27 Years of Great Music
To all Amigos/as
From Helga Hampton NEWSLETTER
May 15th, 2018
Dear Amigos,
The May concerts have come and gone, and lucky those Amigos who were here and were able to come to Os Agostos on May 8th and/or 10th, 2018 for two music evenings of great enjoyment. Evgeny Sinaiski, piano and Kirill Timofeev, cello had selected a musical fare of great variety. On Tuesday it was totally French, and to me the Poulenc Sonata was a complete delight with a most beguiling opening theme – why does one not get to hear that more often? The more traditional classical programme Thursday began to fill our lovely auditorium with one of the great works by Schubert, my beloved “Arpeggione”, and clearly Kirill and Evgeny played it from the heart. Schumann`s love declaration for Clara could not have been transmitted more convincingly than in this rendering of the Adagio and Allegro. And what came after the interval was yet again music seldom heard. Why have we be deprived of Martinu`s Rossini Variations, and why oh why have I never heard Rossini`s “Une Larme”? We all had smiles on our faces which were swiftly rewarded with more Rossini ! This time by Castelnuovo-Tedesco`s Figaro Variations from “The Barber of Seville”. Oh what joy !! We then got two encores: something for jazz lovers by the Russian Nicolai Kapustin and the slow movement from Shostakovich´s Cello Concerto. The impulsive and enthusiastic standing ovation we gave these two musicians spoke for itself. We had definitely been treated to music making of the highest calibre and these two masters of their instruments enchanted with their sensitive playing together and their obvious love for music and for life. Please see the copy below of the lovely mail I received from Evgeny – Kirill´s was longer, just as lovely and in German.
“Dear Helga,
I just landed in Vienna. Thank you very much for wonderful time, for hospitality, for excellent organization! You create an atmosphere of friendship and music making, it was such a pleasure to perform for such an educated and motivating audience! Please send warmest greetings and please say hello to other members of “Amigos de Musica” whom we met last days! We will be happy to come back again! Algarve is beautiful. And!!!! I enjoy the gift you’ve presented us a lot! Such a nice thing!
I hope we keep in touch!
Yours Sincerely,
Evgeny”
And, yes, they will be invited to come back.
*******************
Our June artist will be the Hungarian pianist Istvan Lajko, and I can give you here some details of his proposed programme which, unsurprisingly, starts his first evening with Bela Bartok´s Rhapsody op 1, and continues with Liszt, Balakirev and Schumann. Istvan will give us 2 works by Mozart and the Concert Suite from “Sleeping Beauty” by Tchaikovsky during the second evening.
So make your reservations for Tuesday, June 12th and Thursday, June 14th, 2018, with the usual
email to reservasconcertos@gmail.com or telephone Cristina on 914797980
Please remember to cancel your reservation if you find that you will not be able to attend – we have been sending people away and then find we have some empty chairs – embarrassing, that !!
And another request, please, do not take drinks into the auditorium. Thank you !
Please let me use this newsletter to send additional information on the next page
PRIVATE CONCERT IN LISBON
on May 25th, 2018
Time flies and we can now very actively look forward to our Lisbon Weekend with Music. On Friday, May 25th, 2018 we have the great pleasure to be guests at the Falcão residence in Ramada on the northern outskirts of Lisbon. Here once more the exact address:
Azinhaga da Fonte,
Lugar do Castelo
2620 – 384 Ramada
We are expected there at 18:00 for a drinks reception before the concert which is planned to begin at 19:00.
You have already received all these details in my earlier mail – in the meantime I have had a couple of questions that I`d like to answer here:
Are there still places available for this Private Concert?
– Yes, by all means, come and join us and let me know asap how many, pls. But please DO let me know if you decide to join us.
Which Lisbon railway station should we best use for Praça d`Espanha?
– It is called “Entrecampos”
How long is the drive from Praça d`Espanha to Ramada?
– For driving with your own car or for using a taxi, allow ca. 10 – 15 minutes.
As this is a Friday evening, allow a few more minutes for rush hour traffic.
Can we bring friends or family ?
– Yes, you are cordially invited to bring guests.
Is there a concert in the Gulbenkian on Saturday which we could go to?
– Yes, there is a concert, but unfortunately online research shows that it is
sold out. You may try for returns at the Box Office.
Do you have a hotel suggestion?
– Well, Larry and I are staying at the “Sana Executive” which is within walking
distance of the Gulbenkian and near our favourite restaurant “O Policia”.
If you have any more questions, do not hesitate to send me an email.
We have made our train reservations and may see some of you on the fast train leaving Faro at 8:24 arriving Entrecampos at 11:46 on the Friday.
Hugs,
Helga Hampton
President
ASSOCIAҪÃO DE AMIGOS DE MUSICA at Os Agostos
E-mail: helga.hampton@btinternet.com
www: http://www.amigos-de-musica.org