News

CBeebies Nuzzle and Scratch

play up at the Menuhin Hall!

In May 2008 The Menuhin Hall hosted the recording of one of the episodes of CBeebies Nuzzle and Scratch. The Thames Valley Youth Orchestra provided the music and The Yehudi Menuhin School pupils were in the audience.

Screening of this episode, which features a conductor emerging from a double bass case and then attempting to  teach the ubiquitous Nuzzle and Scratch how to conduct an orchestra, was screened on Friday 19th September at 4.40 p.m.

on the CBeebies Channel.

 

 

East Surrey Area celebrates the NADFAS

40th Anniversary

Hundreds of members from the East Surrey Area of NADFAS - ranging from Limpsfield to East Horsley - gathered at the prestigious Menuhin Hall for a concert to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of NADFAS.

Students of the internationally renowned Yehudi Menuhin School have previously submitted artwork to the Young Arts exhibitions organised in the Area and, as a fitting salute to the occasion, they displayed their talents both on and off stage with an exhibition of their fine art specifically timed to coincide with this showcase concert.

 

 

 

Chorus of approval

There's wonderful music right on your doorstep.

 

David Payne lifts the curtain on Riverside Opera

 

When did you last feel 'The Tingle'? It's that moment when a sight or sound gives you an involuntary frissonof pleasure accompanied by an inner voice saying: "Wow...this is special."
The trigger could be a moment of sporting genius - or even the first encounter with the property of your dreams. But it's the performing arts that typically provide most of these memorably exhilarating - or moving - experiences.

Among these, opera probably has the potential to deliver more than its fair share. And you may not have realised that your Surrey location gives you a distinct advantage in this 24 respect. Not because Covent Garden or Glyndebourne are

within reach. No. We're talking much closer to home.
The fact is, Surrey can boast a little gem of an opera

company, based in Kingston, where it is also a community partner working with Tiffin Performing Arts College. Riverside Opera has been consistently earning critical praise for its annual grand opera productions over the past decade at the Richmond Theatre, as well as concerts at other Surrey venues.
Why is this company so notable? Because, at its core, there is a chorus of 'ordinary' (and local) men and women, across the age spectrum, who aspire to - and achieve - the highest musical standards, though their status is non-professional.

This is far-removed from 'am-dram' or 'am-op'. Riverside Opera exists to give its members the chance to work with professional artistes, musicians and directors and to give young, as well as experienced, professionals the opportunity to

make desirable additions to their operatic CV. In recent years, these have included roles in Verdi's Nabucco, Macbeth and La Traviata, Bizet's Carmen, and Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin.

Each year, the pedigree of these casts and production teams

is impressive: including principal soloists from as far afield as

Australia, South Africa and Russia - the products of notable

academies and conservatoires around the world; designers

who have worked with famous ballet and opera companies;

and artistic directors who are involved with the Royal Opera

House, Glyndebourne and English National Opera.

Auditions for each production are always keenly contested

and those that succeed are often eager to repeat the

experience. So what persuades these rising stars and

established luminaries of the opera world to want to work

alongside this particular company and chorus?

The answer is simple. The hard-won reputation that

Riverside Opera has established in opera circles, coupled with a

mutual belief in creating and delivering artistic excellence for

the appreciation of Surrey audiences. For company members

and management, that's their driving passion.

There's also the chance to step into the limelight. Each

chorus member has already passed a vocal audition by the

company's Music Director. But it can go further - and it's not

unusual for Riverside Opera members to be cast in some of

the supporting principal roles.These productions don't come cheap, of course.

Remarkably, despite contributing to local community arts, and

helping nurture emerging professional talent, the company is

self-funding, albeit reluctantly. Under current interpretation of

their respective criteria, neither the National Lottery nor

Arts Council will contribute financial support.

So, to help raise much-needed finance for each major

production, other events are part of the company's

annual routine.

Last year's sell-out concert at The Menuhin Hall in

Stoke d'Abernon was one such occasion when the chorus

performed alongside superb soloists, including internationallyrenowned

soprano Kathryn Harries, Riverside Opera's

Honorary Presidentand very enthusiastic supporter.

This year, Riverside Opera is bringing a semi-staged

production of Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss to the

Epsom Playhouse (on March 28 and 29) and The Menuhin

Hall (April 12).

There's another fine cast of international soloists and

direction that this year will be applying Covent Garden

experience through Richard Gregson and Timothy Burke, the

company's artistic and music directors.

