ASSOCIAÇÃO DE AMIGOS DE MÚSICA
NEWSLETTER August 2014
Dear Amigos,
Summer greetings from London and the Proms, the World’s Greatest annual Classical Music Festival, where Larry and I, just returned from our 3-week Ireland drive, are now partaking of this bounty with a handful of tickets. What privilege to hear and see the leading orchestras and conductors in their interpretations of the great music. We started with The World Orchestra for Peace (WOP), the classical supergroup of concert masters and section leaders from the best orchestras in the world under the baton of Valery Gergiev with their mind-blowing redition of Mahler’s Sixth, and now look forward to the LSO, the Melbourne- Island-, Czech- and Stuttgart SO – what fun !
A more modest, but in no way less enjoyable musical fare is in store for all of us in the Algarve as soon as the revived Amigo concert season kicks off at the new venue in Os Agostos in September.
Amigo programme news:
Our first pianist, on Tuesday, September 23rd and Thursday, September25th*, is the Ukrainian Evgeny Gromov who besides pursuing a career as a concert pianist is also the creator of conceptual music projects that establish links between different music epochs. Hence his first programme of French music from Rameau to the Belle Epoque and the second about the two faces of European modernism. We are in for a treat.
And, staying in an international mode, we shall have the Swedish/Polish pianist Peter Jablonski for the two October recitals on Tuesday, October 28th, and on Thursday, 30th, when he will be joined by his wife, Rebecca, to play Mozart, Schubert, Ravel and Grieg at four hands.
On Tuesday 18th and Thursday 20th, November we can look forward to our very favourite Norvegian pianist, Anne Kaasa.
Summary 2015 concerts for your diaries:
January 27 and 29, 2015 Anna Fedorova, piano and Jamal Aliyev, cello
February 17 and 19, 2015 Juho Pohjonen, piano
March (dates to be defined) Lucy Parham with Dame Harriet Walter in their Chopin programme
April 14 and 16, 2015 Paul Crossley, piano
May 13 and 15, 2015 Katya Apekisheva, piano
June 9 and 11, 2015 Holger Groschopp, piano and Adele Bittner, cello
Other good news! Nearly two thirds of the Amigo have now actualized their membership and I thank you very much for generous donations, too. It would be very much appreciated if active Amigos, who know what we are all about, could introduce some new members – it is likely that finances are going to be somewhat tight this year. (The treasurer tells me that our programme for 2014/15 is somewhat extravagant, what with 2 Mr. Cellos who need their own air plane seats, etc !! And the guests suites at Os Agostos do not come cheaply either.)
A hearty “Welcome!” to 6 new Amigos in our midst, and I am happy to say that a few more prospective joiners are on the horizon.
Forthcoming AGM:
I herewith should very much like to urge Amigos to send in their membership dues as only active members will be able to attend the next AGM*. The date for this assembly had to be set within 3 months of a civic year – which in our case means September.
Yes, prickly red tape is invading Portuguese administrative processes and so we are calling the next AGM for Thursday, September 25th, 2015* to take place before the second Gromov concert at Os Agostos. You will be receiving all necessary details in due time from the President of the AGM, John Levitt. Please mark down this date as we need to put all new dispositions, alterations and legal changes resulting from our move to as complete a membership as possible.
For the convenience of those who have not yet renewed, I am adding below the Membership Renewal Form which you can copy, fill in andmail together with your cheque made out to “Amigos de Musica” or “AAMSL”to
Mr. Michael Savage,
Pes do Cerro, C.P. 317-Z, Moncarapacho,
8700-124 Olhao.
If you prefer to make a bank transfer, please use the following:
NIB: 0018 0000 4041014600103.
IBAN (for overseas transfers): PT50 001800004041014600103 and BIC: TOTAPTPL.
Important: When using the bank transfer mode, please also fill in the Form giving your details plus the information of your effected payment and mail this to Mr. Savage.
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I am very excited about this renewed activity and proud to ask you to join me in welcoming new artists to play for us, as well as making old friends feel comfortable in the new venue. They all are internationally renown musicians with whose participation we, the Amigos, are filling some sorely felt gaps in the cultural and social life of our beloved Algarve.
Thank you for making it all possible. Without your active membership nothing like this would be possible, nor would we be able to assist our sponsoree, Ana Beatrix Ferreira n pursuing her master studies at the Royal College of Music in London.
Looking forward to seeing you at Os Agostos on September 23rd, when doors open at 18:00, drinks and canapés will be offered from 18:30 and the recital will start at 19:00.
There is ample parking.
Wishing you a good continuation of your summer activities wherever you may be, hopefully combined with as much music as possible.
With best regards
Helga Hampton, President
Mobile: 91 915 4189
In UK until September 4th, 2014
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