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Home , Aldeburgh Music, Annie Nightingale, Antonio Pappano, Behind the Music, Clodagh Rodgers, Ed Stewart

ISSUE 5

BEHIND THE MUSIC Featuring larkinsurance.co.uk

What’s Inside Cover Story 12-15 4-5

Nicola Benedetti at 30 I had to be tough She has no wish for lavish gifts on her 30th birthday but Lyric Sir has natural Nicola Benedetti expresses her desire to fathom a way to talent and shares his craft by encouraging formalise her education work young opera hopefuls 26-29 22-25

Land of legends It was serendipity

The Gower Festival goes from strength to strength, thanks Annette Isserlis put her heart and soul into to a music-loving team led by Artistic Director Gordon arranging the posthumous birthday concert in Back who has been attracting top musicians to the idyllic honour of Francis Baines – and she planned it peninsula in south-west Wales in her personal woodland Welcome

t is fascinating to discover what goes on behind the scenes in the world of top-class music and inside this issue of LARKmusic I hope you will enjoy reading the exclusive features which capture our Iinterviewees’ passion and incredible drive for perfection.

The Lark team has been enjoying some wonderful music, attending events from the Francis Baines’ centenary concert to recitals at the , the schools’ Celebration at and this summer’s Gower Festival – meeting clients and making new friends along the way. Read on for the full stories!

Back in the office, it’s been busy with a focus on improving our insurance products and online service so I am pleased to introduce our new Public Liability Cover, as well as highlighting our new quote and buy portal which will make buying insurance cover online even more convenient. Please turn to pages 8-9 for details.

Looking ahead, I’m also delighted to confirm that Lark will be joining Sinfonietta’s 50th birthday celebrations in 2018 and we will continue to support the Endellion String Quartet as they mark their 40th anniversary. Both fantastic milestones!

Gemma Deavall Divisional Director [email protected]

ARTICLES 20-21

Musical Notes

Private Client Director Julie Webb shares her news and travels; meeting clients, musicians and singers while attending events and concerts across the UK

6-7, 30 16-19 Out & About Isabella Valentini has been Radio One at 50. supporting the young violin makers’ competition in Broadcaster ‘Diddy’ David Hamilton presented the Radio One and the Suffolk afternoon show during its heyday in the 1970s and helped schools’ music makers many bands get their foot on the ladder to fame during the Celebration at 30 larkinsurance.co.uk

Nicola Benedetti inspires students during a Music in Secondary Schools Trust programme Picture: Benjamin Ealovega I want to formalise my education work

Classical violinist Nicola Benedetti has been teaching since she was a teenager and now, as she turns 30, she tells journalist Lesley Bellew about her plans to ‘bring everything together’

f there’s one thing that Nicola “It has always been quite natural for growing willingness to work together, Benedetti would like to do to me to teach and give masterclasses; it to develop the level of music tuition, Imark her 30th birthday it is to is something I have always been quite collectively, and re-address how we formalise her education work. drawn to, perhaps without identifying define our belief in the need for the it. Am I evangelical? I suppose so! creative arts, and send this message Nicola, who was 30 in July, has been out more confidently. going into schools to teach pupils “When you love the music so much, since she was 15 but has decided you want to make sure other people “I’m more energised, inspired and she wants ‘to get everything more have the chance to experience the uplifted than ever. I always want organised’. music, too –­ so it is out there for to be extremely enthusiastic so the everyone.” enthusiasm is powerful enough to be She said: “I do so many things so it infectious and alert others to the idea would be good to bring everything Nicola, who attended the Yehudi of loving this music. together, formalise the education Menuhin School, was awarded an OBE work and link everything to in 2003 and the Queen’s Medal for “Doing something musical and give it more structure – to offer Music in May 2017, collaborates with creative in schools has such far- a diverse range of teachers, musicians, greater quality music and creative reaching benefits, besides the fact charities and music organisations. experiences for as many children as that it should be incredibly enjoyable possible. She said: “Many of us feel moved by a for young people.

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Nicola, who was born in West very beginning – that’s what I do. Kilbride, Scotland, and started to “With some violin concertos the play the violin at the age of four, said: pieces can be so large, and so “Classical music has a beauty and complex, that at first they seem like complexity, as well as a creativity CONCERT DATES an impossible task but if you keep on and most wonderful sound. It is 2017-18 going you can get there. always interesting to me, especially with young kids, that if you put on a “There’s no way to speed up that Aug 25 Gstaad Menuhin piece of Stravinsky or Beethoven in process so I always say be focused, Festival, Mozart VC3 with Santa front of them, generally speaking learn well and keep going until it Cecilia and they react in an extreme way. solidifies – don’t worry about the Sept 5 RSNO, Elgar VC, Peter “Children are not in that mental initial stages being messy! Oundjan: Dundee (Sept 6 and Sept 7 ) space where they have any prejudice “Because I do a lot of masterclasses I Bremen Phil, so they hear the music for what it do try to think about my own journey Sept 23-24 Brahms Double with Leonard is, which is a fantastic sound. It’s and playing style because you go Elschenbroich something they can listen to and feel through so much information if you something. are seriously studying an instrument Oct 27 & 29 San Diego like the violin. Symphony with Cristian “The music is dramatic and diverse, Macelaru: VC much more so than pop music “There’s a lot of opposing information Orchestra which is far more, well, let’s say Nov 2-4 with people telling you to do this and with Cristian Macelaru: Wynton homogenised. that – use your body, follow your Marsalis VC “I just wish there was a whole bunch instinct, don’t move too much or Dec 2-3 New World Symphony of music pieces that children get to you’ll disturb the band … there are with James Gaffigan: hear when they are four or five years so many ridiculous notions and it is a Szymanowski VC old – in my experience when they tricky thing to balance! Jan 8, 19-21, 2018 are exposed to music at that age they “I often just try to present Dallas Symphony with Donald react very strongly. the students or audience with Runnicles: Beethoven VC “That’s my goal at 30 – I really do information but also aim to get Feb 3-21 OAE UK and North not have a personal goal. I’ve never them into a mental space of trusting America tour with Marin Alsop: had the ambition to live here or own themselves and their own creative Beethoven VC and Mozart VC5. something particular – in fact, I’ve way to work something out to sound Concerts in Oxford, London, never had that sort of feeling, it’s better and develop their own style. , Basingstoke, strange. Saffron Walden, Santa Barbara, “We are ourselves and we can’t Oakland, Rochester, San “I would also like to become more get away from it – so embrace the Francisco, Ottawa comfortable with myself, more element that’s in-built. Embrace and humble in the process and develop as be far more experimental to find Visit nicolabenedetti.co.uk a person and a violinist.” deeper individuality.” Nicola played on July 18, and celebrated her birthday with a big party for friends and family the next day. She said: “I had a proper party in London because I have so little time to catch up with friends. “There is something about playing a concert at night. I preserve everything for the performance so it is not until after a week off and the weight lifts that I get in touch with everyone I haven’t spoken to in a while. That’s how I spend any free time – catching up with people.” When teaching, Nicola, who plays a 1717 Gariel Stradivarius, also warns students that there are no short cuts to learning a piece of music. She said: “I suggest to students that when they start to learn a piece of music, they should put in an Nicola with young string players from A R Rahman’s Sunshine Orchestra of KM enormous number of hours at the College of Music and Technology, Chennai, India Picture: Helen Taylor