 

factfile

Riverside Opera

Website: www.riversideopera.co.uk

Email: information@riversideopera.co.uk

 

The Violin in Jewish Tradition, The Menuhin Hall, 13 March 2007

This extraordinary concert featuring the Violin in Jewish Tradition was performed to a full house on Tuesday 13th March.

The Yehudi Menuhin School String Orchestra conducted by Malcolm Singer performed with Sophie Solomon (dubbed the Keith Richards of the Violin) and Dora Schwarzberg (the celebrated classical violinist) in a musical journey describing the use and music of the violin as written and performed by Jewish people in both klezmer and classical style.

Two new works were premiered, one for klezmer and classical violin by Menachem Wiesenberg, and the Suite on Jewish Themes by Malcolm Singer performed by string orchestra and beginner violinists from local Surrey schools.

 

 

The English Arts Chorale at The Menuhin Hall

Saturday 24 February 2007

Fauré: Requiem
Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem

Conductor: Leslie Olive

Soprano: Jo Browse
Baritone: Stephen Varcoe

This was the English Arts Chorale’s first experience of the new Menuhin Hall at the Yehudi Menuhin School, near Cobham in Surrey. This purpose-built jewel of a concert hall is a total delight to perform in. The acoustics are superb for singing, and, we are told, for the audience too – certainly the audience response to the concert was extremely enthusiastic. Not only the acoustics, but the whole ambience of the place is conducive to bringing out the best in performers. The setting is gorgeous, in lovely grounds, the hall itself looks beautiful with its wood interior, and the piano we used for accompaniment is superb. The management were also very welcoming and helpful, which is an extremely important part of the appeal of the venue (particularly for the concert manager!). All in all it was a splendid introduction for us to this new venue – one which we intend to use frequently in the future.

Nyren Scott-Malden
The English Arts Chorale

The Menuhin Hall Wins The BCI Small Building Project Award - 2006

In nearly two decades of the British Construction Industry Awards few projects have come so close to matching all the winning criteria. The roof structure totally isolates the hall’s interior from the torrent of M25 traffic roaring past within a few hundred metres. The acoustics are superb, there is an outstanding sense of quality in the auditorium, and there was an excellent relationship between designer, client and contractor.

• An absolute gem of a design with a phenomenally low budget; technically superb acoustics; outstanding sense of quality in the room; no accidents; and a good relationship between designer, client and contractor.
• Neither can we remember such an appropriate accolade from a client – the headmaster demonstrated his thrill at the acoustics by playing for us on one of the school’s grand pianos. The acoustic requirement dominated the approach to design but the designers and contractors have produced a visually fine auditorium with the appearance of high quality finishes despite the widespread use of inexpensive softwood.
• This delightful building demonstrates that traditional methods of design and procurement can still work extremely well when carried out with strong client leadership, commitment by all parties and good communication.
• What has been achieved for £2.8M is really exceptional – first impressions might have suggested double this amount.

 

Sir Cliff Richard comes to The Yehudi Menuhin School

An awe-inspiring evening of eclectic musical styles, featuring Sir Cliff Richard and the pupils from The Yehudi Menuhin School delighted a packed auditorium in The Menuhin Hall on September 20 at a very special fundraising concert to benefit The Princess Alice Hospice. Sir Cliff Richard has been a strong supporter of the Hospice and its work ever since it was launched over 21 years ago. As part of the Hospice’ Dig Deep Appeal to raise funds for its new development and running costs, Patron Sir Cliff expressed his interest his performing in a special fundraising concert. The Hospice was delighted to be able to team up with The Menuhin Hall, who agreed to stage the event in the state-of-the-art hall, which lent itself perfectly to the intimate acoustic performance.

The unique show attracted some 300 music fans each paying £100. Rousing classical performances from the six talented pupils preceded Sir Cliff, who delighted the crowd with acoustic renditions of his early hits, including Move It and The Young Ones.

During the concert, Sir Cliff explained to the audience: “I still love playing my early songs, the old rock and roll stuff. It’s interesting that my act follows these incredibly talented young musicians, who are the future generation for music and are a very hard act to follow! I have played a few times in aid of The Princess Alice Hospice and to help raise money for those who are suffering from a terminal illness is so important.”

Members of the audience later had the opportunity to rub shoulders with their idol – quite literally – as he freely mingled and chatted among them during wine and delicious canapés in the foyer.

Concertgoer Cathy Hogg, from Cobham, said: “I’ve been a fan of Cliff for over 40 years now and I’ve always dreamt of meeting him. Suddenly, there he was, just a few feet away from me in this wonderful hall. It was one of the most amazing moments of my life.”