SOIRÉES MUSICALES Autum 2013 ~ Edition 48 The Magazine of the BBC Concert Orchestra’s Supporters Club President: Richard Baker OBE Vice Presidents: Nigel Blomiley, Cynthia Fleming & Martin Loveday Editor / Chairman: Brian Crouch 57A Chilvers Bank, Baldock Herts. SG7 6HT Tel : 01462 892 670 Other Ed and Photos: Jenny Thomas Treasurer: James McLauchlan Accounts: Jenny Thomas Minute Secretary: James Connelly Membership Secretary: Jenny Thomas Tours & Visits: Douglas French. Website: Stephen Greenhalgh Constitution: Jan Mentha Orchestra Representative: Marcus Broome Soirées Musicales is the Magazine of the BBC Concert Orchestra's Supporters Club, which is an independent body set up in 1983 for the purpose of promoting and supporting the Members of the BBC Concert Orchestra. We are not affiliated to the BBC, neither do we receive any financial support from them. Disclaimer: The views expressed by the contributors to this Magazine are not necessarily the views of the Chairman, the Orchestra or the BBC. All material © 2013 BBC Concert Orchestra's Supporters Club ED LINES The Orchestra certainly seems to get around these days, as you will read in this edition They have recently visited USA and China. The lucky recipients of these concerts have probably heard nearly as much of the Orchestra as we have at home! Several of the Orchestra’s “Own Promoted” concerts are not broadcast which seems such a shame but I suppose there is some obscure reasoning behind this. Most of the presenters and artistes who appear with the Orchestra are regularly singing their praises and rightly so! So why not let the general listening public hear more of them? Maybe its time to bring back such programmes as “Gala Concert Hall” and “BBC Concert Orchestra Showcase” both of which were very popular some years ago. .But at least we have had sixty years of Friday Night Is Music Night!!!!! © 2013 B A C E YET? EBSIT OUR W ISITED YOU V . HAVE .cosc.co.uk TO IT. IBUTE http://www CONTR ISIT & E DO V PLEAS CHANGHES IN THE ORCHESTRA & OTHER NEWS. Welcome To: Benedict Rogerson who joined the cello section in August. Next generation in the Orchestra The saga continues with another production from the violin section! Congratulations to Anna Ritchie of the 2nd violins on the birth of her baby son Theo born on 22nd June at Queen Charlotte Hospital by caesarean section. Theo weighed in at 3.4 kg (which is 7lb 4½ oz in old money!) Anna says that “Although he can be a bit of a whinge bag, I do think he’s quite a sweet little thing really”. A wedding!! Somewhat belated Congratulations to Marilyn Hill-Smith who married Adam Daye on 17th July – last year. Those of you who have seen Marilyn in the “We’ll Meet Again” show which has toured the UK, will know Adam as the Compere and (dare I say funny man?) impersonator in the show. Marilyn has recently finished an extended tour as Mother Superior in the Sound of Music – so having “Climbed Every Mountain, Forded Every Stream and Followed Every Rainbow”, Marilyn has obviously found her dream! POSTBAG A selection of letters received. Dear Brian & Jenny, Thank you so much for the Spring edition of Soirées Musicales. I do so enjoy reading about the Orchestra’s exploits. There seems to be a little disappointment from the members whose letters are in the Magazine. Too many repeats. Not enough “live” concerts etc, etc. I can’t travel to London any more, but the BBC doesn’t seem to realise that members of the Supporters Club really enjoy attending the live broadcasts. You both work so hard to keep show on the road it seems a shame that the Beeb does not realise they are getting it wrong. Yours sincerely Margaret Heppenstall Alton Hants Unfortunately Margaret the Beeb does not care one iota about the Supporters Club. Dear Jenny, Due to changes to the timings of FNIMN I find it impossible to renew my subscription. The BBC do not realise what a great asset the Orchestra is and should be treated a lot better than they are at the moment. Miss the concerts at the White Rock Theatre as they were always a sell out. Yours sincerely Helen Burton, St Leonards on Sea However in August Helen sent her renewal subscription with a note “I still wish to remain a member of the Club”. Good for you Helen, More to membership than attending concerts – there’s the Magazine to keep you up to date for a start! Dear Jenny & All I’m sorry we are not renewing our support as we are almost housebound. Our memories of the Mermaid and the outings you organised are lovely. Sincerely. Phyllis & Cyril Macey. London W2 Dear Jenny I regret that we can no longer support the CO Club as my husband has motor neuron disease. We thank you for all the