5 larkinsurance.co.uk Celebration! Suffolk is a music county (think and Ed Sheeran) and the Lark team arrived in force to support the unique schools’ music festival, says Music Account Handler Isabella Valentini

rented a place for the team to stay. schools came together for the final ‘IF WIND AND WATER COULD WRITE MUSIC, IT WOULD SOUND We called it Lark Lodge! piece, I Wish, composed by Gwyneth LIKE BEN’S’ – . Group Managing Director Stephen Herbert. Gwyneth explained she Lark, Managing Director David ‘needed new noise, with a sense of he above words of possibility’ so she asked the children virtuoso violinist Yehudi Foster, Music Divisional Director to give her their three wishes – one Menuhin rang true for Gemma Deavall, Commercial New for themselves, one for someone they the Lark Music team who Business Manager Lewis Doyle, T Graduate trainee Matt Westbrook, love and one for the world. spent a week in for the Suffolk schools’ Celebration at 30 Marketing Manager Mike Bramford, Gwyneth said: “The was one New Business Account Handler Festival. of genuine celebration of Snape Natalie Hills and I attended concerts Maltings; the extraordinary creative The wind whistling through throughout the week. reed beds, moody skies, seagulls work they do; of and the screeching and waves dragging Over the last 30 years, some 40,000 magical feeling of community it shingle down the beach powerfully children have been involved in generates; of young people and the echoed Britten’s music – and his the music-making festival and in power of their voices. It was an legacy lives on through children the audience we met parents who invitation to make a wish and make performing in the festival. themselves were part of Celebration it happen.” when they were at school. Here in ‘Benjamin Britten country’, We at Lark were still humming the more than 1,500 children went on From tiny tots to sixth formers, chorus as we drove back down orchestras to ensembles, the stage in the Snape Maltings Concert the A12. Hall and Lark was proud to support enthusiasm for music was the event. So keen, in fact, that we contagious. Every evening, the Visit snapemaltings.co.uk

Snape Maltings, right, is known for the (now ). The festival was created by Benjamin Britten and his partner who lived nearby in The Red House, from 1957. When Snape Maltings ceased to malt barley in the mid-1960s, Britten leased the largest building and converted it into an 830-seat concert hall. The present hall replaced it after a fire in 1970. Left, Isabella Valentini stayed on in Aldeburgh and took a walk on the beach (with dogs Rita and Polly) to see artist 's Scallop which commemorates Benjamin Britten

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The Celebration Festival gives children a chance to experience what it is like to be a professional musician

upils from singer- Festival, as well as opera singer “Music is a thing but Ed Sheeran’s former school, Nancy Evans and librettist Eric resources in the UK are being Thomas Mills High, took part Crozier’s grandchildren. squeezed. It would be a disaster in Celebration at 30. if children were denied access to P “Celebration started in 1987 and our music.” Sheeran’s former music teacher school played in the first concert. We Richard Hanley said Celebration is a have taken part most years, taking Ed Sheeran keeps in close contact unique ‘bring and share’ event. the orchestra, chamber choir or other with the school and calls in to run ensembles. workshops. He said: “What makes Celebration so special is that there is no audition. “About 10 per cent of our 1,100 Richard said: “Ed has been Every school in Suffolk can take part students are involved in the choir or adjudicating a song-writing with students of all ages, from a small orchestra and we go on music tours competition and recently sixth form rural school to a full orchestra. every other year, performing in cities students were involved with his such as Vienna, and . Castle on the Hill video. He thinks “The children experience what it is like We also have a strong jazz group. It is highly of the school – and says he to be a professional musician; going very normal to be a musician in this would like his own children to come to the concert hall, being allocated school. to such a school.” a dressing room and going into the Green Room. “They also attend a rehearsal where everything is marked on stage and Ed Sheeran MBE portrait in London learn how the stage crew check The National Portrait Gallery in positions and lighting.” London has acquired a new portrait of Ed Sheeran. Painted by the Richard added: “Suffolk has a strong Belfast-based artist Colin Davidson, and vibrant county music service the four-foot square oil on linen which has been both protected and portrait is the result of an encounter promoted. There is a good relationship in which a sitting was proposed between the music service and Suffolk between the artist and the singer’s County Council. father John, an art historian. “This part of world does tend to attract Sheeran, who was awarded an MBE people who are interested in the this summer, sat for Davidson at his creative arts and want their children to Suffolk home. experience high quality arts’ education. Sheeran’s third ÷ (Divide), It is amazing. released in March, debuted at No 1 in the Official UK Album Charts with “I have taught the grandchildren of the 672,000 sales in the first week and Countess of Cranbrook, who helped made history as the fastest-selling Benjamin Britten set up the Aldeburgh Ed Sheeran by Colin Davidson, 2016 album by a male artist. Visit npg.org

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larkinsurance.co.uk LarkMusic online Introducing our new quote and buy portal

n a bid to make it even easier from a variety of claims such as for you to purchase insurance someone tripping over a wire or for your instruments, we have a stand and hurting themselves created an online portal which to you accidentally dropping your Iwill enable customers to get a instrument and causing damage to quote, buy and view their policy By Gemma property or a person. documents online 365 days a year! Deavall As legal expenses and claims costs The system is quick and easy to Divisional can be high we can offer public use, with simple questions, so Director liability cover up to £ 5 million. To customers obtain a comprehensive add this cover to an existing policy and affordable policy. Public Liability Cover please contact the music team. Over the last 20 years, LarkMusic now available with Purchasing online has provided music insurance LarkMusic We are really excited about the to a range of audiences such as introduction of our new online We have noticed that with so many musicians, orchestras, dealers and portal which willl allow new clients musicians playing in public areas, it students. We continue to share to able to obtain a quote, purchase is becoming more important that our clients’ passion for music and and pay online, plus make mid-term they cover themselves for any injury pride ourselves on the personal adjustments. or damage they may cause. service and advice we provide. This ethos remains at the heart of To answer this need, and with a our musical instrument team and competitive price, we now provide clients with the ability to quickly they will still be on hand should Check it out and easily purchase market-leading you need any guidance. Public Liability cover of up to Please take a look at our new We understand the busy schedules £5 million. online system at larkmusic.co.uk We love to hear from our clients, that many musicians face, so we So, whether you are a professional so if you have any feedback believe our new system will save musician or playing occasionally please write to me at you time and allow you to focus on on a stage, Public Liability cover [email protected] your passion for music. provides essential protection

