emerged Cantata Dramatica has emerged from as a community play. The second was put this series of accidents as a musical to music and became the dramatic cantata force in its own right.

Irina Belaia Reader & language consultant Irina was born in Odessa, USSR. After her her family to the UK in the early 90s grammar school studies she obtained her following her husband’s university Masters in English Literature at National appointment there. Irina teaches Russian Dnepropetrovsk University, Ukraine, at the Adult Education Centre, Milton and taught English (Second Language) Keynes Council, and provides UK as an Assistant Professor in the Railway guardianship for several Stowe School Engineering Academy there. She moved students from Kiev and Moscow.