Events at Stately Homes

PERFORMERS WORKING WITH US INCLUDE:
SIGNUM: We’re delighted to have the support and co-operation of Signum Classics and their ever-growing artist list, bringing the excellence of Signum’s recorded catalogue into our own programming. Signum Records is fuelled by the passion to produce great music recorded with integrity and creativity at the highest level. This privately-owned and steadily-growing record label established in 1997 now boasts a catalogue of nearly 100 titles many of which are award winners, nominees or five star review recipients from around the world. The small Signum team strives to provide a first class service at all times with clients, artists, suppliers and colleagues. Signum's artistic policy is to work with new and emerging artists and composers through to established artists, making available much-loved areas of repertoire as well as previously unheard, innovative recordings. “The classical recording industry is dead; only Il Divo and Bond can shift CDs; crossover is the future. Or so we're told. And yet the real classical recording industry refuses to lie down and die, thanks to a few idealists who actually believe in music. There can be few companies more idealistic than Signum …. don't do the sensible thing and buy just one or two of their CDs........give yourself a treasure-trove that can only get richer with time.” The Times. [ CLICK HERE TO VISIT www.signumrecords.com ]
LEMBIT ÖPIK Lecturer, Raconteur, Panellist is one of Britain’s most characterful and well known politicians. Born in Northern Ireland, he has Estonian parents, and a cosmopolitan outlook on work and life. A Member of Parliament for 13 years, Lembit has never faded into the background, preferring instead to speak his mind, even when this has been controversial. He is a regular contributor on everything from “Question time” to “Have I got News for You” and his colourful political and personal life have made him a household name. Lembit enjoys presentations as a one man show or as part of a panel discussion covering Politics, Current Affairs, Social Commentary or indeed his personal and professional story – all these events are with question and answer sessions and he is always very interactive with his audience. He is also an avid supporter and passionate speaker on the work of Space Guard Centre & Observatory which is the current UK incarnation of the work his grandfather and father before him pioneered for the study of Near Earth Objects, or asteroid study. His ARMAGEDDON presentations are both fascinating and engaging. Despite the huge seriousness of the subject Lembit’s presentations are always done with his characteristic humour and charm. These talks are made equally accessible for professionals, general public, study groups or students.
DAVID MILLER is a long established soloist and well known as an accompanist and continuo player on lute, theorbo and early guitars, flourishing in the various realms of the early music world, as well as making his mark in the modern musical scene.
THE EMERALD ENSEMBLE is Bristol's professional chamber orchestra, and is renowned for its accessible, passionate, warm and virtuosic performances. The group holds a pivotal position in South West music, presenting eighty events per year in the region's major venues - including the 2005 Bristol High Sheriff's Gala Concert, and the Wells High Sheriff Gala for the past three years. Formed in 1994 by Roger Huckle, Emerald is a musicians' collective, bringing together the best of the region's performers. [ CLICK HERE TO VISIT www.emeraldensemble.com ]
TENEBRAE is a professional chamber choir, founded and directed by Nigel Short. Often performing by candlelight, the choir creates an atmosphere of spiritual and musical reflection, where medieval chant and renaissance works are interspersed with contemporary works. The carefully selected team of singers uses the acoustic and atmosphere of the building to enable the audience to experience the power and intimacy of the human voice at its best. Singers are drawn from outstanding musical backgrounds – King’s College Cambridge, Westminster Abbey and Cathedral, St Paul’s Cathedral, The Royal Opera House Covent Garden and English National Opera – to create a unique vocal mix with an extraordinary range of vocal power and colour. It was born out of Nigel Short’s desire to bring together what he loved best in his own singing career - namely the passionate sounds of large Cathedral choirs and the precision of ensembles like The King's Singers – to create a new kind of choral group [ CLICK HERE TO VISIT www.tenebrae-choir.com]
