John Amis Concert Programme

A ConCert in CelebrAtion

T u esday 8T h O cTOber 2013 S t P a u l ’ S c h u r c h • K n i g h t S b r i d g e

JA_Programe_AW.indd 1 04/10/2013 15:11

After secondary education at Dulwich College, John Amis sold records and wrote about them for a high-class EMG gramophone shop, then moved on to administrative posts, working with the orchestras LPO, LSO and the newly-formed RPO with Sir Thomas Beecham; he organised concerts for Myra Hess at the National Gallery, through which he met - amongst many others - Britten and Pears, maintaining life-long friendships with them as well as an enduring association with music at Aldeburgh and Glyndebourne; he was secretary-dogsbody for Michael Tippett, becoming a friend and champion of his compositions. He was music critic for The Scotsman, organiser of the Summer School of Music at Bryanston (1948-52), then Dartington (1953-81), with William Glock. There he worked to develop the special musical atmosphere that pervades to this day, and was in charge of the “trogs” — the unpaid volunteers who keep the show on the road (who had been christened “troglodytes” by George Malcolm).

Amis was a broadcaster on radio and TV for 40 years, during which time he

interviewed more than 500 of the most famous and interesting musicians of his time: Hindemith to Bernstein, Cage to Swann, Stravinsky to Stockhausen. In his spare time he organised the first Hoffnung Festival at the Royal Festival Hall with the irascible cartoonist Gerard Hoffnung.

The extensive BBC archive of his radio interviews includes Britten reading a letter he wrote to Tippett, Earl Wild on improvisation, Frankie Howerd on his musical roles, Percy Grainger on folk music, and much, much more over hundreds of episodes.

In 1950 he made his first broadcast on the BBC’s Sunday-morning Music Magazine, discussing Stravinsky’s Orpheus. His television debut came in 1961 in a piece about the cellist and composer Paul Tortelier for Monitor directed by Humphrey Burton. With his relaxed style, detailed knowledge and clear passion for music, he was a natural in radio and the newer medium of television.

The Radio 4 panel show My Music was first broadcast in 1967. The format, with the two teams of Ian Wallace and Denis Norden versus Amis and Frank Muir, was like a musical version of Have I Got News for You, where the ability to entertain was more important than the points. Amis continued with the show when it moved to television, and with his hilarious, endless musical anecdote and sung contributions he became a household name. He was a brilliant mimic.

1922 – 2013

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In the late 1950s Amis tried his hand at singing, taking an audition at the Graz Opera in Austria. He later recalled the reaction from the director of the opera house: “Do I understand that you have done music criticism? Ja? Then why don’t you stick to it? Goodbye.” Undaunted, we have fine examples of him on record, as soloist in Bernard Hermann’s Moby Dick, Calendar Song ‘March’ and Delius’s A Late Lark amongst others.

He spent a year editing Full House, before taking charge of a television music magazine series called Music Now, with directors, among others, Tony Palmer, Bill Fitzwater, and Denis Moriarty. There were items on the Amadeus Quartet, Malcolm Arnold and Alan Bush; documentaries on Poulenc, Holst and Britten’s BBC TV opera Owen Wingrave. In 1972 there was a programme to celebrate William Walton’s 70th birthday.

Celebrating his own 70th a number of musical friends contributed to a CD Amiscellany: Making Music with Friends, on which Amis sings, narrates and whistles. He also wrote two memoirs, Amiscellany and My Music in London: 1945-2000, as well as an Anthology with Michael Rose, Words about Music. As he worked less with the BBC, he did more music criticism, notably The Tablet, and was in demand as a lecturer and narrator. He narrated Façade, Peter and the Wolf, Enoch Arden and Babar the Elephant.

His achievements were recognised by the award of an honorary doctorate by Plymouth University about the time of his 80th birthday, when the Philharmonia Orchestra also announced the endowment of a Principal Base Clarinet’s Chair in his honour.

For his 90th birthday a two-and-a-half hour retrospective on Amis’s career was broadcast on BBC Radio 3, presented by Louise Fryer. A charming conversation with lifelong friend Humphrey Burton was one of his last and most memorable events for The Tait Memorial Trust, of which he was an active Patron in his final years. A complete list of his numerous appearances with the Trust is listed in this programme.

He is survived by his partner of the past six years, Isla Baring, Chairman of The Tait Memorial Trust, who, he once said, gave him his “Indian summer”.

For L is love and therefore he is God. For M is musick and therefore he is God.

