Caithness Composer's First Performance by International Duo
9th May 2013
North Highland Connections announces a concert to be given in the West Church, Thurso, on Saturday, 1st June, by one of the world's leading clarinet virtuosi, Michael Collins. He will be accompanied by the pianist, Michael McHale. The concert will feature music by Weber; Brahms; Debussy: and Poulenc. For the local audience there will be special interest in an opportunity to hear the premiere of 'Four Nocturnes' by the composer, pianist and teacher, Robert Fields, who lives at Brough, near Dunnet. Robert is a familiar figure in Caithness musical circles, and his many friends and admirers will eagerly look forward to hearing his work performed by these international artistes.
Michael Collins is among the most prominent British clarinettists of his generation. He has appeared in concert as principal clarinettist with the Philharmonia Orchestra and London Sinfonietta, as a member of the Nash Ensemble, and as a freelance soloist and chamber player. He has made more than 30 recordings for the Hyperion label since 1984 mostly in chamber music fare. He has also recorded for DG, Chandos, and EMI. By age 16 he attained virtuoso status, winning the woodwind prize at the 1978 BBC Young Musician of the Year competition.
Belfast-born pianist Michael McHale has established himself as one of the leading Irish pianists of his generation. Since completing his studies at Cambridge University and the Royal Academy of Music he has developed a busy international career as a solo recitalist, concerto soloist and chamber musician. Michael has performed at many important musical centres including Suntory Hall, Tokyo, Lincoln Center, New York, Konzerthaus, Berlin, Pesti Vigadó, Budapest, and the Ushuaia and Tanglewood Festivals and for TV and radio broadcasts throughout Europe, Asia, North and South America. His début solo album The Irish Piano was released in 2012 on the RTÉ lyric fm label, and was selected as ‘CD of the Week’ by Norman Lebrecht who described it as “scintillating…fascinating from start to stop”.
Tickets for the concert are £15; £12 concessions. To reserve tickets call North Highland Connections on 0752 107 7053, or e-mail: MF[AT]northhighlandconnections.org
On 15th June NHC presents another of its Young Artistes concerts with a performance by the Sutherland Duo in Dunrobin Castle.
On 27th June NHC will present a lecture on Caithness's Nordic history at Mackays Hotel in Wick. The lecture will be given by Dr Donna Heddle, Director of the Nordic Studies Centre of the University of the Highlands & Islands. More information can be found on the NHC website: www.northhighlandconnections.org
Related Articles
Fourth Annual Residency of The Prince's Drawing School at North Lands Creative Glass Centre, Lybster 8th - 15th July, 2013 Invitation to local artists to participate on Saturday, 13th July from 10:00am Childrens workshop Friday 12th July at 10:00am Artists are invited to bring materials and to join the students under the direction of their distinguished teachers. There will be an exhibition of work produced during the residency.
North Highland Connections Concert of music composed by young composers taking part in the second annual Creative Music Week, 8th - 13th July. The concert will include works by the resident tutors, David Horne and Stuart MacRae, performed by a chamber ensemble drawn from the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland, directed by Nicholas Cleobury.
The busy and varied events programme of North Highland Connections continues in July, with two residential activities which include opportunity for local involvement. The second Creative Music Week for young composers will take place at Ham House, Caithness, from 8th to 14th July.
Following the brilliant performance by world-class clarinettist, Michael Collins, in Thurso on 1st June, North Highland Connections is following it with another concert in its Young Artistes series, featuring up and coming young professionals. The concert, on 15th June, will be in the Drawing Room at Dunrobin Castle.
Monday, 8 July to Monday, 15 July Prince's Drawing School Annual Residency July 8th to 15th at the North Lands Creative Glass, Lybster The Prince's Drawing School Annual Residency The programme will include master classes for local artists, and daily activities for children. Public exhibition of work produced during the week.
Saturday 15th June - 7.30pm Dunrobin Castle, Sutherland North Highland Connections presents - The Sutherland Duo; Harriet Mackenzie (violin) & Christina Lawrie (piano) Winners of the 2010-12 Enterprise Music Scotland Award 2010 - 2012, the Sutherland Duo are an eclectic and energetic duo. Their repertoire spans more than 300 years of western classical music, ranging from the elegance of the French Baroque, the searing emotional intensity of Brahms, and the wild gypsy rhythms of Sarasate, to the exciting music of our times.
16 November, 2012 at St Duthus Collegiate Church, Tain at 7:30pm To book, call 0752 107 7053 "Eight Songs will blow you away." - Sunday HeraldHebrides Ensemble are bringing a rare production of Sir Peter Maxwell Davies' 1969 music-theatre masterpiece to Tain! This extraordinary piece, which hasn't been performed in Scotland for almost ten years, is regarded as one of the composer's seminal works. It's an extravagant, disturbing and occasionally very funny depiction of the madness of King George III.
At short notice North Highland Connections has an opportunity to promote a concert by three performers from the Awards for Young Musicians Trust. They will give a concert in the splendid Village Hall at Mey (opposite the castle), in Caithness, on Sunday, 28th October, at 7:30pm.
North Highland Connections is presenting another of its events in the inspiring setting of the historic St Duthus Collegiate Church in Tain, Ross-shire. The concert, by the Canadian group 'Tiller's Folly', will take place on Tuesday, 31st July, at 7:30pm.
Since its launch in August, 2008, North Highland Connections has presented more that 130 different cultural and educational events in 37 venues across the North Highlands. Beginning on 9th July 2012 it will present another ground-breaking venture.