HAND MADE OPERA was founded by Colin Baldy and Gulliver Ralston in 2000. The express purpose was to make opera available to those venues and areas of the country where full-scale professional opera was difficult to mount. To this end, the sets are deliberately kept as simple as possible, enabling them to appear in churches hotels and country houses and halls as well as real theatres. The company has performed in venues around and in the UK and Europe, and has appeared on Maltese National Televisioon. Great attention is paidto the production and musical standards of the company. Accordingly, it was decided at the outset to form a ten-piece orchestra to accompany productions rather than make do simply with a piano. Several of the arrangements of works in the repertory have been specially commissioned by them. The intention has always been to provide as near an experience as possible to seeing the opera in a full-sized opera house. Since its inception the company has also run courses with leading performers and teachers in the UK and abroad. [ CLICK HERE TO VISIT www.handmadeopera.co.uk]
THE PITS. In 2001, Nigel Short, a former King’s Singer, formed the ‘a capella’ group ‘The Pits’ with five other men from the professional chamber choir Tenebrae. All of them have sung with such well-known groups as the ‘King’s Singers’, the ‘Swingle Singers’ and other close-harmony groups. Their debut performance took place in January 2001, at the ‘24Heures de Villars’, a charity ski race organized by Craig Pollock and Jacques Villeneuve, both from the world of Formula One. The name ‘The Pits’ is a reminder of the Formula One connection! The group’s excellent performances, presented with humour and charm, enjoyed such great success, that Nigel Short decided to turn ‘The Pits’ into a permanent close-harmony ensemble. ‘The Pits’ have performed at various high-profile events, including the launch of the BAR Formula One car in 2002, regular visits to the '24 Heures de Villars’ and several appearances for the Lord Mayor of London and a number of exclusive corporate events, weddings and private concerts. The repertoire is light, with fun arrangements of contemporary pop songs from the Beatles to modern-day ballads, but can include classical favourites. Upon request, ‘The Pits’ can re-arrange songs and texts for special occasions.
COLIN BALDY & SPENCER JAMES in Bewitched Bothered and Bewildered A sparkling cabaret-style performance of songs by Noel Coward, Cole Porter, Gershwin and Fats Waller including The stately homes of England, The slow train, Mad dogs and Englishmen, I love Paris, S'wonderful, Bewitched, bothered and bewildered and Why do the wrong people travel? Colin Baldy’s career encompasses performing, teaching, writing and directing. He is well-known as a character baritone, having worked with companies such as Garsington Opera, Opera Restored, The New Savoyards etc. In 2000 Colin formed the highly successful Hand Made Opera. Colin has sung frequently on BBC radio, and has made a number of CDs, most recently the acclaimed New College recording of Bach’s St John Passion in which he features as bass soloist. As a teacher, Colin has had a long association with Oxford. He now splits his teaching career between London and Umbria. His articles have been published in The Guardian, Church Music Quarterly and The Independent. Together Spencer James, piano, he has developed this witty and entertaining cabaret programme of songs by Noel Coward and his contemporaries.
BEYOND THE STAVE: A group of professional soloists who combine Theatre Sketches and Music for a wonderful evening of Bespoke Entertainment written and styled to the Theme of a Festival, Club, Group, School Topic or Profession. Whether their Musical Storytime with Live music, storytelling and theatre unite to bring to life such delightful, classic tales as Paddington Bear’s First Concert and The Story of Babar, the Little Elephant led by world renowned former BBC Play School presenters Rosalind and Fraser Wilson … Or their witty and hugely funny Theatrical and Musical Anecdotes for adults; this team of multi talented professional instrumentals, vocalists, actors and writers including Stephen and Deborah Binnington, Mary Chelu and Ros Fish can tailor an evening of fun and entertainment for specialist groups/audiences across the spectrum of periods and genre and include serious recital performance along with the fun! Careful research is undertaken and each performance is exclusively tailored for the occasion; with appropriate music chosen to complement the spoken word. They pride themselves on professionalism and artistic integrity while insuring through their flexible approach that an extremely wide range of event budgets can be matched.
ALEC LAWLESS – Artisan Perfumer, Teacher, International Lecturer Whether you are interested in a brief or more complex history of perfumery, essential oils, fragrances their properties, uses and the basics of perfume blending or wish to experience full 1 to 5 days of consultation, study, blending and making of your own perfume or cologne presented in a fine crystal bottle – both the subject matter and Alec’s presentations are fascinating, truly enlightening and fun! Either at your own venue, or with your general geographic preferences we can provide a beautiful and suitable venues to cater for an hour consultation or a 5 day Workshop, for a small group of 6 to 12 or an auditorium of 500. All materials and equipment is of course provided.