Lark understands the busy schedules many musicians face so our new system will save you time to focus on your passion

8 Saxophone at sunrise. Mandolin at midnight.

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9 larkinsurance.co.uk IT WAS DAD WHO TAUGHT ME TO FIGHT MY CORNER Sir Thomas Allen is one of the finest lyric baritone singers of our generation and as Chancellor of he is also a great supporter of music education. Private Client Director Julie Webb discovers how he ‘encourages the craft’ of opera singing LARKmusic larkinsurance.co.uk You have to stick up for yourself

n a balmy evening at there’s something strange in the way might benefit from this or that’ and West Green Opera, in they are doing that. They are singing hopefully give them the right kind of Hampshire, Sir Thomas – you realise they are singing but guidance. Allen charmed the they’ve created a harmony between O “With somebody young like Rowan audience by singing La ci darem text and music. Pierce, who is promising, you take la mano, from , with the voice quality for granted. Royal College of Music student “Singers come in all sorts of different Rowan Pierce. categories with sub-divisions of “Success can often rest on whether or voices. I am very much a sub- not you can make yourself heard. Sir Thomas has sung more than division! I am not a bass, I am 50 roles at House “The ones who don’t make it, who in , making Don may have all the right qualities, are Giovanni his signature role, and At 15, my the ones who can’t fill the house with the enchanting duet highlighted their voice. his pleasure at being able to give a voice was not “I encourage Rowan to grow and she talented young singer the chance to always surprises me.” (see page 14) take centre stage. so different Sir Thomas also reminded me that He also told the audience how singers have to be tough and endure. thrilled he was to have been as it is now appointed Chancellor of Durham He said: “I have had to survive. I a baritone – although not just a remember in the late 80s, the great University in 2011 – although he baritone, I am a lyric baritone with insisted that he did not see himself Italian director Giorgio Strehler was dramatic tendencies; a high baritone rehearsing Don Giovanni at , as a teacher but as someone who who occasionally take roles that are could ‘give young people guidance’. in Milan. I went straight to wardrobe associated with a . It is quite and was in rehearsal costume for the When I met Sir Thomas in London, I complicated. next month. asked him if he was understating his “At 15, my voice was not so different “He looked at me with my fair role, but he explained: “From Day as it is now – it is really quite a and almost dismissed me there and One when I stood on a platform as natural one. then, saying ‘It is not possible’ and a 15-year-old to sing as a baritone, accused me of being a ‘Viking’. I knew instinctively what to do and “With youngsters I might be able to how to tell the story, so that wasn’t steer them in a direction and say ‘you “But I had to convince him. You something I could coach. “There were lots of things I had to learn but that part of it came easily, it was a natural thing to do. “Further on in my career, when I was at the in Covent Garden, many colleagues had students but I never had a desire to teach anyone how to sing – I prefer Sir Thomas to encourage the whole the craft of Allen became what we do, sharing techniques of Chancellor acting and how to use words and of Durham interpret them. University in 2011 and has “It really works when someone has found himself discovered how to match the words continuously with the music; it then becomes surprised by the entirely natural. You are not aware of hunger for music any technique that is involved, just and arts in the somebody that’s speaking to you, but region

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Sir Thomas Boaz Allen Born September 10, 1944, Harbour, Co. Durham Honours 1984 Hon MA, Newcastle; 1988 Hon DMus, Durham; 1988 Fellow Royal College of Music 2000 President of British Youth Opera October 2011 Appointed Chancellor of Durham University n Sir Thomas will be performing as Mirko Zeta in with the Company in New York, USA, in December 2017. Visit metopera.org Sir Thomas takes time out in his shed to build intricate scale model ships

have a choice, go home and cry, “Durham University also supports a or stick up for yourself. I rose to the Samling Academy where 20 schools, No end to talents challenge – you have to fight. students and undergraduates from It is Sir Thomas’s sublime baritone “He did it to everyone but I wasn’t Northumberland, Newcastle and voice and natural extraordinary going to let anyone do me down. I Durham come together at weekends. acting talent that sets him apart as also did it for my dad who taught me We try to engage with outreach one of the finest operatic performers to fight my corner.” programmes because it is so easy for of our age but there seems to be no castle walls to seem intimidating. end to his talents. The author of Billy Elliot, , says his story of a boy who came “One lass told to me ‘I love acting and He has a golf handicap of 3, he paints from a mining community in north- every time I go to the academy I learn and is a skilful craftsman, having east England to dance Swan Lake something new’. made several large, detailed model was inspired by Sir Thomas’s story. ships. He said: “In this business, you “These kids are so passionate and they have to find ways to switch off and Sir Thomas said: “My wife hates that come out of the woodwork saying ‘I switch on to something else, so I go reference to Billy Elliot because I was want to sing Schubert’s Lieder’. It’s down to my shed. an only child and fortunate in having such a surprise. It is easy to make loving and understanding parents, assumptions about a region but people “I listen to Radio 4 or the Test Match although I did I grow up in a are hungry for music and the arts.” and make model ships, big period Durham village where most men vessels including Nelson’s naval worked in the pits. No wonder then, that Sir Thomas’s ships and the Vasa warship. I went to encouragement of young performers Stockholm to see the Vasa because “It is also true that when I came now ranks highly in his continuously I could not quite work out how one down to London I found it very busy life. certain piece of rope should be fixed. hard, but the similarities end there. My father didn’t work at the mine Modesty prevails from the man “I said to Jeannie (Sir Thomas’s because he lost a leg in a motorcycle who has sung for the ‘great and wife Jeannie Farquharson, a former accident when he was 21. the good’ including the night that Hardy Amies’ model) let’s go and Diana, Princess of Wales, wore her take a look. It was amazing to see “Lee Hall and I met at an event at famous black taffeta strapless dress the ship and I was able to finish my the Observer newspaper offices and model – although it took 16 years! we have been in correspondence at Goldsmiths’ Hall in 1981, as well since then because there was a as performing to 12,000 guests “My great grandfather was skilful threat to withdraw arts funding at Buckingham Palace during the and made middle rigger models so I in the Newcastle region and Lee Queen’s Jubilee party. grew up looking at them, although I orchestrated an arts campaign. He said: “The Queen is remarkable. was never allowed to go too close. He made pit mining engines and marine “There is such a pool of talent in the When I received the Queen’s Medal engines, too, and I think they are in North East and things are changing. for Music in 2013 we had a terrific storage in Sunderland Museum. The Arts Council has granted conversation for about 45 minutes. £6 million to build a performance She is well-informed so we had quite “I have been intending to get in touch centre in Sunderland and that will a chat about the Scottish National with the curator for some years. It is make such a difference to the area. Opera.” on my list …”

