News - Page 3 of 3 - St George's Bristol

The Piano Man: Ulrich Gerhartz

Posted: January 22, 2015

“Is this the most powerful man in classical music? In an all but invisible way, Gerhartz is probably the single most important figure in the entire piano world, at least to pianists and to concert halls.”

Real St George’s Wedding: Rupert & Sarah

Posted: January 13, 2015

We were lucky to host some beautiful wedding receptions at St George’s Bristol last summer and we are delighted that Rupert & Sarah have allowed us to share some of the beautiful images of their day.

Calling all Cellists!

Posted: December 1, 2014

Cellists of Bristol! If you are looking to inspire yourself (or your students) to live up to those practice related…

Slow down and tune in with the Alexander Technique

Posted: November 14, 2014

On Friday 21st November, Alexander teacher Gudi Schepokat created a vibrant Pause at St George’s Bristol – a space to slow…

Fantastic FREE training for Music Educators

Posted: November 12, 2014

Last night I had the pleasure of representing St George’s Bristol at my first ever TeachMeet, facilitated by Drake Music…

Hang-ing with Manu Delago…

Posted: October 30, 2014

Most famous for playing the Hang, Delago is back with a new sense of musical freedom. His new album ‘Bigger Than Home’ incorporates the soothing timbre of the hang with the boundless possibilities of electronic music.

SCENE NORWAY PLUS

Posted: October 16, 2014

I’d been playing Norwegian music on BBC Radio 3 whenever I could, being pretty much the only UK radio exposure this music was getting. As my experience grew and I became involved with festivals and venues, working with different musicians, it was a privilege to ‘spread the word’.

Review: Friday 3 October – Bill Laurance Project

Posted: October 6, 2014

what I found inspiring about this performance was its freshness and vitality, its “can-do” delight in taking on a serious challenge and winning, and the evident regard the musicians held for the experience of the audience. There was real sharing going on, and you could see it in the faces of both players and listeners as the music seemed to float on a cloud of mutual appreciation and goodwill.

A Great Quartet

Posted: September 24, 2014

Emerging from the North East of England in the mid 1970s, the Brodsky Quartet today represents the very best, and over the years they have engaged audiences with ambitious programmes and creative collaborations, proving itself to be so much more than a Classical ensemble.

The Return of Nic Jones

Posted: September 22, 2014

Nic, who started his musical career in Essex, had emerged among the second generation of 1960s folk revivalists at the end of the decade. His debut album Ballads & Songs was released in 1970 and I clearly remember it arriving in Bristol’s then folk mecca, the Troubadour Club in Clifton, where we nearly wore it out on the club’s elderly Dansette. Suddenly, here was a new performer to rank with other current icons of English folk music like the great Martin Carthy.

R.I.P. Kenny Wheeler (1930-2014)

Posted: September 19, 2014

The great trumpeter and composer Kenny Wheeler, who died yesterday, appeared a number of times at St George’s, where his unmistakeable flugelhorn sound – simultaneously full-bodied and half-formed, plangent (that inevitable trumpet adjective), melancholy, always distinctive – found a perfect complement in the hall’s celestial reverb.

Amazing Animal Artwork!

Posted: September 16, 2014

St George’s Bristol recently showcased a fantastic exhibition, featuring artworks created by children from six local primary schools, inspired by Saint…

An Evening with Roger McGuinn

Posted: August 29, 2014

Just to say that Roger McGuinn performs these songs, however, doesn’t even get close. He’s such a star turn, and so expert a guitarist for solo shows like this, that the songs are no by-rote versions buoyed up on a wave of sentimental goodwill.

So many strings to his bow…

Posted: August 19, 2014

From bestselling albums and intoxicating live performances, to books, films and charitable projects, Daniel Hope is so much more than a violinist…

All That Jazz

Posted: July 15, 2014

This autumn’s International Jazz Series continues the story while fulfilling two increasingly vital functions: introducing St George’s jazz audience to important new acts, and presenting the music in as natural a way as we can, with performers playing acoustically, without a PA, wherever possible.

With Great Pleasure…

Posted: July 14, 2014

On Thursday 24th July the show will feature the favourite works of our beloved actor, Simon Callow. Simon will be joined by Patricia Hodge (Miranda’s hilarious Mother in BBC 1 TV comedy show MIRANDA) who will be reading works by Shakespeare, Dickens, Fitzgerald and more.

10 reasons why St George’s is a Truly Unique Wedding Reception Venue

Posted: July 2, 2014

I have been planning weddings for 3 years now as well as working as the wedding coordinator at St George’s so I know what makes a really great venue. Here’s 10 reasons why St George’s Bristol is a fantastic and unique wedding reception venue.

