Pixels Ensemble perform in the VG&M's Leggate Theatre
The University of Liverpool’s free Lunchtime Concerts series returns today, with the first two shows sold out and a live stream established to help reach a global audience.
Opening the Spring 2018 programme, which sees a new show take place at the University’s Victoria Gallery and Museum (VG&M) each week at 1pm, are The Americans who bring their country, blues and folk sound on February 7.
The following week, on February 14, the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain return with a programme of chamber music for strings curated by viola virtuoso, Max Baillie.
Both of these shows are sold out but you can still enjoy the performance by utilising the Concerts’ live stream function at: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/music/events/live-stream/.
Lunchtime Concerts Co-ordinator, Dr Helen Thomas said: “We have had an amazing response from viewers to our live stream.
“New audience members include alumni from Birmingham to Beijing; staff and students in Cafe 33 on our London Campus; friends and family of performers from Albania to Japan; and a composer living in a nursing home who was able to listen to a performance of his piece in bed on a laptop.”
With tickets still available to book, the series continues on February 21 when duo, Kathryn Williams and Marie Leenhardt explore the unique sound world of flute and harp, including the creative possibilities that emerge when pieces of music are limited to a single breath.
A week later, on February 28, the French Fancies, Rachael Russell (chanteuse) and Helen Maher (accordion), perform a mix of popular French song made famous by Charles Trenet, Jacques Brel and Charles Aznavour, to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the May ’68 mouvement.
The performance is part of the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures Francophone Week.
The next show, on March 7, sees Liverpool Chamber Choir take to the VG&M’s Leggate Theatre to deliver a sequence of songs that reflect the museum’s remarkable collection of art and curiosities. The music will be equally eclectic in style and range, from the Renaissance to the 20th century, and from Gerald Finzi to Frank Loesser.
On Wednesday March 14, the Lunchtime Concerts series combines with the Department of Music’s Open Circuit Festival to bring new works by University PhD candidates. The show includes works and audio-visual collaborations from composers Liam Carey, Ian Costabile and Dan Fallon.
Following a break for Easter, the series returns on Wednesday April 11 with poet and Department of English professor, Deryn Rees-Jones combining with Ian Buckle on the piano for a recital interweaving poems by Elizabeth Bishop with Études for piano by Hélène de Montgeroult and Claude Debussy.
On April 18, the HLK Trio will bring 21st Century compositional tools to an instrumental line-up that resembles a contemporary jazz trio. The rhythmically intricate compositions are largely through-composed but incorporate rich, complex frameworks for improvisation.
Completing the line-up for April, the University’s popular ensemble in residence, Solem Quartet return to the series with a programme including Beethoven’s Quartet Op. 59, No. 3 commissioned in 1806 by Count Rasumovsky, the Russian Ambassador to Vienna and a keen amateur violinist, and the first public performance of The South Stand by Department of Music alumnus, Edward Kirk.
With Winter receding into memory, the first Lunchtime Concert of May welcomes Liverpool alumna, Josie Conti on May 2. In this recital Josie will play some of her favourite piano music from the 19th Century, including composers – and pianists – such as Chopin, Liszt, Brahms and Clara Schumann.
The Spring 2018 series concludes on May 9, when Skutch Manos – Holly Prest on percussion, Arlen Connolly on guitar and Chris Cliff on double bass – bring their clash of classical Spanish and British instrumental acoustic folk to the VG&M.
The University of Liverpool’s Lunchtime Concerts series takes place every Wednesday at the VG&M’s Leggate Theatre, with a short break in the programme for Easter. All shows are free but booking is recommended. Please visit https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/music/events/lunchtime-concert-series-spring-2018/ to secure your ticket.
You can also catch the performances through the series’ live stream function: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/music/events/live-stream/