Funtington Music Group

FUNTINGTON MUSIC GROUP

2005 REVIEW

Funtington Music Group has just completed its second season at the Chapel of the University of Chichester, a year made memorable not just because of the astonishing variety of the concerts, recitals and lectures included in its programme, but also by reason of the high calibre and extraordinary individuality of the performers.

To cap such a year with two first performances “world and European premieres “ is an effective demonstration of the Group’s intriguing programme creation formula which embraces both traditional and more adventurous repertoires, emphasising that this is truly a learning society.

The season began in January with the Senior Coach at Glyndebourne, Jonathan Hindon, presenting his personal  “and highly entertaining “ portrayal of Wolfgang Mozart’s Cosi Fan Tutte with his accustomed enthusiasm and humour, singing many of the parts himself to his own piano accompaniment!

In February the award winning group, Brass 10, conducted their audience through a delightful musical journey in time from Gabrieli to Bach, via Kurt Weill’s Threepenny Opera. 

Mark Wardell, Organ Performance Tutor at the University and Assistant Organist at Chichester Cathedral, gave a splendid demonstration of the Chapel organ in March, including Louis Vierne’s lovely Carillons de Westminster.

April was a quite significant month for students of the University Music Department, particularly for two outstanding young musicians, Chris Redman - piano - and David Tutti - tuba, who were awarded valuable prizes at the Student Showcase Concert, following the deliberations of two independent adjudicators.  Whilst Chris Redman walked away with the £500 first prize, soprano Rachael Staley collected not only a runners-up prize but, in October, was selected by the Group to receive the Robert Headley Fund bursary of £1,000, to enable her to continue her studies at Birmingham Conservatoire.

The Group’s programme continued with a remarkable lecture, accompanied by many musical illustrations and personal anecdotes, presented by the renowned conductor, horn-player, professor and teacher, Timothy Reynish “who seemed only too happy to spare the time to visit Chichester in between his many professional engagements.” 

The highlight of the Group’s season is usually the summer evening concert  held in June and this year was no exception. The Kerem String Quartet, headed by the remarkably gifted Estonian violinist/composer, Mihkel Kerem  who has already written three symphonies before reaching the age of thirty  performed a beautiful balanced programme consisting of three quartets, by Debussy, Haydn and the world premiere of his own Eighth.. 

The Bibby Piano Duo – sisters playing on both of the Chapel pianos “delighted a full-house in September and, in the following month the celebrated lecturer and BBC Producer, Daniel Snowman, treated an appreciative audience to a fascinating over-view of the lives of many émigrés from Nazi Germany who found refuge in Britain and who fought their way to celebrity in the world of music.

In November the Group welcomed one of the more well-known young ensembles in Europe, the Artea Quartet, who gave a moving performance of works by Beethoven, Mendelssohn and Schumann. Just before the Christmas Cabaret concert in December, some members indicated that they were not entirely convinced of the gravitas of the saxophone, but, in no time at all Sarah Field, magically accompanied by pianist Simon Lepper, dispelled any doubts as to the expressive qualities and flexibility of this wonderful instrument, including the European premiere of James Whitbourn’s moving Celtic Suite.

Funtington Music Group has gained considerable local renown in Sussex and Hampshire for having developed a strategy that combines high quality music with the most friendly atmosphere at its meetings. Its 2006 Season is eagerly anticipated and commences on 11 January with a truly fascinating exploration of Beethoven’s Kreutzer Sonata by Chris Gayford and violinist Martin Cropper.

John Wheatley

[Home] [Introduction] [How to join] [Where we meet] [2010 Programme] [Past Programme] [Programme Reviews] [Review 2005] [Review 2006] [Review 2007] [Review 2008] [Review 2009] [Charitable Donations] [Links] [Committee]