New series of Lunchbreak Concerts to begin this week

22 September 2015

A new season of Lunchbreak Concerts, which feature a weekly free programme of music by some of the best local, national and international musicians, gets under way on Thursday 24 September at Aberdeen Citadel, 28 Castle Street.

The Cowdray Hall's popular weekly Lunchbreak Concerts have been temporarily relocated to the Citadel while the hall is closed until winter 2017 as part of Aberdeen Art Gallery's £30m redevelopment project 'Inspiring Art and Music'.

The first concert in the series is in association with the BBC and will see award-winning Danish Quartet perform music by Beethoven and Nielsen. The performance will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 at a later date.

The series, which is programmed by Artists Advisor Dr Roger B Williams MBE, will see the return of some popular artists and will introduce musical stars of tomorrow all of whom will entertain concert-goers on their lunchbreaks.

The series of concerts will feature performances in collaboration with the Sound Festival including the Chamber Music Club on the exciting project of the complete Beethoven Violin Sonatas partnered to new commissions with a work by Matthew Taylor.

The Edinburgh Quartet will return and the first of their three concerts will include a performance of their commission from Tom Harrold, which premiered in Edinburgh in May.

In 2016 the series will welcome the pianist Susan Tomes, whose playing for the chamber group Domus has drawn lavish praise.

In spring 2016 there will be the very first mini-festival featuring local schools which will highlight work by Aberdeen's young musicians. This series of concerts will conclude with the Ogston Prize winners from the University of Aberdeen and concerts from Aberdeen City Music School, the North East of Scotland Music School and Big Noise Torry.

The end of the series there will be a rare opportunity to hear internationally acclaimed Cornett player Jeremy West.

Deputy Leader of Aberdeen City Council Councillor Marie Boulton said: "I am delighted that while Aberdeen Art Gallery, Cowdray Hall and the Memorial Hall are closed as part of a major redevelopment we continue to offer a programme of art and music to residents and visitors to the city and indeed across the UK and abroad.

"No other city in Scotland hosts a free admission programme such as ours which invites both amateur and professional musicians to perform. The programme brings high calibre national and international artistes to the city whilst providing an important performance platform for local musicians, including music students and school pupils."

Artistic Advisor for the series Roger B Williams MBE added: "This new season of Lunchbreak concerts presents an exciting programme featuring local, national and international artists, both professional and non-professional musicians. Our repertoire ranges from medieval plainchant to cutting-edge modernism and music in between. The series also provides many opportunities for young musicians who are studying in Aberdeen."

The Lunchbreak Concerts will be held in Aberdeen Citadel and begin at 12.45pm, unless otherwise stated and some will be preceded at 12noon by a 20-minute introductory talk.

The concerts are free but donations are welcome. All donations go directly towards supporting the performances and ensuring the continuation of the Lunchbreak programme.

PROGRAMME OF CONCERTS

Aberdeen Citadel

Thursday 24 September 12.45pm-1.45pm

DANISH QUARTET

Music by Beethoven and Nielsen

In association with BBC

Aberdeen Citadel

Thursday 1 October 12noon-12.20pm

CONCERT TALK

Roger B Williams

12.45pm-1.30pm

AMANDA BABINGTON (BAROQUE VIOLIN) CLAIRE BABINGTON (CELLO)

WITH ROGER WILLIAMS (HARPSICHORD)

Music by Corelli, Handel and Vivaldi

Aberdeen Citadel

Thursday 8 October 12noon-12.20pm

CONCERT TALK

Roger B Williams

12.45pm-1.30pm

EDINBURGH QUARTET

Tom Harrold: Silent Shores

Sibelius: Voces Intimae

Aberdeen Citadel

Thursday 15 October 12noon-12.20pm

CONCERT TALK

Joseph Long

12.45pm-1.30pm

JOSEPH LONG (PIANO)

Grieg: Lyric Pieces Opp.12, 28 and 43

Aberdeen Citadel

Thursday 22 October 12.45pm-1.30pm

CAMILLI QUARTET

Dvorak: American Quartet

Arts Centre & Theatre Aberdeen

Saturday 24 October 1pm-2pm

Ensemble Thing:

You Can't Get There From Here (WP)

The performance is a result of a collaboration by Scottish composers Sonia Allori, Colin Broom, John De Simone, Drew Hammond, Francis Macdonald and Oliver Searle.

soundconversation following the concert

In association with Sound Festival

Aberdeen Citadel

Thursday 29 October 12noon-12.20pm

CONCERT TALK

12.45pm-1.30pm

ATHENAEUM WINDS

Oliver Searle: Pilgrim of Curiosity

Work inspired by the hundreds of religious buildings visited during the composer's extensive travels.