R.I.P Bobby Womack, 1944-2014

Posted: June 30, 2014

No recording artist has meant more to me than Bobby Womack, who died on Friday aged 70. Certainly there have been better and more important singers – better soul singers, even – songwriters, guitarists and producers, but no one touched me the way Bobby did.

Americana

Posted: June 27, 2014

Originally developed as an alternative radio format to mainstream country music in the USA, what we call Americana has now become a genre in its own right, encompassing popular US ‘roots’ music from country to folk to blues, and from lone singer-songwriters playing Martin acoustic guitars to rocking boogie bands plugged into the mains.

Meet Your Wedding Co-Ordinator

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My role is to bring my wedding expertise to the events team and I do this by offering email support to couples in the planning stages and by meeting with couples a few weeks before the wedding to make a very thorough running order for the day.

Dawn Cooper: The Artist Behind The Art

Posted: June 20, 2014

This is second season we have used an illustrated cover for our seasonal brochure and this time we wanted to support Bristol talent. Bristol is very well known for its street artists, illustrators and animators. So what about the freelancers this cultural city is home to? Cue Dawn Cooper.

Interview with MILOŠ

Posted: June 10, 2014

Charming interview! (Check the finger nails!)

The Treorchy Male Choir Returns To St George’s

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Treorchy have sung popular songs by artists such as Queen and Bob Marley and tonight the choir will sing a variety of crowd pleasers. Perhaps the most potent song choice from this shows diverse lineup is ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’, an incredibly powerful song on record but even more so sung with the strength and passion that Treorchy have.

The Buskaid Story

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2014 marks the 20th Anniversary of Democracy in South Africa. Of the 28 young musicians playing on 11 July, it is worth noting that six were born in the 1980s and can clearly recall life in the township pre-democracy, ten belong to the so-called ‘born-free’ generation, and the remainder were just a few years old in 1994. The Buskaid Ensemble, founded in 1997, therefore represents two very distinct eras in South Africa’s recent past.

TWEET UP AT ST GEORGE’S BRISTOL

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St George’s Bristol hosted a wedding industry networking event organised by Sweet & Pretty Weddings and the events team at…

5 TOP WEDDING TRENDS FOR 2014

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This year I have seen a lot of DIY vintage inspired weddings with couples stretching their budgets and going for a relaxed vibe with long tables, family sharing platters and a lot of bake off style cake tables in place of traditional desserts.

10 TOP WEDDING BUDGET TIPS

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There are lots of ways to knock thousands of a wedding budget with a few clever DIY tips and by using the talents of friends. Here’s some top budget busting tips from How 2 I Do.

Buskaid Soweto String Ensemble

Posted: May 30, 2014

An evening with Buskaid always closes with some heart-warming kwela, the infectious and lilting rhythms of township song and dance. When you hear those kids surrender to the sheer joy of playing the old tunes they grew up on, it’s not difficult to see why they can bring the same deep feeling and exuberance to playing Rameau or Bach.

Towards Silence – Soul Music

Posted: May 23, 2014

I’m often asked how far in advance I plan our classical music season. It can be anything between 3 months and 2 years, but I can now add that one event has been almost exactly 5 years in the planning: the two performances of Sir John Tavener’s Towards Silence on Thursday 10th July.

‘It Began With The Music..’ – Taraf de Haidouks Exhibition

Posted: May 20, 2014

In December 2008 the Taraf de Haidouks visited Bristol for the first time and played here at St. George’s. I met some of the musicians on my way in and they were warm and friendly, the evening was amazing and I had an idea… Eight months later on 18th July 2009 they returned to the UK to play at my wedding. Their presence and music made for a joyous and magical day.

Matthew Halsall – Thursday 29th May, St George’s – Soul Global

Posted: May 19, 2014

Listening to ‘When The World Was One’, the new album by Matthew Halsall (to be released on the Monday following…

Taraf de Haidouks – Sunday 25th May, St George’s – Soul Global

Posted: May 15, 2014

Taraf de Haidouks seen live are an experience you will remember forever. They’ve played St George’s once before, in late 2008, when they launched our landmark Migrations series, and it was awesome. Arriving later than expected, with the Crypt bar already jam-packed for the sold-out show, the band sat down at a long table for their pre-gig meal surrounded by eager onlookers, like some weird version of Leonardo’s Last Supper. Food attended to, and following an extended fag-break outside the box office door, the band took to the stage looking relatively sedate, even nonchalant, as people who’ve modelled for Yamamoto have a right to. After all, they’ve entranced Johnny Depp, impressed Yehudi Menuhin and the Kronos Quartet, and played most of the world’s larger halls.