Christopher Smart rejoice in the lamb

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Programme

Introduction Denis Moriarty

Edward Elgar Salut d’amour

John Amis and Lyn Garland

Francis Poulenc Sonata for flute and piano

Allegretto malincolico – Cantilena: Assez lent – Presto giocoso

Philippa Davies – flute Jan Willem Nelleke – piano

David Cairns

Henri Duparc l’invitation au voyage

Words: Charles Baudelaire

Elena Xanthoudakis – soprano Mark Austin – piano

G F Handel ombra mai fù

Lauren Fagan –soprano Faust Ensemble Mark Austin – conductor

Percy Grainger Handel in the Strand

Jayson Gillham – piano Faust Ensemble Steuart Bedford – conductor

Variations on an elizabethan theme of William byrd (Sellenger’s round) Aldeburgh 1953

3 individual variations by Britten, Tippett and Walton

At the first performance the audience were asked to guess which composer wrote which variation. Can you?

Faust Ensemble Steuart Bedford – conductor

Benjamin Britten now sleeps the crimson petal

Words: Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Christopher Diffey – tenor Francesca Moore-Bridger – horn Faust Ensemble Mark Austin – conductor

W A Mozart Soave sia il vento from Così fan tutte

Elena Xanthoudakis and Lauren Fagan – sopranos Morgan Pearse – baritone

Faust Ensemble Mark Austin – conductor

Gavin Henderson

the trogs of Dartington Jeremy barker

Ausgerechnet bananen John Amis and Steve Race

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bilbo's last Song Words: JRR Tolkien John Amis and Donald Swann

Giuseppe Verdi Closing fugue Tutto nel mondo è burla from Falstaff

Soloists, London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus Sir Colin Davis – conductor

Today's composers and pieces have been chosen because they were loved, played or sung by John himself.

A retiring collection will be held for The Tait Memorial Trust - John Amis Award. Please donate generously in John’s memory.

Isla Baring invites everybody to stay for a drink after the concert at the back of the church.

Grateful thanks to:

Father Alan Gyle for his generosity in allowing this Concert to take place at St Paul’s Church Knightsbridge;

John’s friends and colleagues Michael Rose and Denis Moriarty for support and assistance;

Peter Francis for audio presentation;

All artists taking part, who have dedicated their performances to the memory of John Amis.

MuSiC beFore tHe ConCert Frederick Delius the Walk to the Paradise Garden Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Sir Thomas Beecham – conductor 54 5


Artist Biographies

Following studies on the violin and piano and at Cambridge University, Mark Austin held the Shinn Fellowship (2012-2013) at RAM, and now enjoys a busy performing career as conductor and pianist. He is artistic director of Faust Ensemble, and was recently appointed young associate conductor with Orchestra of St John’s. He has worked as assistant to Sir Mark Elder and Sir Colin Davis, and recently to Marin Alsop at the BBC Proms with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. He is much in demand as a duo partner and has performed at Wigmore Hall, St John’s Smith Square, St Martin-in-the-Fields, Kings Place, LSO St Luke’s and on BBC Radio 3.

Recognised as one of today’s leading Britten experts, Steuart bedford has conducted the composer’s operas in the most important houses, including the world premiere of Death in Venice.

Last season’s highlights include an innovative production of Peter Grimes on the beach at the Aldeburgh Festival which was released in cinemas and on CD, for which Bedford’s conducting has gathered considerable acclaim. Other highlights include The Magic Flute for Chicago Opera Theatre, A Midsummer Night’s Dream for Garsington Opera, Death in Venice with the Canadian Opera

Company, Die Enführung aus dem Serail for Opéra de Rennes and Linda di Chamounix for Opéra de Toulon.

Highlights for 2013/14 and beyond include Albert Herring with the BBC Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican Centre, Don Giovanni at Vancouver Opera, Death in Venice at Garsington Opera, and he also returns to collaborate with the RAM in a production of The Rape of Lucretia.

Philippa Davies is known as a ‘first-rate virtuoso,’ with ‘exceptional eloquence’. She first met John Amis in Dartington as part of the Fires of London. She plays with the Nash Ensemble and London Winds.

Since performing Mozart’s D major concerto with the BBC Symphony Orchestra at the Proms in 1988 Philippa performs and records with orchestras worldwide. Her numerous recordings include Mozart’s entire original concertos and quartets, Bach’s Flute Sonatas with Maggie Cole, Poulenc’s Flute Sonata, and all William Alwyn’s flute music. She plays as guest principal flute with the main London orchestras and is a Professor at the Guildhall School of Music.

