Online classical concert to lift spirits amid lockdown
Musicians are lightening the gloom of lockdown with an online concert to raise the spirits.
The Luminous Night presentation features works by the composers Tchaikovsky, Brahms and Elgar and played by a talented ensemble of musicians at St Martin-in-the-Fields Church in London.
Dr Andrew Earis, director of music at St Martin-in-theFields, commented: “The concert has been designed quite simply to bring joy to anyone who is struggling during this third lockdown. The music is a combination of uplifting classical music pieces performed by St Martin’s Voices and Strings. We hope we can bring people together through the power of music and put a smile on many faces.”
Supported by the National Lottery Heritage
Fund, the online concert is running until March 16 and is available to watch for £10 at https://www.stmartinin-the-fields.org/whatsonevent/luminous-night website.
The programme includes Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, one of only three ballet suites that the composer wrote during his lifetime. Tchaikovsky took eight musical highlights from the ballet to make the suite which was performed for the first time in St Petersburg in
1892. The suite continues to enthrall generations of families, latterly through Disney using it in the Fantasia film.
Another piece chosen for the concert is Elgar’s Chanson de Matin (Morning Song). Initially composed for violin and piano and published in 1899, it was later orchestrated by Elgar. A brief reference to its melody is made by the composer in the second movement of his String Quartet in E minor of 1918.
The third highlight of the performance is Waldteufel’s Skater’s Waltz (Les Patineurs), written in 1882 after the composer saw skaters on the frozen river Seine in the Bois du Boulogne, Paris. The French composer had a prestigious career, serving as court pianist, directing the orchestra at state balls and writing more than 250 waltzes and other music, some of which were performed in front of Queen Victoria at Buckingham Palace. The Skater’s Waltz has become an enduring soundtrack in films, TV shows and video games.
The concert programme also features choral music by Barber, Gjeilo and Stanford.
Rev Dr Sam Wells,vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields, said: “I am thrilled with the Luminous Night concert; for anyone who wants an instant mood-uplift or who simply enjoys the sounds of classical music, this is such a delight. Times are difficult for many, so it’s a great privilege to offer some inspiration and joy.”
Luminous Night is part of a series of online oncerts from St Martin-in-theFields, Trafalgar Square.
A total of 14 concerts will stream until April 30 featuring internationally acclaimed artists including the London Mozart Players, Chineke!, Stile Antico, Peter Donohoe, The Gesualdo Six and the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields. All 14 concerts in the series will be available to buy as a box set for just £98, meaning a big saving of £40.
St Martin-in-the-Fields is one of the best known churches in London. The church is renowned for its work with the young and homeless people and its efforts are supported by the BBC Radio 4 Christmas Appeal. Dick Shepherd, vicar at the time, started the project to help the homeless in the early 20th century and St Martin-in-the-Fields coined its reputation as ‘The Church with the Ever Open Door’.
But the doors are temporarily closed to the pubic because of the coronavirus pandemic and the church is counting on events such as these online concerts to bring in donations.