Filmic 2014 Review: Jocelyn Pook Ensemble

Posted: May 13, 2014

Following Cath Rymell’s excellent review of the first Filmic 2014 show, ‘O Bro: A Musical Celebration of the Coen Brothers’, which you can read further down this page, it doesn’t seem fair to let the second go without a brief mention, too. Mainly because it was so awe-inspiringly great.

An Interview with Leonard Elschenbroich

Posted: April 29, 2014

Earlier this year cellist Leonard Elschenbroich came to St George’s for a few days of recording… We caught up with him during a break for a quick chat about this week’s return visit, which sees him performing Elgar’s Cello Concerto and Bridge’s Oration with Bristol Ensemble as part of our series THE WORLD CHANGED.

REVIEW: O Bro

Posted: April 28, 2014

This was one of those rare occasions when you have no idea what to expect from a gig. ‘O Bro:…

Ears wide open

Posted: April 24, 2014

Jocelyn Pook Ensemble – Filmic 2014 – Friday 9 May, St George’s Bristol, 8pm. After receiving an Olivier Award for…

A message from the lovely Lesley

Posted: April 1, 2014

I love a challenge!

Soul Global

Posted: March 18, 2014

Along with J S Bach and John Coltrane, my favourite music is soul. I remember as a kid seeing Otis Redding live on ‘Ready Steady Go!’, and I bought the 70s albums of Marvin Gaye and Aretha Franklin – for me the two greatest singers ever, in any genre – as they came out.

In search of the perfect piano…

Posted: March 12, 2014

Would I be willing to travel to the ends of the earth in pursuit of ‘just the right’ piano for St George’s? Maybe, just maybe…

Tord Gustavsen Ensemble

Posted: March 10, 2014

When ‘Changing Places’, the debut album by the trio of Norwegian pianist and composer Tord Gustavsen, came out in 2003, it nearly passed me by. It took a telephone call from David Fraser, ECM’s British press person, who’s the most unpushy PR imaginable, to tactfully advise me that I needed to give it a listen.

KLEZMER VS. CLASSICAL

Posted: March 6, 2014

What happens when you combine the UK’s most creative and innovative orchestra with “Britain’s best Klezmer and Balkan music band”? “Electric fizz and pungent colours” was the way The Times described the creative collision of two seemingly disparate musical genres – and that’s what makes Aurora Orchestra stand out from the crowd…

Guitarists…

Posted: February 21, 2014

But Renbourn, who’s close to the nicest musician I’ve met, and – unusually for his calling – interested in music other than his own, kept on developing, adding bluegrass picking and Merle Travis-a-billy to the storehouse of styles. His brilliance is also not without effort, and one of the many pleasures of a Renbourn performance is seeing him dig in and wrestle with his muse.

Q&A with Christian Wallumrød

Posted: February 20, 2014

Performing as part of the Bristol New Music Festival on Sunday night read on for a feel of the Christian Wallumrød Ensemble concert…

Christian Wallumrød…

Posted: February 14, 2014

When it comes to music, some things grab you straight from the off, asserting their particular effect immediately. Others take time and familiarity before you even recognise what it is you are listening to, never mind learn to appreciate it. So it was with me and Christian Wallumrød.

The Royal Academy.. Small ensemble, BIG sound.

Posted: February 10, 2014

The sound coming from the hall during these three days was truly glorious: wave upon wave of full-bodied, passionate playing that made me think there must be at least a symphony orchestra in situ downstairs.

Police Dog Hogan

Posted: January 27, 2014

The one thing most people know about Police Dog Hogan, if they know anything at all, is that Guardian Weekend columnist Tim Dowling is in it…

Three Cane Whale

Posted: January 21, 2014

It was probably seeing them in concert on a rain-misted afternoon (Saturday June 2, 2012, I checked) in the beautiful setting of the small but perfectly formed 11th century church of Partrishow in the Black Mountains that did it for me.

O Brother… Music for the Coen’s

Posted: January 10, 2014

It was the Coen Brothers’ debut, ‘Blood Simple’, seen at Watershed (and didn’t we call it ‘The Watershed’ then?) on its first run. After the opening sequence plays out, a black bartender in a redneck tavern puts a record on the jukebox and we hear ‘It’s The Same Old Song’ by The Four Tops, a solid-gold Tamla Motown classic.

Olivia Chaney

Posted: January 6, 2014

Since I booked her for the gig on the strength of great word of mouth and a few youtube clips that showed beyond doubt that she was a fantastic new talent, Olivia has been signed to a prestigious contract by classy Nonesuch Records and been nominated for two BBC Folk Awards.

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