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Tom’s so ridiculously modest ongratulations to soprano Rowan Pierce who graduated this summer Cafter six years at the Royal College of Music. Yorkshire-born Rowan, from Saltburn-by-the-Sea, says Sir Thomas Allen has been a great inspiration to her. She said: “Tom is one of the UK’s most treasured artists, one of the world’s best, and yet he is ridiculously modest and he really cares about what he does and the people who work with him. “He always remembers a name and a face and he has interests that go way beyond singing. “Our job can be all-consuming and some people live their lives bound up in it all but Tom has interests, knowledge and a fantastic life outside his work and I always admire that.” Rowan, 27, whose parents and brother are amateur musicians, Rowan Pierce says Sir Thomas Allen 'really cares about people he works with' explained: “Tom is a wordsmith and adapts to any repertoire he is given. at the Oxford He can act just as well as he can sing Lieder Festival. and so I learn from him on stage; the way he moves and the scenarios he “To be side by side with such creates for the audience, even when inspirational artists makes you CONCERT DATES 2017 he is not singing – it is so engaging. understand how it should be done,” Sept 15 Mozart and Mahler she said. in Lammermuir Festival with “Tom is always happy to listen and BBCSSO, Scotland give advice. I have been so lucky to As a Britten Pears Young Artist, work with him and learn from him.” Rowan performed Drusilla in Oct 18 Short recital at the Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione Queen’s Gallery Buckingham At 16, Rowan travelled between di Poppea under the direction of Palace, London Saltburn and London every Saturday, Richard Egarr at Snape Maltings. Oct 26-27 Schumann’s to study at the Junior Royal Academy with Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Other operatic roles include Susanna of Music, (flute and singing). At 18, Edinburgh and Glasgow in Mozart’s , she became a teaching assistant in Nov 9 Samling Artists at a Stockton-on-Tees comprehensive Miss Wordsworth, Emmie and Cis in Britten’s . , London school and worked for two years Dec 8 Messiah with CBSO before being promoted to Unqualified She has performed live on BBC Chorus, Symphony Hall Classroom Teacher, teaching music to Radio 3’s InTune from the V&A and Birmingham 11-14 year olds in classes of 30, then Wigmore Hall, at the Royal Albert Dec 9 JS Bach’s Christmas moving to London at the age of 21 to Hall, St John’s Smith Square, Sage Oratorio Winchester Cathedral start at the RCM. Gateshead and the Queen’s Gallery, Dec 16 Handel’s Messiah with She says she ‘fully appreciated’ the Buckingham Palace. Rowan was the Edward Higginbottom, Oxford opportunity to sing with Sir Thomas winner of the Van Someren Godfery Dec 29 The Four Seasons by at West Green Opera last summer, Prize and made her Proms debut on Candlelight with Raymond and along with another Samling August 1, 2017 with William Christie Gubbay, Barbican, London Artist, Timothy Langston, she sang and the Orchestra of the Age of Visit rowanpierce.co.uk with Sir Tom, Ann Murray DBE and Enlightenment (OAE).

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@Larkinsurance 15 Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. www.larkinsurance.co.uk David Hamilton with

16 LARKmusic I discovered them first!

RADIO ONE CELEBRATES ITS Charles famously said they were his 50TH ANNIVERSARY IN OCTOBER favourites but I always say ‘remember AND JULIE WEBB TALKS TO I found them first! I still keep in BROADCASTER ‘DIDDY’ DAVID touch with the lead singer Sheila HAMILTON WHO PRESENTED HIS Ferguson. AFTERNOON SHOW DURING THE “When records ‘went ’ and sold HEYDAY OF POP MUSIC half a million copies, disc jockeys lmost every pop music fan who backed the music would also listened to Radio One in receive a gold disc. the late 1960s and early “I was so pleased to receive one for 1970s – it was the only A the single Do You Really Want to station dedicated to the genre, apart Hurt Me from because, from ‘pirate’ at the time, in the early 80s, they which was restricted to evening were very different and ahead of their hours. time. In 1973, Radio One bosses had “The bosses at Radio One didn’t a reshuffle in preparation for know quite what to make of them.” competition from stations such as Capital and LBC and David Hamilton landed his afternoon show. How did you come David said: “ and I to love music? both got the first three-hour slots. Tony presented the breakfast show That’s an easy one – as a from 9am to noon and I took the teenager growing up in the late afternoon slot from 2pm-5pm with 1950s, Peggy Lee and Bing Johnnie Walker in between with the Crosby were always on the radio lunchtime show. and then, all of a sudden, great rock “I always had a record of the week, ‘n’ roll by Buddy Holly, Little called Hamilton’s Hotshot, and a Richard and were single would be played on air every being played. It was an incredibly day which could often launch a exciting time. singer or group’s career. We didn’t want our parents’ music, we wanted our own sounds and the “When I was doing the voiceover music of the 60s and 70s was the for Sunday Night at the London very best in my opinion. Palladium an American female trio, The Three Degrees, had to step in I actually came into the music for singer who had industry by accident. At 18, I was been taken ill. working as a television scriptwriter but got called up for National Service “I thought they were sensational and in the RAF and was posted to the next day persuaded my producer Cologne, in Germany. to change the Hamilton’s Hotshot to their single Year of Decision and it I told my commanding officer I went straight into the Top 20. was a writer and asked if there was anything I could do to make myself “Their next single, When Will I See useful. You Again, went to No 1 across the globe and The Three Degrees went By good fortune he offered me the on to achieve 13 Top 50 hit singles job of reading the football scores on between 1974 and 1985. Prince British Forces Network. I was

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pleased about that as I am a the singer had never seen a game Fulham FC fan but the music on that of ‘soccer’. I was the man on the Diddy and Doddy station was for the officers - all old mic so at half-time, I announced ‘Diddy’ David, who is now a stuff. Michael was in the ground and in grandfather to nine children aged the blistering heat, with a Fulham I asked if we could add some rock ‘n’ two to 17, got his nickname from umbrella to give him some shade, he roll music to the programme, such as comedian Ken Dodd. walked around the edge of the pitch Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard, to half-hearted applause because He was working on Ken’s Saturday but I don’t think he knew what I was the fans thought he was a lookalike. night TV show and Ken asked him talking about. Once they realised it was Jacko, the ‘Do you mind if I call you Diddy? I Elvis was serving in Frankfurt at place erupted! think it might stick.’ the time. I didn’t get to see him but The show was broadcast to millions Connie Francis came to our base, of viewers and he was right, says promoting her song Lipstick On My Michael Jackson David, “I have had the nickname for Collar and I was star-struck. came to see a game 45 years!” After National Service, I came back At 79, David continues to work on to the UK and continued to work in at Fulham but the the radio with daily four-hour shows the pop industry. was for The Wireless and he can also be one of the first singers I worked with fans thought he regularly heard on BBC Sussex and to promote the song Move It. BBC Surrey. We were both teenagers and he was was a lookalike He said: “Radio has really changed a really good guy – and wow, what a since Radio One started in 1967. career he has had. I spent 18 seasons at Fulham, a When I started there really was I was also lucky enough to conduct glorious time for the club which only Radio One because offshore one of the first TV interviews included three promotions, a Radio Luxembourg was restricted to with in 1963 and later European final and their longest ever evening and night hours. Now there introduced them when they run in the top division, and still attend is so much choice for the listener topped the bill in Urmston, as many home matches as I can. with around 600 music stations . to choose from, catering for every possible taste and genre.” A year later I compered at the Palace Theatre, in Manchester. Unfortunately, I parked my little red MGB sports car outside and when I got back a Mick Jagger fan had scratched a message in big letters ‘I love you Mick’ – obviously thinking it was his car. It took me a week to get the repairs sorted so I did feel a bit odd driving around with that written on the bonnet. I was also lucky to be working on during the 1970s, they were such fun times. I compered many concerts for big-name stars like David Cassidy. David always hated the girls screaming over his music. He wanted them to hear him sing – he had a great voice. One night he put cotton wool in his ears to block the screams but that meant he couldn’t hear the band. Nobody seemed to notice … I also met Michael Jackson after he came over to London to open the Harrods sale in 1999. At the time, Mohamed Al-Fayed was the owner of Harrods and Fulham Football Club.

