Supported by the Countess of Munster Musical Trust, the 9th March 2022 Letchworth Music Concert at Howgills was exceptional on all levels. With 24 hours’ notice the pianist, Kaoru Wada, Ionel Manciu’s pianist wife had to withdraw for family reasons. On the morning of the concert the pianist, Gamal Khamis, stepped in to save the day. (He had accompanied the oboist, Amy Roberts, in November). Beethoven’s Third Sonata for Violin and Piano was substituted for the Fifth (‘Spring): fortunately the…

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Live Music in Congenial Surroundings: Experience the Magic: You’re All Most Welcome! February 10th saw the return of the English Piano Trio to Howgills. It’s hard to believe that they are playing in their 27th Season: Jane Faulkner (violin), Pál Banda (cello) and Timothy Ravenscroft (piano). Their repertoire has a broad scope, and they kicked off with a late Piano Trio by Joseph Haydn (always a good aperitif). Their introductions were exemplary. Jane told us that this was written after his…

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Letchworth Music Club’s first concert of 2022 was a return to Howgills for the Belgian pianistsduo b!z’art, known to their friends as André Roe and Geoffrey Baptiste. Their programme, entitled “From the Palais Garnier to the Mariinsky Theatre”, focused on French and Russian composers and provided a tour around some of the less well-known corners of the piano duet repertoire, as well as more familiar favourites. We began with a rarity – an arrangement (by the composer) of Borodin’s…

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On Wednesday 8th December 2021 an audience of 40 witnessed and acclaimed the third programme in our 2021 Season…

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What a treat we all had when Amy Roberts, oboe, and Gamal Khamis, piano, gave us an electrifying performance at Howgills last Wednesday evening. This was the second concert in the new season’s series after the cultural desolation of Covid lockdown. Here again was another opportunity for us all to realise the magic of live music. The subtle interplay between performers and an audience that listens creatively makes a concert more than the sum of its parts. Both contribute…

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On Wednesday 13th October 2021 the first programme in our 2021 Season was given by the Astaria String Quartet: Shulah Oliver – violin and leader; Kelly McCusker – violin; Kate Bickerdike – viola, and Sean K. Gilde – cello. An audience of 55 was present. Shulah told us that the quartet were proud that their first music club post-lockdown gig was in the historic Meeting Room at Howgills. Her announcements for each item in the varied programme brimmed with enthusiasm and…

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