J.S. Bach and Handel @ St Peter’s Music 20 May 2009

Wednesday 20 May 2009 at 7.30 pm sees another concert in the St Peter’s Music series at Budleigh Salterton’s St Peter’s Parish Church.

Chris Grist cello
David Wright harpsichord

Cello Suite No 1 in G major BWV 1007 J.S. Bach
Cello Suite No 3 in G major BWV 1009 J.S. Bach
Cello Sonata Opus 1 No 4, HWV 362 Handel
Goldberg Variations BWV 988 J.S. Bach


“An evening of splendid baroque music played by superb artists both of whom have been to St Peter’s before,” say the organisers. “If you know the Goldberg Variations you may be thinking this will be a long programme. Never fear, all the repeats are being omitted! Normally each variation is repeated.”

Chris Grist studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and has since had an exceedingly varied career performing throughout the UK and Europe as orchestral musician, chamber musician and recitalist. As a chamber musician, Chris is cellist and founding member of Metamorphosis chamber group and principal cellist of London Concertante. He has performed throughout the country as soloist and chamber musician.

In London, Chris has performed concertos and recitals at the Barbican Centre, South Bank, St. James' Piccadilly, St. Martin-in-the-Fields as well as at Music Clubs and Festivals throughout the UK. As a soloist, Chris has performed in France, Spain, Germany, USA and Chile. Chris is also a member of ZUM - the gypsy-tango band.
http://www.londonconcertante.com/

Born in Bethnal Green in the East End of London on the 21st March 1985, David Wright received no musical training as a child. His interest in music began after the death of his father, when he was nine, through subsequent involvement in the local church. It was there that he discovered the piano and organ and taught himself to play ‘by ear’, nurturing a love of the music of Bach and Mozart. At the age of sixteen he had his first piano lesson and learned to read music, later going on to study harpsichord at Trinity College of Music, where he won the Ella Kidney prize for early music, and graduated with honours.

David later graduated with distinction from the Royal College of Music in 2003, where for two consecutive years he won the Richard the Third and Century Fund Prizes. In 2003 he also won first prize in the prestigious Broadwood Harpsichord Competition, an international event held at London’s Fenton House, where he became artist in residence. As a soloist and accompanist David works regularly with some of the world’s leading ensembles and musicians. He has directed concerts from the harpsichord including the first modern performance of Thomas Arne’s ballad opera The Blind Beggar of Bethnal Green. David is engaged regularly among the artists at Dartington International Summer School, and as repetitieur with English Touring Opera and the English Bach Festival. David’s radio and television broadcasts include performances as a finalist in the York Early Music Competition, solos at the Handel House Museum in London (both for BBC Radio3), and more recently a recital as part of the Belfast Music Festival, broadcast on BBC Northern Ireland. Just recently, David was assistant musical director to Jean-Claude Malgoire in a production of Rameau’s Platée at the Megaron in Athens with the English Bach Festival, with whom he will be performing Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo in the New Year.

During 2006 and 2007, much of David’s time has been devoted to The Goldberg Variations, which he has performed extensively though out the UK and abroad. Future live performances include: Bournemouth Festival in May 2007 (tbc), Dartington Summer School in July-August 2007, and Handel House Museum on the 23rd of August 2007. David has recently launched his new recording of the work, which can now be puchased direct by simply emailing David.
davidwright@harpsichord.org.uk

Tickets: £10
From the following ticket outlets:

The Lawn Bakery, The Lawn, Budleigh Salterton
Lesleys, Stationers, High Street, Budleigh Slterton
Eagle House, The Strand, Exmouth
Tourist Information Centre, Ham Lane, Sidmouth

By telephone:
Ring 01395 442275 and request the tickets. You will be asked to forward a cheque made payable to St Peter's Music and a return S.A.E.
At the door on the night. These are subject to availability.
Concessions: Full time students pay half the advertised price.

St Peter's Music was started in 1994 by the then Vicar, The Revd Robert Gibbs and the Director of Music, Sylvia Pritchard. The intention was to provide regular concerts, mainly, but not exclusively, chamber music, to enable local residents to enjoy serious music without the need to travel to Exeter. Since then the organisation has changed little and the aim not at all. There is some emphasis in the programming to feature young musicians. Exeter School has been included for several years and Wells Cathedral School and the Purcell School have played on a number of occasions.

For further information about St Peter's Music see http://www.stpetersmusic.org.uk/