He had invited Michael along as David Hamilton with his Mini Cooper, complete with Diddy number plate

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David in the studios at Radio One in the mid 1970s

during the war but when I was 15, my “We became friends and 10 years ago, Favourite track? grandfather retired and the farm was when he decided to move, I bought the “I have so many favourite tracks but if sold. house from him. Mrs H and I moved I have to be pinned down it would be from Barnes, in south-west London “Years later I met Junior Campbell, and Paul McCartney’s and now love living in West Sussex of Marmalade (Ob Bla Di, Ob Bla Da The Long and Winding Road. with our cocker spaniel Amber. fame) and when he told me where he “I stayed on my grandparents’ farm, lived, I realised his house was on my “A wonderful long and winding road at the end of a long and winding road, grandfather’s farm. of life.”

ON TOUR David Hamilton is now touring towns across the UK with his own show, David Hamilton’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Back the Years, which features a band and three singers plus David as compere. It celebrates rock ’n’ roll through to the 1960s and runs until October 2017. Visit rocknrollbacktheyears. co.uk

NEW BOOK David Hamilton’s book The Golden Days of Radio One: Hotshots, Big Shots and Potshots has just been published and tells the story of the station and its stars including Terry The cover picture from David's book, The Golden Days of Radio One, features Wogan, , Dave Lee stories about the DJs during the height of the radio station's popularity. Travis, and Noel How many do you recognise? Edmonds. From left, standing: Ed Stewart, , Emperor Rosko, Alan Price £9.95. Freeman, Annie Nightingale, John Peel, Johnnie Walker and . Visit ashwaterpress.co.uk Front: David Hamilton, Noel Edmonds and Tony Blackburn

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s you can probably tell from this packed End of an era magazine I’ve been A attending wonderful music events and meeting some incredibly talented people who are dedicated to music. It was fun to chat to ‘Diddy’ David Hamilton, who I grew up listening to his show on Radio One in the 70s, when the station was reaching 24 million listeners. His knowledge of popular music is forensic – I even went home and dug out one of his vinyl in my garage. Should I be embarrassed? No very proud! David talked about how, after a career in London, he loved moving back to his grandfather’s farm in West Sussex – and he is not the only one who goes back to his roots. It was heart-warming to learn I popped along to say hello, but not goodbye, to Malcolm that both Gordon Back, Artistic Singer who has retired from his post as Director of Music at Director at the Gower Festival, and the . Malcolm has worked with young Sir Thomas Allen, Chancellor of the musicians throughout his career, including Tasmin Little, University of Durham, also return to and has composed music for many performers. the places of their childhood to put Best wishes go to the school’s new head, Kate Clanchy, who time into supporting music and the will arrive from Westminster School, London, in January. arts in regions that deserve support. Top treats Regular visits to the Royal College of Music continue to be a treat, from watching Nicola Benedetti and Maxim Vengerov masterclasses (twice!) to witnessing BBC Young Musician of the Year 2014, pianist Martin Bartlett, play an extraordinary recital during a Lark Music evening in the Parry Rooms. Our talented Lark Scholar Alex Lomeiko is moving on after graduation from the RCM and we wish her every success (see my Lark Ascending blog), while we will continue to support flautist Renate Sokolovsko as she studies for her MPerf. Left: Julie and David Hamilton with his gold disc, received for promoting Culture Club's 1982 single Do You Really Want to Hurt Me, which saw sales of more than 500,000 20 20 ,

LARKmusic MUSICAL NOTES News from Julie Webb Lark Private Client Director London calling Those who read my Lark Ascending blog at larkinsurance.co.uk will know the Francis Baines’ 100th anniversary concert at the Cadogan Hall, in London, was an absolute knockout. It was a great privilege to learn more about the talented, but rather modest, Annette Isserlis who organised the event (see next pages). King’s Cross, or N1C as it is now known, continues to grow as a creative quarter and we were proud to partner the PRS for Music Foundation as percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie started her new role as King’s Cross Musician in Residence to explore new music with people who live, work and study in the London postcode area. I’ve also attended some fascinating private music evenings as well as the Royal Philharmonic Society Awards where I met many familiar faces. I even found time to drop into the Howard Hodgkin: Absent Friends Exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery. Curator Paul Moorhouse was brave to present the preview a fortnight after the artist’s death and took time to talk to me about Portrait of the Artist, Hodgkin’s last work. And guess what, at the V&A’s fabulous : Their Mortal Remains exhibition, who did I see, drummer Nick Mason! The Lark music team will be at the British Violin Makers Association Conference in Oxford on September 16 and 17, as well as dropping in to Blackheath Conservatoire in south- east London during the same month. If you would like to join me at any of the Lark Music events get in contact at [email protected] Best wishes

PS For those following my return to learning the flute, I have passed my Grade 3 with merit – but I’m not yet ready to take to the stage! Top: Lark's Isabella Valentini and Julie Webb with Sir Thomas Allen; Centre left, Read my Lark Ascending blog Alex Lomeiko and the RCM's Fiona Rose; Julie and Gordon Back. Above, Martin at larkinsurance.co.uk Bartlett with his mother Hazel, right, and music agent Gillian Newson 21 21