In association with Sound Festival

King's College Chapel, Aberdeen

Saturday 31 October 1pm-1.45pm

IAN PACE (PIANO)

Brian Ferneyhough: Quirl (UKP)

Helmut Lachenmann: Serynade

Brice Pauset: Étude

In association with Sound Festival and the University of Aberdeen

Aberdeen Citadel

Thursday 5 November 12.45pm-1.30pm

BEETHOVEN PLUS 2: KRYSIA OSOSTOWICZ (VIOLIN) AND DANIEL TONG (PIANO)

Matthew Taylor: Tarantella Furiosa Beethoven: Violin Sonata no. 9 in A major, op. 47 'Kreutzer'

In association with Sound Festival

Aberdeen Maritime Museum

Saturday 7 November 9.30am-11am

PROMENADE CONCERT

Join us for rowies and refreshments before making your way through the Maritime Museum to discover three short new music performances by Robert Irvine (Cello), Matthew Whiteside (Electronics) and Emma Lloyd (Viola D'Amore), Joanna Nicolson (Clarinet) and Peter McRae (Dance/Movement). All ages welcome in this relaxed and informal discovery of a variety of new music.

In association with Sound Festival

St Andrew's Cathedral

Saturday 7 November 12noon-1pm

BEETHOVEN PLUS 4: KRYSIA OSOSTOWICZ (VIOLIN) AND DANIEL TONG (PIANO)

Jeremy Thurlow: Champagne Plus Beethoven: Violin Sonata no. 8 in G Major, op. 30, no. 3

Kurt Schwertsik: On the Way to Heiligenstadt

Beethoven: Violin Sonata no. 6 in A major, op. 30, no. 1

In association with Sound Festival and St Andrew's Cathedral

Aberdeen Citadel

Thursday 12 November 12.45pm-1.30pm

JESSICA COLEMAN (VIOLIN) AND maria immaculata Setiadi (PIANO)

Brahms: Sonata 3 and music by Sir James MacMillan

Aberdeen Citadel

Thursday 19 November 12.45pm-1.30pm

YOUNG MUSICIANS FROM THE NORTH EAST OF SCOTLAND MUSIC SCHOOL

Aberdeen Citadel

Thursday 26 November 12.45-1.30pm

ABERDEEN SINFONIETTA TRIO

Haydn: Trio in f sharp minor

Shostakovich: Trio no. 2

Aberdeen Citadel

Thursday 3 December 12.45pm-1.30pm

YOUNG MUSICIANS FROM ABERDEEN CITY MUSIC SCHOOL

Aberdeen Citadel

Thursday 10 December 12.45pm-1.30pm

CAROLS FOR ALL

DREW TULLOCH (PIANO) AND ROGER B. WILlIAMS (DIRECTOR)

St Mary's Episcopal Church

Thursday 17 December 12.45pm-1.30pm

CAROLS FOR ALL

DREW TULLOCH (PIANO) AND ROGER B. WILIAMS (DIRECTOR)

Aberdeen Citadel

Saturday 9 January 1pm-2pm

FRANK ROBB AND FRIENDS

Singer, songwriter Frank Robb is joined by Yvonne Morton (Vocals), Bob Knight (Guitar and Vocals), Alan Walker (Guitar), Sandy Leggat (Fiddle) and Spider MacKenzie (Harmonica) for a programme of acoustic music, featuring folk, blues and original songs.

