Programme 2017-2018
Cardiff Recorded Music Society meets on Wednesday evenings 7.25pm to 9.30pm
at St Edward's Church, Blenheim Road, Penylan, Cardiff, CF23 5DE
The Committee reserves the right to cancel or modify any advertised programme without notice.
2017
September 6 Sullivan - with and without Gilbert
Our treasurer, David Perkins, opens our season with a survey of the music of Sir Arthur Sullivan, and not only that inspired by his collaboration with W H Gilbert in the Savoy operas.
September 13 Prokofiev: A Bold Innovator
Neil Pritchard surveys the life and times of Sergei Prokofiev, a composer who had a profound influence on the development of twentieth century music.
September 20 World War I Tributes
World War 1 took a terrible toll on classical music, many composers and performers being killed or irreversibly scarred as a result of their experiences. Geraint Lewis pays homage to a selection of them.
September 27 Lawyer Composers
Our own legal practitioner, Norman Doe, portrays the legal careers of six composers who studied or practised law, as seen within the wider context of the relationship between law and music.
October 4 National Anthems - Used and Abused
Ian Cheverton investigates how composers have been involved with all kinds of anthems in all kinds of situations.
October 11 Music Magazine, Vol 69/1
A miscellany of recorded music and comment on items of topical or special interest, presented by new editor Neil Pritchard.
October 18 Symphonic Brass
An annual event in St Edwards calendar to which members of the society are cordially invited. We may be called a recorded music society but we should always support live music too.
October 25 Richter: A Soviet Enigma
Geoff Trinick explores the career of Sviatoslav Richter, thought to be one of the greatest pianists of all time who was almost unknown in the West until 1960.
November 1 Unfulfilled Potential?
The list of composers who died young is sadly quite long - Mozart, Schubert, Mendelssohn and Chopin perhaps being the most famous. Tim Taylor considers some less well-known ones whose potential was never fully realised.
November 8 Members' Choice
The first of this season's opportunities to suggest favourite pieces of music. Rod Delamere is again our resident DJ!
November 15 Beyond The Planets
We are all familiar with the marvellous Planets suite, but Gwyn Parry-Jones invites us to sample some of the equally fine but much less well-known music produced by Gustav Holst.
November 22 Jazz Pianists
With some notable exceptions, jazz pianists have not generally enjoyed the recognition of their saxophone- and trumpet-playing counterparts. Martin Healey will show that they still have an integral role to play in the performance of jazz from different periods.
November 29 An Evening with Donald Maxwell
Operatic baritone Donald Maxwell has performed with leading opera companies all over the world and we are privileged to have the chance to hear about his illustrious career. Our thanks to our president Chris Ball who persuaded him to come and will interview him this evening. A highlight of the season!
2018
January 10 Social evening
We kick off the new year with the opportunity to socialise more than is possible at our regular meetings. There will of course be music and refreshments, provided by the committee.
January 17 Opera in Cardiff: Behind the Scenes
Exciting developments have been taking place in our city, not least a collaboration between Welsh National Opera and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
Lynne Plummer has been talking to some of the people behind the establishment of a training course for would-be opera singers.
January 24 Family Connections
Our president Chris Ball takes a look at marital harmony (and disharmony?) both on and off the stage, and also sibling rivalry.
January 31 Inessa Galante: A Classical Pop Star?
Keith Griffin, who has had a lifelong interest in the genre, looks at the development of brass band music.
February 7 Musical Child Prodigies
Heather Payne explores the work of musicians who displayed their talents at an exceptionally early age and poses questions about the effect of their precociousness.
February 14 Music Magazine, Vol 69/2
Another miscellany of recorded music and comment on items of topical or special interest, presented by editor Neil Pritchard.
February 21 Revealing Ravel
Liz Paicello presents a personal journey into the life and times of this many-sided composer.
February 28 Members' Choice
A second opportunity to let Rod Delamere have your personal favourite pieces of music.
March 7 John Wilson: A many-sided Maestro
Best-known for his Hollywood-themed concerts and classic musical adaptations, John
Wilson's interests extend far wider than many people think, as Michael Bell will demonstrate this evening.
March 14 Have You Heard This?
Following her fascinating talk on Inessa Galante last season, Mavis Slaughter reveals the results of her exploration of composers, pieces of music, instruments and performers which will prove equally illuminating.
March 21 "Sumer is Icumen in"
Yes, it's coming and, as Shakespeare said: "Farewell, thou latter spring!" Let's look forward with Terence Gilmore-James and embrace a wide selection of music on this theme.
March 28 Annual General Meeting