Serendipity

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Annette Isserlis was introduced to the baroque viola by Francis Baines and it changed her life. She tells Lark Private Client Director Julie Webb how she was inspired to mastermind a posthumous 100th birthday celebration in his honour

fter many years of latter’s dismay Francis encouraged Francis’ 100th birthday on April ‘enthusiasms’ Annette me to take up the baroque viola – 11, 2017 so I wanted as many music AIsserlis found her true and I found that my viola and I loved lovers as possible to join a fond musical identity when Brian the gut strings! celebration of his life; he was a great Richardson, the enlightened head friend, inspiration and extraordinary “Francis would say ‘come and play musician of many parts.” of music at Chiswick Polytechnic, Purcell or Gibbons’ and his love invited Francis Baines to become a for the music radiated out to his And that she did – the concert viol tutor. students. featured music composed by Francis, She immediately loved the repertoire including the Hoffnung Festival “He not only had a profound Fanfare, his Grounds for double-bass of the 17th and early 18th centuries. understanding and conviction of the “It was complete serendipity,” said and a Fantasy for six recorders; plus music but a sparky imagination and Lawes, Consort a 6 in F; Purcell, Annette. “I had flirted with the idea humour – his generosity and creed of Suite from King Arthur; Hurdy- of being a dancer, and a painter, democracy was in the purest form. gurdy dances; Haydn, Symphony 82 but when I left boarding school I in C and J.S. Bach, O Jesu Christ, felt intuitively that my destiny was “At informal music sessions at meins Lebens Licht. as a musician. I played the piano Francis and June’s home in Barnes, seriously, but I’d wanted to play a south-west London, he initiated The whole evening was a triumph as stringed instrument as well, and many who subsequently became friends also took to the stage to so embarked on the viol and the leading players of the early music remember Francis’ wonderful ‘straight’ viola simultaneously. revival of the 1970s and 1980s. Many eccentricity – regaling stories of him of us still play together and took part from coming in late for a Beethoven “Two years later, I got into the Royal in his centenary concert in April.” symphony rehearsal but rather than College of Music on the strength of joining in mid-way he played the my piano audition, and when Francis Annette was the driving force behind whole part from the beginning while became Head of the Early Music the Francis Baines centenary concert the rest of the orchestra played on department he started a baroque at the Cadogan Hall which celebrated – to celebrating his versatility on the ensemble and it went from there. his life, compositions and playing of double-bass and the treble viol, the the double-bass and the treble viol. “Although I studied mainstream French bagpipes (musette), pipe and viola with Bernard Shore, to the She said: “It would have been tabor, shawm and hurdy-gurdy.

Left, Annette Isserlis in her ancient wood (Picture: Ian West) and above, the Isserlis family at the Abbey Road Studios in London. From left, Steven, parents George and Cynthia, Annette and Rachel

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Francis Baines was a composer remembered best for his charis- Francis Baines matic playing of the double-bass and the treble viol. Amongst other instruments he also played the hurdy-gurdy, pipe and tabor, Remembered bagpipes, and shawms. A MUSICAL Featuring Dame , Fretwork, Sir Nicholas Kenyon, Andrew Parrott, Roy Goodman, EXTRAVAGANZA The Hanover Band, Pavlo Beznosiuk, Alison Bury, Stephen Preston, Lisa Beznosiuk, Chi-chi Nwanoku MBE, and many other highly distinguished musicians. Join us for a fond Programme to include: Baines, celebration of this Hoffnung Festival Fanfare; Lawes, Consort a 6 in F; Purcell, extraordinary Suite from King Arthur; Baines, and eccentric Grounds for double-bass; Hurdy-gurdy dances; Gibbons musician of madrigals; Haydn, Symphony 82 in C, ‘The Bear’; J.S. Bach, ‘O many parts. Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht’.

Cadogan Hall 5 Sloane Terrace, London SW1X 9DQ Tuesday 11th April, 7.00 Left:www.cadoganhall.com Francis Baines centenary flyer illlustrated by Ben Hoffnung. Above:Box Office: Rachel, 0207 730 4500Annette and Steven with Jan Schlapp, right, Cadogan Hall Tickets: £30, £25, £20 & £15 playing in Ton Koopman's Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra A place to unwind

o source the energy to the woodland is for keeps!” and a variety of birds, and I do all I arrange such a huge musical can to encourage diversity by leaving Annette’s woodland in the Weald event Annette gained piles of deadwood.” of Kent, a few miles from her home, inspiration by spending T becomes a carpet of wood anemones It seems the enchanted wood time in a Kent wood – not any old in early spring, followed by swathes wood, but her own piece of ancient certainly gives Annette amazing of bluebells. Foxglove spires shoot woodland. powers. up near the pond and dusky pink It is a place where she goes to think hellebores bow their heads in the She was well-connected through and it was here she contemplated dappled shade. being a founder member of the concert, thought through the Orchestra of the Age of the arrangements and wrote the Enlightenment and Sir John Eliot programme notes. Gardiner’s English Baroque Soloists, I had always in addition to many other baroque Annette bought the six-acre wood with ensembles, and many distinguished money bequeathed by her father and dreamed of owning performers were happy to give their she finds it place of ‘sanctuary and services for the concert including peace’. She said: “Perhaps I should a wood to conserve Michael Chance, Fretwork, Sir have done something sensible like Nicholas Kenyon, Colin Lawson, invest in property but I have a cottage wildlife Andrew Parrott, Roy Goodman, the and find that enough to look after. She said: “There’s a seat and a swing Hanover Band, Pavlo Beznosiuk, “I had always dreamed of owning a that are made from a dead tree, so Alison Bury, Philippa Davies, Lisa wood, to help conserve wildlife, be anything I add is natural and from Beznosiuk and Chi-chi Nwanoku. closer to nature and watch the seasons the wood. I have created a pond, Annette felt happy that she’d fulfilled change. cleared some space and planted. New her aim of acknowledging Francis’s life is springing through; I just want “It’s a peaceful place but social, too, achievements, introducing him as and I come here with my family and to preserve the wood for its natural beauty and wildlife. a composer and above all making friends – we cook over a fire and I’ve it into a reunion party for all who occasionally camped, in spite of the “I don’t have central heating at home loved him. Many present who hadn’t numerous wood-ants! so it provides me with plenty of fuel known him said they came away and there is a chestnut coppice so I “I’ve had lots of three to five year wishing they had. In addition she was pick up fallen chestnuts and roast enthusiasms in my life; getting my able to make a donation in his name them and give them to friends. I try private pilot’s licence, photography to the Donkey Sanctuary (donkeys to make use of everything I can. and keeping chickens (including hen being his favourite animals), as well Dorinda who was interviewed about “It is a magical place; I have seen a as bringing out a book about him, Haydn’s ‘La Poule’ for the OAE!), but hare in the wood, as well as badgers collated by Tim Crawford.