Christopher Diffey was born in Melbourne and trained at the Royal Academy of Music. Awards include the English Touring Opera Young Artist bursary. Operatic roles include Condulmiero/Maometto

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Secondo (Garsington Opera), Triplet 1/Clemency and Mercury/Orpheus in the Underworld (Scottish Opera), Cavaradossi/Tosca (Opera Novella), Fenton/Falstaff (Longborough Festival), Count Almaviva/The Barber of Seville (Opera Brava, Garden Opera). Concert experience includes Bach/Christmas Oratorio (Manchester Camerata and Leeds Philharmonic) and Bach/Mass in A Major (Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment), and a recital of Britten and Quilter songs as part of the New London Orchestra Young Performers Concert Series. Future plans include Odoardo/Ariodante (Aix-en-Provence).

Faust ensemble (Leader: Guy Button) is a daring chamber orchestra of young professionals. Their inspiration is the figure of Faust, who took risks in the pursuit of the fullest experience. Under the direction of rising young conductor Mark Austin it performs alongside top soloists such as Guy Johnston, and plays regularly in London at St Peter’s, Eaton Square. It's 2014 season is based around experimental re-orchestrations of Haydn’s early symphonies, to match works by Stravinsky and other modern composers. Faust Ensemble members regularly play in top UK and European orchestras, including LSO, Royal Concertgebouw, Philharmonia, Orchestra of the ROH and Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.

lauren Fagan completed a degree in business in her native Australia before moving to London with a scholarship for studies at GSMD. This year with Guildhall she will sing Lia L’enfant prodigue at the Barbican and the Blue Fairy in Jonathan Dove’s The Adventures of Pinocchio. In August Lauren sang the role of Mrs Coyle in Britten’s Owen Wingrave at Banff Summer Arts Festival in Canada. Lauren’s continued development is supported by Tait Memorial Trust, Dame Nellie Melba Opera Trust, Opera and Arts Support Group, Ars Musica Australis, The Donnellys, Opus 50 Charitable Trust and City Livery Club London. Lauren performs today with kind permission of GSMD.

In 2012 Jayson Gillham was a finalist in the Leeds International Piano Competition and Gold Medallist in the Royal Over-Seas League Music Competition. He has also achieved successes in the London, Van Cliburn and Chopin International Piano Competitions. Jayson performs extensively in the UK, Europe and his native Australia, and made his New York debut in 2010 at Steinway Hall. He has been based in London since 2007, and is an awardee of the Tait Memorial Trust.

Francesca Moore-bridger graduated from Cambridge and RAM, and was winner of the Dennis Brain Memorial Horn Prize. She was Principal Horn of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Santiago, before starting a freelance

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career in London. Francesca has worked with the many top UK orchestras including BBC Symphony, Philharmonia, London Sinfonietta and London Chamber Orchestra, and performs with WNO, Longborough Opera and Mid Wales Opera. A keen solo performer, she has recently performed Mozart and Strauss concertos, and gives regular recitals. Her horn trio - The Pirani Trio – is a member of the Chamber Studio Scheme at Kings Place.

Dutch pianist Jan Willem nelleke’s exceptional qualities as a duo partner have been widely recognised. He has established partnerships with flautist Phillipa Davies, cellist Karine Georgian and singers Bettina Smith and Frans Huijts. A noted composer of songs and chamber music, he has also produced a large number of arrangements that have regularly found their way into the repertoire.

Recent recordings include chamber music by Schumann and the Gershwin Piano Concerto. Jan Willem teaches at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague and at the Franz Schubert Institute in Baden bei Wien, Austria.

After initial training in Sydney, Morgan Pearse became the inaugural Dame Joan Sutherland Scholar, commencing studies at the RCM with Russell Smythe and Simon Lepper. He has performed with leading ensembles in venues including the Melbourne Recital Hall, Sydney Opera House, the

Henry Purcell Room, Cadogan Hall, Australia House, Wigmore Hall, Copenhagen Konzerthaus and the RCM’s Britten Theatre.

Recently Morgan won the gold medal in the Royal Over-Seas League Music Competition and was placed on the Young Classical Artists Trust. He has just returned from Australia where he sang the title role in Sydney Chamber Opera’s Owen Wingrave.

After studies in Melbourne and Florence, elena Xanthoudakis completed her MMus at GSMD. Winner of the Maria Callas International Grand Prix (Oratorio/Lied), Salzburg International Mozart Competition, Adam Didur Opera Singers Competition, Third Prize winner in Operalia, Tait Memorial Trust awardee and a Solti Foundation Grant recipient. She is a Borletti Buitoni Trust Artist.

Elena has performed for ENO, ROH Covent Garden, Glyndebourne, Scottish Opera, Opera North and the BBC Proms. She has sung with Scottish Chamber Orchestra, RSNO, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Accademia di Santa Cecilia, Melbourne Symphony and the London Philharmonica. Her CD of Bel Canto arias with the Royal Northern Sinfonia and Richard Bonynge will be released next year on Signum Records.