Aberdeen Citadel

Thursday 14 January 12noon-12.20pm

CONCERT TALK

Roger B. Williams

12.45pm-1.30pm

EDINBURGH QUARTET

Beethoven: Quartet in f minor Op.95 Schubert: Quartettsatz

Aberdeen Citadel

Thursday 21 January 12.45pm-1.30pm

SUSAN TOMES (PIANO)

Haydn: Sonata in E flat

Debussy: Images Set 1

Billy Mayerl: Music from the

Savoy Hotel in 1920s

Aberdeen Citadel

Thursday 28 January 12.45pm-1.30pm

PAUL TIERNEY (BARITONE) AND ROGER WILLIAMS (PIANO)

Music by Schubert, Schumann and Fauré

Aberdeen Citadel

Thursday 4 February 12.45pm-1.30pm

YOUNG MUSICIANS FROM ST MARGARET'S SCHOOL FOR GIRLS

Aberdeen Citadel

Saturday 6 February 1pm-2pm

NIALL BROWN AND ISABEL TRüB

Grieg: Cello sonata, Bach: Suite no. 5

Aberdeen Citadel

Thursday 11 February 12.45pm-1.30pm

YOUNG MUSICIANS FROM ABERDEEN GRAMMAR SCHOOL

Aberdeen Citadel

Thursday 18 February 12.45pm-1.30pm

SOLOS AND ENSEMBLES FROM CULTS ACADEMY

Aberdeen Citadel

Thursday 25 February 12.45pm-1.30pm

YOUNG MUSICIANS FROM ROBERT GORDON'S COLLEGE

Aberdeen Citadel

Thursday 3 March 12.45pm-1.30pm

YOUNG MUSICIANS FROM ALBYN SCHOOL

Aberdeen Citadel

Thursday 10 March 12.45pm-1.30pm

THE OGSTON PRIZE UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN

Featuring joint winners Ellen Smith (Percussion) and Alison Ewen (Scots Fiddle)

Aberdeen Citadel

Thursday 17 March 12.45pm-1.30pm

MARGARET PRESTON (FLUTE) AND ROGER WILLIAMS (PIANO)

Dutilleux: Sonatine and music by Fauré

Aberdeen Citadel

Thursday 24 March 12noon-12.20pm

CONCERT TALK

Roger Williams

12.45pm-1.30pm

MOIRA DOCHERTY (SOPRANO) AND ROGER B WILLIAMS (PIANO)

Music with Celtic Connections, Beethoven, Haydn, Britten, J Reith and the first performance of a new work 'Celtic Circle' by Roger B Williams.

Aberdeen Citadel

Thursday 14 April 12noon-12.20pm

CONCERT TALK

Roger Williams

12.45pm-1.30pm

EDINBURGH QUARTET

Samuel Barber: Adagio

Britten: Quartet no. 1

St Andrew's Cathedral

Thursday 21 April 12.45pm-1.30pm

PLAINCHANT AND ORGAN

Aberdeen Schola sing a selection of medieval Plainchant with Organ pieces interspersed, directed by Roger B. Williams.

Aberdeen Citadel

Thursday 28 April 12noon-12.20pm

CONCERT TALK

Joseph Long

12.45pm-1.30pm

JOSEPH LONG (PIANO)

Mozart: Fantasy and Sonata in c minor K.475 and 457

St Andrew's Cathedral

Thursday 5 May 12.45pm-1.30pm

JEREMY WEST (CORNETT) AND ROGER B. WILLIAMS (ORGAN)

From the golden age of the Cornett, music by Fontana, Bassano and others.

Aberdeen Citadel

Thursday 12 May 12.45pm-1.30pm

ERIN TINNEY (VOICE) AND DREW TULLOCH (PIANO)

Handel, Mozart, Rachmaninov and Britten

Aberdeen Citadel

Thursday 19 May 12noon-12.20pm

CONCERT TALK

12.45pm-1.30pm

BIG NOISE TORRY

Inspired by Venezuela's El Sistema movement, Big Noise brings top class professional musicians to communities where they teach children to play together in life-changing orchestras. Aberdeen's Torry has been home to a Big Noise orchestra since summer 2015. This concert is a wonderful opportunity to experience the high quality musicianship of the team behind this exciting work.

Venue addresses:

Aberdeen Citadel

28 Castle Street

Aberdeen

AB11 5BG

St Andrew's Cathedral

28 King Street

Aberdeen

AB24 5AX

Aberdeen Maritime Museum

Shiprow

Aberdeen

AB11 5BY

St Mary's Episcopal Church

Carden Place

Aberdeen

AB10 1UN

Arts Centre & Theatre Aberdeen

33 King Street

Aberdeen

AB24 5AA

King's College Chapel

University of Aberdeen

52 College Bounds

Aberdeen

AB24 3FX

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