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Born into a musical family nnette and her younger siblings Rachel and Steven learned to play Athe piano around the age of three and she remembers them having to sit on piled telephone directories to reach the keys. Annette explained: “We were brought up listening to classical music, and the third programme, Radio 3, was always on. Rachel went on to be a busy professional violinist and Steven is well known as a cellist and has been awarded a CBE. “Music was in the family. My pianist/ composer grandfather Julius was born in Kiev and was one of 12 Russian musicians who left Odessa to come to Europe – and never went back. “My father, George, then aged five, was smuggled to Vienna to be with his parents. He became an Annette indulging in one of her 'enthusiasms', flying a Vickers Viscount accomplished violinist, studying chartered from British Air Ferries (from the co-pilot's seat) while travelling with alongside members of the Amadeus the Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists in the early 1980s Quartet, but it was wartime and as there was a shortage of scientists a Francis also had a long-standing career in metallurgy was suggested About Annette commitment to encouraging young as being more stable. musicians, though he was dismissive Annette Isserlis is Professor of of his abilities as a teacher. For many “He had a Viennese charm and Baroque Viola at the Royal College of years he had supplemented his continued to enjoy concerts, Music, and income as a lecturer in schools, and socialising with his refugee friends visiting tutor at the RNCM. She was a and to play, rejoicing in the feeling at one time was ensemble coach to founder-member of Orchestra of the the Oxford University Music Club. that he was ‘better than average’. Age of Enlightenment and principal Some of my earliest memories are viola for Gardiner’s EBS for more He founded the Chamber Music of lying in bed and hearing him than 20 years. Club of the Mary Ward Settlement in practising downstairs – , London where he was a lecturer from Tchaikovsky and Brahms. She has toured, recorded and 1948-1950. He loved to compose, broadcast extensively, as well as “My mother Cynthia was a pianist although composition took a back appearing as a soloist and chamber- and teacher, so the viola was the seat as he became more in demand musician. Annette is a regular obvious instrument for me to take as a bass-player in baroque and participant at IMS Prussia Cove up for family chamber music, to classical orchestras. Open Chamber Music and a member complete the Isserlis Piano Quintet. of Sir Andras Schiff’s Cappella “Classical harmony was a language Andrea Barca. we absorbed at the same time as learning to speak and read. We Concert dates 2017 played as a piano trio from an About Francis Annette will be peforming with early age and ensemble was always Francis Baines was a frequent the OAE, Clemenza di Tito (dir intuitive. That was a great advantage, performer at Aldeburgh Festival Robin Ticciati) at Glyndebourne having learned to play the piano and in the 1950s-1960s, displaying on Aug 3, 6, 8, 11, 13,16,19, 21, accompany people. versatility on the viol and violone, 24, 26 and 28 “We enjoyed chamber music and that the French bagpipes (musette), pipe Sept 15-17 IMS Prussia Cove teaches you to co-operate – it is a and tabor, shawm and hurdy-gurdy. Sept 22 OAE at Kings Place, London, CPE Bach and conversant way of playing music. He worked with several leading Boccherini (dir Christoph Coin) “It also gave me a practical London chamber orchestras before Sept 24 OAE Saffron Walden – understanding of music-arranging deciding to concentrate on early Sally Beamish premiere later on.” music.

25 LARKmusic Land of The Gower Festival goes from strength to strength as world-class musicians accept Artistic Director Gordon Back’s invitation to play at the unique summer event held in churches across the land of King Arthur

Arthur's Stone on Cefn Bryn on the Gower Peninsula, inset, Gordon Back Picture courtesy of City and County of Swansea, visitswanseabay.com

he Gower Festival takes Norman font created from a piano world. Their mesmerising place on summer evenings stalagmite. performances of Schubert’s Fantasy in beautiful churches across in F minor for piano four hands and Jamal is fast-becoming one of the Gower Peninsula, in T the most sought-after cellists and Divertissement for piano four hands south-west Wales. following the concert he returned were nothing short of astonishing. This year, every one of the 14 venues to London to prepare for his debut So how does such a remote region was a sell-out, bar a couple of tickets, performance at the BBC Proms, attract such highly regarded and Lark was delighted to support celebrating composer John Williams’ musicians? Well, each church has a concert at St George’s Church in 85th birthday. fine acoustics, the settings are Reynoldston, featuring pianist Craig At St Cenydd’s Church, which sublime but, according to locals and White and cellist Jamal Aliyev. overlooks the sea at Llangennith, the musicians, it’s all down to the The evening of romantic cello music Russian piano duo Pavel Kolesnikov hard-working festival team who are saw 105 people packed into the pretty and Samson Tsoy also demonstrated led and inspired by Artistic Director church which has an interesting why they are such stars of the Gordon Back.

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Arthur's Stone on Cefn Bryn on the Gower Peninsula, inset, Gordon Back Picture courtesy of City and County of Swansea, visitswanseabay.com

Gordon, himself an internationally He said: “I am trying to broaden the legend and Arthur’s Stone stands tall acclaimed pianist, has been putting appeal of the festival by introducing on Cefn Bryn. It’s said King Arthur back everything he loves about music younger performers such as Jamal found a pebble in his shoe, threw in his former home county. and Pavel to create a wider audience it across the Burry Estuary and it base.” landed on Cefn Bryn. The stone grew He said: “Gower is a small but and grew and was held up by the unique festival and it has become a The plan appears to be working with other smaller stones in admiration. great passion of mine – a home from cello students such as Ellie Medwell, 15, in the audience at Reynoldston. It seems Gordon Back is becoming home.” a 21st century legend across Gower, Gordon ensures there is music for Ellie said: “This is my first live ensuring exciting music is performed all from string quartets to jazz, concert. I will remember this evening to the highest standard in a part of the Wales International Academy for the rest of my life and Jamal has the world where music has always completely inspired me!” of Voice singers and the Yehudi been so important. Menuhin School Orchestra. The Gower Peninsula is a place of Gordon has worked with artists

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including Yehudi Menuhin, Maxim musicians in the world. A special “A pianist played Beethoven’s Vengerov and Yo Yo Ma. He took over memory was performing with Sarah ‘Emperor’ concerto and that was it. I as Artistic Director of the festival in Chang, aged 10. She played Elgar’s said to my parents, ‘I want to play the 2013. Salut d’Amour at St James’s Palace piano’. It was an evangelical moment. for Prince Charles and I thought Jamal Aliyev, winner of 2017 Sir Karl ‘where does this music come from?’. “The local chapel organist was my Jenkins Music Award and Prince’s It was incredible. first teacher and I started to take Company Competition, was quick to part in Eisteddfod competitions. “That’s what I want to bring home to praise Gordon’s dedication. He said: the Gower Festival – amazing talent “Wales still has the National “It was my first time at the Gower and amazing music for everyone. Eisteddfod; it is one of Europe’s Festival and from the moment I largest cultural festivals of music, arrived, I couldn’t have had a better “I did not come from a privileged song and poetry. This gave me lots of time; everything was happening so family with a musical background. opportunities to perform. First prize flawlessly that I didn’t have to worry My father developed polio when I was two guineas (£2.10) but it felt was two and he was paralysed for about a thing. like £2,000, a huge amount! the rest of his life. My mother was a “Gordon had arranged everything hairdresser. “I went to Neath Grammar School to such perfection that myself as where the head teacher was crazy “When I was seven we spent a an artist and the audience had a about rugby and music. There were wonderful time.” holiday in Aberystwyth; I pushed my father in a wheelchair to a Royal 800 pupils and the orchestra had Gordon said: “I am lucky enough to Philharmonic Orchestra concert with 120 members. Luckily, if you were have accompanied some of the best conductor Sir . in a youth orchestra you were given instruments. “I started playing violin at 11 and that definitely helped me in my career as an accompanist. My speciality is playing with violinists and those skills were picked up during school times because, technically, if you know how something works it’s easier to accompany. It’s a sort of sixth sense. “Around the age of 13, one of my great experiences was to accompany Welsh male voice choirs. You would get music thrown in front of you, music you had never seen, but the more you do it, the more you learn. “Having flexibility was important and that skill, as an accompanist, is more important than people realise. “I was fortunate to have played 20 concertos with the Glamorgan Youth Orchestra by the age of 18, before I went to the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester. “I assumed that I was heading for a solo career but when my professor heard me accompany a singer in the Richard Tauber Competition at the Wigmore Hall. He said, ‘that was amazing – you have got such a talent as an accompanist’. I was unaware Top: Jamal and Craig receive an encore; above, early evening drinks at St because it was so natural to me– it George's, Reynoldston; above right, Ellie Medwell, 15, and grandmother Susan was part of my life.”

