St Helier Town Church Church Street JE1 1JG, Jersey, Channel Islands
Harriet Mackenzie – violin
Anna Tilbrook – piano
Sir Willard White – voice

Grammy winning Sir Willard White sings a remarkable programme of showtunes and folk tunes from George Gershwin to Cole Porter. One of the most beloved opera stars of the past four decades, Sir Willard brings his incomparable artistry and stage presence to this intimate concert, accompanied by a programme that celebrates American classics from the musicals and beyond. A rare chance to experience a legendary voice in the unique setting of the Town Church.
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Sir Willard is joined by violinist Harriet Mackenzie and pianist Anna Tilbrook, two internationally acclaimed artists.

In this unmissable concert, Sir Willard White pays tribute to spirituals and folk songs before turning to a selection of iconic musical theatre songs from some of Broadway’s most loved shows.

Programme includes songs from Broadway and beyond, including Summertime, I Got Plenty o’ Nuttin’, Ol’ Man River, and much-loved traditional songs.

Internationally renowned stars perform an evening of “romantic fire” with Brahms, Haydn’s fiery Gypsy melodies, and a Paganini showpiece at the Liberation International Music Festival.

The evening promised chamber music at its finest with two piano trios spanning classical clarity to romantic warmth inviting the audience into a complete musical journey.
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Internationally renowned stars perform an evening of “romantic fire” with Brahms, Haydn’s fiery Gypsy melodies, and a Paganini showpiece at the Liberation International Music Festival.

The evening opens with Haydn’s celebrated “Gypsy Rondo” Trio, with its fiery Hungarian melodies. Harriet Mackenzie and Finghin Collins then perform Brahms’s Sonata No. 1 for violin and piano, a work of great beauty and emotional depth. David Cohen showcases the cello’s virtuosity in Paganini’s Moses Variations. The concert ends with Mendelssohn’s Piano Trio in D minor, bringing the evening to a close with passion and drama.

Led by violinist Harriet Mackenzie, Irish piano soloist Finghin Collins, and renowned cellist David Cohen, the concert invites audiences on a musical journey.

“Searing intensity… a performance full of panache… captivating” The Strad about violinist Harriet Mackenzie

“One of the most talented cellists I know” Lord Yehudi Menhuin about cellist David Cohen

“Exceptionally fluent, exceptionally intelligent, exceptionally sensitive” BBC Music about Finghin Collins

The artists featured in this concert are internationally acclaimed performers. Harriet Mackenzie is a leading concerto soloist and a dedicated ambassador for contemporary music, with over a hundred works written for her and performances in major concert halls worldwide. David Cohen, cellist and conductor, is recognised for his exceptional versatility, combining a major solo career with principal orchestral roles — including Principal Cello of the London Symphony Orchestra — alongside an active international conducting career. Finghin Collins, one of Ireland’s most renowned musicians, is a prize-winner of the Clara Haskil International Piano Competition, whose international performing career is matched by influential artistic leadership as director of major festivals and competitions.

Programme:

J. Haydn – Piano Trio No. 39 ‘’Gypsy Rondo’’

J. Brahms – Violin Sonata No. 1 in G major Op. 78

N. Paganini – ‘’Moses’’ Variations on a theme by Rossini.

F. Mendelssohn – Piano Trio in D minor

mmersive music & poetry: cello (Elgar, Casals) in the burial chamber, folk & Bach in the chapel, poetry in the longhouse.
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Hougue Bie Festival: Music and Poetry

An immersive experience of music and poetry. For one magical evening, the ancient Neolithic mound comes alive. Hear the cello playing Elgar and Casals in the burial chamber, folk music, Bach in the chapel above, and poetry in the longhouse.

Concert goers will rotate through 3 performances between the Chapel on top of the mound, the Neolithic passage grave below, one of the ten oldest buildings in the world, to the longhouse. In the Chapel, violinist Harriet Mackenzie performs Bach’s Sonata in E minor, accompanied by David Gordon on the harpsichord.

In the ancient passage grave, the cello takes centre stage. Solo works continue Bach’s legacy: selected movements from the Cello Suites, Pablo Casals’ Song of the Birds, and Elgar’s Salut d’Amour, offered in homage to Jacqueline du Pré, whose paternal roots in Jersey lend particular resonance to this tribute. Poetry is recited in the longhouse. The poetry element will feature a selection of readings shared by both Springfield pupils and guest Michelle Le Herissier. Poetry readings by both Springfield pupils and guest Michelle Le Herissier, featuring texts specially written for the occasion, inspired by the music performed at the event.

Performed by Harriet Mackenzie, Urška Horvat and David Gordon, the evening promises a stunning interactive experience from 7:30pm.

For those who are unable to climb up to the chapel or crouch low to enter the passage grave there will be a performance of all three sections down below at 5:30pm.

Harriet Mackenzie directs the First Light Ensemble in a programme celebrating the legacy of Benjamin Britten: Sea-Change: Light and Landscape in the Wake of Britten

As the new statue celebrating Britten is celebrated in Britten’s home turf of Lowestoft, this programme illustrates the young Britten as well as his growth, influences and our long standing affection for the composer and his love of the landscape and sea.

Light – Deborah Pritchard (solo violin) This work inspired the latest painting in the series of Maggi Hambling paintings. Maggi Hambling has a connection and known affinity and enormous admiration with the fellow Suffolk artist Benjamin Britten and is this part of the long term collaboration with Harriet Mackenzie, Deborah Prtichard and Maggi Hambling

Cantus in Memorium Benjamin Britten – Arvo Part

Written to show his great admiration for Britten, Arvo Part wrote this work as an elegy to mourn the composer after his death in 1976. It’s incredible evocative writing has been used in many films and I believe it could be so affective on the beach in the morning:

Romance – Variations on a theme of Frank Bridge – Britten
A charming piece and a nod to Britten’s most influential teacher.

Lark Ascending – Vaughan Williams
The Lark Ascending is one of Britain’s most loved pieces. The celebration of nature seems to fit perfectly in this programme. Vaughan Williams and Britten shared musical circles, both attending and then teaching at the Royal College of Music. Vaughan Williams helped to establish Britain as a serious international force in composition which then Britten continued to grow and define.

Simple Symphony – Benjamin Britten

A perfect way to illustrate the new statue and Britten as a child and his growth as a composer. The Simple Symphony, Op. 4, is entirely based on works for the piano which Britten wrote as between the ages of 9 and 12 while he lived at Lowestoft.The piece is dedicated to Audrey Alston (Mrs Lincolne Sutton), Britten’s viola teacher during his childhood. The piece is based on eight themes which Britten wrote during his childhood (two per movement) and for which he had a particular fondness. He completed the first draft of the string orchestra version when he was twenty.