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The Tait Memorial Trust

It is a fitting tribute for The Tait Memorial Trust to present this concert in celebration of the life of its dear Patron John Amis.

The Trust was formed in 1992

by Isla Baring OAM in memory of her father Sir Frank Tait and his four brothers, who played such an important part in the establishment of theatre and the performing arts in Australia. It also recognises with an annual award the major contribution of her mother, Viola, Lady Tait - who died in 2002 - as a founding patron of the Trust.

Frank Tait, the youngest of the brothers, carried the theatrical firm JC Williamson’s into their most successful years, which peaked with the Sutherland-Williamson Opera Company in 1965, bringing Dame Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge back to their homeland…and a very young, and then unknown tenor named Luciano Pavarotti.

The Trust arranges regular fund raising events and concerts, invariably featuring the talented young winners of the various awards, and relies a great deal on financial support from the business sector, private donors and other loyal

supporters. Now in its 21st year, the Trust has raised more than £170,000 to help support young Australian musicians and dancers who need financial assistance while they are studying in the UK, and has forged strong links with Opera Foundation Australia; the International Opera Awards, Australia; the Bel Canto Awards and the Royal Over-Seas League Music Competition.

In 2013 the Trust created a new scholarship at the Royal College of Music, the recipient to be known as the ‘Tait Scholar’; the young Australian composer Kevin Penkin is the first Scholar. In addition to this, the Trust continues to support its numerous existing awards: the Sir Charles Mackerras Chair with the Southbank Sinfonia; grants to young Australian dancers with the Royal Ballet School, English National Ballet School and the Rambert Dance Company; grants to singers with the Wales International Academy of Voice and a special award to a finalist in the Mietta Song Recital Award in Melbourne.

The Trust has helped many young singers, dancers and instrumentalists who have subsequently performed with British orchestras and in leading opera houses and ballet companies around the world, including Benjamin Bayl, Amy Dickson, Helena Dix, Grant Doyle, Tristan Dyer, Lauren Easton, Julian Gavin, Jayson Gillham, Alexandra Hutton, Liane Keegan,

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Miranda Keys, Li-Wei, Morgan Pearse, Duncan Rock, Siobhan Stagg, Derek Welton, Valda Wilson and Elena Xanthoudakis.

In Australia, The Tait Performing Arts Association (TPAA) was formed in November 2011, supporting the same ideals as the Trust. Please help the Trust in the UK, and the TPAA in Australia, so we can together spread our wings and help nurture our young talent to survive in this competitive world.

John Amis Award

As we reflect on the remarkable life of John Amis, the idea of a legacy, a tangible way to remember John has been at the forefront of our thoughts. A life such as his is a rare one, and deserves our very best efforts to remember and celebrate.

For the last six years, The Tait Memorial Trust was privileged to have John as a very active Patron. Chairman Isla Baring, wishes to create an Award in his name to be called the ‘John Amis Award’.

We ask you to contribute generously to institute this award in 2014. We have created a JustGiving page at justgiving.com/john-amis. Any money donated via John’s page will go directly to fund this new award.

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For the trust - all at 49 Queen's Gate terrace (Vernon ellis Foundation):

17 April 2007 Babar and Friends Presented and narrated by John Amis

23 April 2008 Rush Hour Concert Series: John Amis meets Percy Grainger

14 october 2008 John Amis on Britten and Tippett

18 March 2009 A Life of Music: John Amis presents Prokofiev

21 october 2009 Man, Music and Ballets: John Amis on Tchaikovsky

6 october 2010 Spotlight on Richard Bonynge: Interview by John Amis to celebrate Bonynge’s 80th Birthday

7 April 2011 Spotlight on Stravinsky’s Life and Works

23 April 2012 Humphrey Burton interviews John Amis to celebrate John Amis’s 90th Birthday

24 April 2013 At the Drop of a Hat: John Amis on Flanders and Swann

For the tait Performing Arts Association:

24 February 2010 A Life in Music with John Amis: Artists I have known - The Savage Club Melbourne

25 September 2011 Percy-vering with Percy: John Amis meets Percy Grainger - The Women’s Club Sydney

5 october 2011 Lust for Liszt - The Savage Club Melbourne

11 october 2011 Percy-vering with Percy: An Evening with John Amis - Baillieu Library, University of Melbourne

16 october 2012 Poulenc’s Babar The Elephant and Ferdinand The Bull - The Savage Club Melbourne

30 october 2012 John Amis introduces pianist Rosemary Tuck launching her new CD - The Savage Club Melbourne

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Front cover illustration dedicated to John Amis by Gerard Hoffnung, 1958

Portrait by June Mendoza AO OBE


Documents

John Amis Concert Programme