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Next stop, the Menuhin Competition ordon Back is also the Artistic Director of the Menuhin International Violin Competition. It is Ga bi-ennial event and regarded as the world’s leading international competition for young violinists. He says the competition is different from any other. “In Cardiff in 2008 I chose the Vivaldi Four Seasons for the Junior Final and asked the competitors to perform and conduct – a first in any competition. “Violinists are asked to compose their own cadenzas as well as to improvise. The kids love it but their teachers and parents are petrified! “The winner, Chad Hoopes, did make a mistake but the jury felt he The Back family: From left, Tristan, Anna, Erika, Gordon and Adam with Angus was a great musician and a great the golden retriever communicator. “The Chairman of the jury, Pamela every time it reinvents itself. We have “We try to add new aspects to each Frank, agrees the young players a small team who work in London competition and although it is hard should not to be afraid to challenge and the host city adds a separate to continually ‘up ’ we do it. themselves or even make mistakes.” team. The next competition will be We are trailblazers!” hosted in Geneva from April 12-22, In 2010, two days before the Visit menuhincompetition.org competition was due to be held 2018. in Oslo, the glacial volcano “I find working in different countries Eyjafjallajokull, in Iceland, threw gives you creative energy. We form Cherishing life ash into the atmosphere and brought collaborations and incorporate the Despite huge work commitments, a all flights to a standstill. national identity of the host city. heart procedure at the end of 2016 has made Gordon re-evaluate his Gordon said: “Nobody involved in “One of Yehudi Menuhin’s wishes life. the competition will forget April was to make it an international 2010 – the competitors and jury were experience, so competitors are He said: “I had never been unwell stranded across the world. enriched by new places and and thought I was invincible so “We had to rip up the script and meeting new people. It’s a melting this blip made me realise what is everything had to be delayed by 48 pot of talent that extends past the important and that’s my family; my hours, although we could not change competition. wife Erika and my three children – the final night as the King of Norway Adam, Tristan and Anna. would be in attendance. “In London 2016, 38 countries were represented. Rennosuke Fukuda, “I met Erika during my first “Half of the competitors were in from , and Kerson Leong, from job accompanying Menuhin’s Frankfurt, some went to Paris, some Canada, played in the Lark-supported masterclasses at the Guildhall, in came by boat and others by car. former prizewinners’ concert. They London in 1974. We married at “Xiang Yu, who was studying in loved being on stage together and got Christmas in 1979 and since then Boston, went to Iceland but could on like a house on fire. we’ve lived in the same house in North London. not get on a plane to Norway and “In cities like Oslo, London and got stuck. He eventually got on a Geneva there are many arts “It’s something I may have taken transport plane and went on to win!” organisations but they tend to work for granted, but I am very lucky, my Gordon added: “The Menuhin separately. One of our strengths is whole life and career just sort of Competition is special as it’s more bringing them together to create an happened without a plan and now I like a festival and it is nomadic, so incredibly successful event. realise how amazing it is.”

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Out & About with Isabella Valentini Lark Musical Instruments Division

uring my travels on behalf of the Lark Music His father is a violin maker his grandfather was a music team I have found so much to celebrate in and accordion teacher. this fascinating world of music – a summer Piotr told me his ambition is to create instruments that Dhighlight was to witness the future of violin ‘will not only be able to win competitions, but please making looking very bright! and inspire musicians’. He is clearly moving in the right After an invitation from client Jan Spidlen we were direction, being awarded a medal for the best-sounding proud to support the Venceslav Metelka Society’s fifth instrument at the H. Wieniawski competition in Poznań International Violin Making Competition, in Prague, and receiving a silver medal for workmanship at which required contestants to submit a new instrument Cleveland’s VSA competition. modelled on an instrument by Antonio Stradivari. It was moving to watch Pavel Sporcl performing a The competitors also had 12 hours to carve a scroll Paganini Caprice on the winning violin and the spirit during the competition at the Czech Museum of Music. of the competition was summed up by newcomer Maarten de Keukeleire, 23, from Belgium, who said the The competition was judged by a panel of professionals competition was a ‘very big experience’ for him. – Peter Beare, Patrick Robin and Silvio Levaggi – and the competitors also marked each other’s work. Peter, He told me: “I liked how everybody seemed to know who is based in Kent, explained that alongside artistry everybody in this small world of luthiers. It was the first and workmanship, the technical precision, quality Stradivari violin I had made so it was an experience about gaining knowledge and making new friends. I of ground and varnish plus tonal quality were taken went home with a head full of ideas. The competition into consideration. The judging panel gave lectures is much more than winning or losing. It’s about gaining throughout the week and competitors hung on their Family run and focused on protecting knowledge and friendship which also made me a winner.” every word, eager to learn. your possessions since 1948. The atmosphere was truly special and witnessing the The competition was punctuated with music including a support between competitors made the Lark team feel lecture recital by violinist Jaroslav Svenceny who played that the future of violin making is in good hands! on a Stradivari and a Guarneri violin. Lark hosted a fabulous boat party where competition organiser Dalibor Bzirský and his folk band entertained guests. There was so much dancing that it felt like a party Isabella Valentini read music at the University of with old friends. We really enjoyed meeting existing Birmingham before working as a freelance soprano and clients and making new friends, too. singing teacher. She joined the music team last summer LARKINSURANCE.CO.UK where she works as an Account Handler. The gala and prize-giving night featured a recital by Pavel Sporcl and the competition winner Piotr Pielaszek, 25, from Poznań in Poland, was announced. Piotr, who Below left: Lark team Gemma Deavall, Fay Watts and now lives in Angers, France, started violin making at 16. Isabella on the party boat. Right, Piotr Pielaszek

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