enjoyment we had by being members Marcelle Berkenstead Mill Hill Dear Jenny & Brian It is with great regret that I must inform you that we have to resign from the BBC CO SC on the grounds Pauline’s ill health. Thank you for giving us the enjoyment you have, over the past 13 years. Yours sincerely Keith Langfield Amersham Dear Brian & Jenny We have decided to not renew our membership of the Club after around 35-40 years of music (and tickets). Due to age restraints we are not able to continue. We thank you all for the past and will probably still see you at Watford from time to time. Kind regards & thanks Marion & Ken Morgan Northwood It is always sad to lose members, but many of you who cannot attend concerts for various reasons, or live in far flung places, still maintain your membership to support the Orchestra and receive the Magazine to learn what they are doing. It perplexes me that members – particularly those of many years standing – seem to lose interest in the Orchestra once they can no longer attend free concerts. That’s not my idea of “supporting” the Orchestra!.......(Other Ed) Dear Jenny Thank you for all the hard work you and Brian and indeed all the Committee do, very much appreciated. I enclose cheque to continue my membership of many years, sadly unable to attend much that you arrange, but still wish to support my favourite Orchestra Yours sincerely Jasmin Brown Mill Hill Now that’s more like it!! DEAR JENNY THANK YOU FOR THE MAGAZINE THAT ARRIVED SAFELY THIS MORNING. OH HOW I WAS JEALOUS OF YOU HAVING A TOUR OF LORDS CRICKET GROUND - I WOULD HAVE GIVEN MY EYE TEETH TO HAVE BEEN THERE WITH YOU! I JUST LOVE CRICKET AND HAVE THOROUGHLY ENJOYED THE ENGLAND TEAM BEING OVER HERE AT THE MOMENT. AND WHAT FUN THE ORCHESTRA HAD IN THEIR CHARITY MATCH, SUCH A WORTHWHILE CAUSE. BETTY GLOVER WELLINGTON N Z Dear Brian & Jenny Thank you so much for the tickets for Friday (2nd August “America’s Greatest Broadway Hits”) We thoroughly enjoyed the excellent show – it was brilliant. Such a fantastic Orchestra, always a pleasure to watch and listen to, just can’t thank you enough for the super evening. Kind regards, Ivy & Bernard Darbon Greenford. Dear Mr Crouch Thanks for sending tickets for FNIMN (2nd August) Sheila & I enjoyed the concert. Conductor Mike Dixon put a lot of effort into his conducting, moving his body in the direction of the musicians that he wanted to guide was fun to watch. The result was a beautiful performance on the part of the Orchestra. The blending of the the sound of the violins, violas and cellos was sheer delight. It was perfection. Thank you for a magical evening With best wishes to you and Jenny Ron Lock & Sheila Richards Bounds Green. Ron, Sheila and the Darbons were lucky to get in. Over 100 people including several Club members were turned away as there were far more tickets issued than available seats. A good time to remind everyone that it is essential to arrive early, particularly on fine Fridays!! Having a ticket does NOT guarantee admission, and neither the BBC nor the Club can be held responsible if you arrive late and are unable to get in. Would members please note that if you are in the bar and do not leave your coats on the seat, you may come back to find the Mermaid staff have reallocated your seat to a latecomer. This happened on 2nd August and caused a great deal of upset to the folks concerned. J B R T P J 11 2013 F M E S T 50 60 M F . T , . T . M . T . T MUST DO S L, R Dear Jenny & Brian Thank you so much for arranging the tour of the London Palladium. The guide was excellent and made the morning so interesting. He told us about Bing Crosby’s last concert at the Palladium before he died on a golf course in Spain the following week. We were in the audience at that concert in 1977, the tickets a present for my 40th Birthday. Brilliant tour. Yours sincerely Pat & Reg Scott, Lewisham (Douglas French is our Trips & Visits Organiser, and it is thanks to his labours that members have enjoyed visiting many interesting venues – Bless him!), Dear Brian Many thanks for sending the latest edition of Soirées Musicales. I especially enjoyed reading the article on the Golders Green Hippodrome. It would be interesting I think for the Club to hear the tapes which Anthony refers to, especially the 1994 New Year’s Gala featuring the Military Band. What do you think? Yours sincerely Alistair Wills, St Albans (Well members, would this be suitable as part of a Saturday Special? Please let Brian know if you would be interested) Introducing the new “Cello Fellow” Benedict Rogerson (known to us as Ben!) joined the cello section of The BBC Concert Orchestra in August 2012.