Past events - 2021 - 2022


'Music at Lunchtime' events at the New Guesten Hall, Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings - all presented as part of Bromsgrove Festival 2022

Wed 29 Jun 2022	Mozart's Gran Partita - The Moseley Chamber Ensemble - Mozart's Serenade No. 10 for winds in B♭ major, K.361/370a is popularly known as the Gran Partita, although that original misspelling was not in Mozart's handwriting. This wonderful serenade in seven movements has been called Mozart's most innovative instrumental work. It shows off an astonishing variety of tones and textures for its 13 players, contrasting styles against each other and constantly changing the musical effects in this largest of all the composer's wind masterpieces. It is no wonder that this is a favourite of Mozart enthusiasts, and is often performed with a contrabassoon instead of a double bass. The concert will even include the wind version of Mozart's Così fan tutte Overture, as an extra indulgence. This concert generously supported by Margaret Goode Generous support also received from Bromsgrove Concerts
Wed 6 Jul 2022	Great Tunes from the Swing Era - The Red Snappers Jazz Band - The Red Snappers Jazz Band was formed over 25 years ago, playing selections of popular traditional tunes. It has been a resident band at Star City in Birmingham, the family entertainment centre, and was also was in constant demand - until the pandemic - for other performances, such fêtes and Christmas light switching-on events. The band is directed by trumpet player John Ruddick who is also the Director of the famous Midland Youth Jazz Orchestra (MYJO). He was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Music degree in 2006 by Birmingham University, and also received an MBE for 'Services to Jazz' and for his work as Director of MYJO. Although originally an architect, he is now a freelance trumpet player and a member of the Fat Chops Big Band. He has performed on BBC Radio and TV and Independent TV. He was a member of the Don Lusher Big Band, and has played with the BBC Big Band, Syd Lawrence Orchestra and the BBC Symphony Orchestra. The band plays a selection of popular traditional tunes - ′Trad Jazz′ - such as Sweet Georgia Brown, Who's Sorry Now and Alexander's Ragtime Band. Contact is via John Ruddick on 01675-442050
Wed 13 Jul 2022	Musical World Tour - Selina Bella Strings Quartet - Selina Bella Strings was formed in 1999 by the well-known local violinist, Shulah Oliver. The group performs together in different-sized combinations for a wide variety of events from National Awards Ceremonies, to Royal Visits, to concert recitals. The players are all busy freelance performers who, between them, have performed at prestigious venues such as the Royal Albert Hall, The South Bank Centre, Symphony Hall, St John’s Smith Square, St James’s Palace, Konzerthaus Berlin and Casa da Musica Portugal. They have worked with well-known conductors, including Bernard Haitink, Sir John Elliot Gardiner, Yan Pascal Tortelier and Sir Charles Mackerras and performed at many events including The BBC Proms. In this concert, the Quartet will be taking you on a whistle-stop tour around the world through music, including dances, folksongs and classical favourites. Shulah Oliver's website
Wed 20 Jul 2022	The Enigma of Edward Elgar - Actor/singer and pianist Michael Lunts - Michael is a familiar performer to audiences at Festive Classics, through his many one-man comedy song programmes. This performance will be the première of Michael's one-man musical drama about the life of Edward Elgar, focusing on the complex relationship he had with his beloved wife Alice. The friends who inspired the famous 'Enigma Variations' are also brought to life as, following the death of Alice, Elgar's senior by a number of years, the composer muses on the origins of that first acknowledged masterpiece, a work that put him on the musical map, and which may never have seen the light of day but for Alice's encouragement and inspiration. But what of the other women hidden within the work's 'musical portraits'? And who, ultimately, was Edward Elgar? Was he the real 'enigma'? In this performance, the Enigma Variations are played live in a special piano transcription made by Elgar himself, as well as the ever-popular 'Salut d'Amour', dedicated to the composer's wife. Michael Lunts' website

Festive Classics gratefully achnowledges the generous support from the
Bromsgrove Institute Trust for this lunchtime series.