Events

ICONOCLASSICS with Anthony Hewitt, piano, at Café Yukari

After sell out concerts last year, “remarkably gifted” concert pianist Anthony Hewitt returns to the friendly and convivial Cafe Yukari in Kew to once again wow our audience with his vibrant and expressive playing in an imaginative and varied programme of music by Tchaikovsky, Sondheim, Shostakovich, Chopin, Ravel, Grieg, Bach – plus some surprises!

Tickets £30

Doors open 7pm to 7.30pm start

BOOK TICKETS


ICONOCLASSICS features leading, critically-acclaimed classical musicians, more at home in the world’s great concert halls than in a café but all happy to break free from the conventional classical music scene. The small size of the venue creates a special connection between musicians and audience, and allows the musicians to present music in a more accessible and relaxed way. Concert-goers can mingle with other music lovers and meet the artists after the performance.

Praise for 7 Star Arts at Cafe Yukari:
“a truly uplifting evening of beautiful music!”
“better than Wigmore Hall!”
“such a friendly atmosphere…”
“Inspiring, inspired”
“What a charming experience …to listen to first-class music and eat delicious food while outside, beyond the fairy lights, commuters pour out of Kew Gardens Station”

Please note: there is no refund for tickets unless we have to cancel the event

SWEET HARMONY at the 1901 Arts Club

A celebration of Shakespeare in Music & Words

VIV McLEAN piano

SUSAN PORRETT actress/reader

Sweet Harmony is a words and music concert celebrating the genius of William Shakespeare, appropriately presented on the Bard’s birthday, 23 April.

Join pianist Viv McLean and actress Susan Porrett for delightful a programme of piano music interspersed with readings from Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets. Meet the artists in the bar after the performances.

Tickets £35

Doors/bar open 6.30pm, concert starts at 7.30pm

Programme to include

Nikolai Medtner
Fairy Tales Op.35
Ophelia’s Song
King Lear

Sergei Prokofiev
  Suite Romeo and Juliet
Friar Laurence
Dance of the Knights

Claude Debussy
  La Danse de Puck

Franz Schubert
  An Sylvia

ICONOCLASSICS: Minimalist Stories with Waka Hasegawa, piano, at Café Yukari

MINIMALIST STORIES

Pianist Waka Hasegawa makes her ICONOCLASSICS debut at Cafe Yukari with a programme exploring minimalist music by Philip Glass, Steve Reich, Arvo Pärt and Joe Hisaishi, paired with selected Preludes and Fugues by J S Bach

Tickets £30

Doors open 7pm for 7.30pm start

BOOK TICKETS

 

Programme:

Philip Glass – Etude No. 2
J.S. Bach – Prelude & Fugue in C Major, BWV 846 (Book 1)

Philip Glass – Etude No. 16
J.S. Bach – Prelude & Fugue in G Minor, BWV 885 (Book 2)

Philip Glass – Etude No. 17 in F Minor
J.S. Bach – Prelude & Fugue in F Major, BWV 880 (Book 2)

Steve Reich – Piano Counterpoint (arr. Vincent Corver)

Arvo Pärt – Variations for the Healing of Arinushka

Joe Hisaishi:

Dawn Flight (Etude – A Wish to the Moon)
Innocent (Castle in the Sky)
The Wind Forest (My Neighbour Totoro)
Asian Dream Song (Piano Stories)
Kids Return (Piano Stories)Steve Reich and Joe Hisaishi


ICONOCLASSICS features leading, critically-acclaimed classical musicians, more at home in the world’s great concert halls than in a café but all happy to break free from the conventional classical music scene. The small size of the venue creates a special connection between musicians and audience, and allows the musicians to present music in a more accessible and relaxed way. Concert-goers can mingle with other music lovers and meet the artists after the performance.

Praise for 7 Star Arts at Cafe Yukari:
“a truly uplifting evening of beautiful music!”
“better than Wigmore Hall!”
“such a friendly atmosphere…”
“Inspiring, inspired”
“What a charming experience …to listen to first-class music and eat delicious food while outside, beyond the fairy lights, commuters pour out of Kew Gardens Station”

 


Born in Tokyo, Japan, Waka Hasegawa began her piano studies at the age  of four and made her concerto debut at nine in her hometown of Chiba.  Her talent was discovered by the renowned Czech pianist Jan Panenka at  the Kirishima International Music Festival, leading her to audition and  earn a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music in London  under Piers Lane.

Since her debut at Purcell Room, Royal Festival Hall, presented by Park Lane Group, Waka’s passion for collaborating with living composers has driven her to perform contemporary and lesser-known repertoire.

In addition to her solo career, Waka has  established herself as part of the internationally acclaimed piano  duo “Piano 4 Hands” with British pianist Joseph Tong. She has given  solo recitals across the UK, America, Europe, and Japan. Her solo  album, Undiscovered Piano Works  by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, released on the Metropolis/Naxos label, has garnered worldwide interest and airplay on Classic FM and various international radio stations.

Waka is also a dedicated piano teacher and the director of music at Dulwich Music Academy.

Please note: there is no refund for tickets unless we have to cancel the event

ALISTAIR McGOWAN ‘3-in-1’ at Ham House Stables

BAFTA-winning Alistair McGowan – impressionist, comic, writer and pianist – brings you the comedy and impressions for which he is known and loved, plays short piano favourites by Chopin, Grieg, Elgar, Satie and others, and reads from his newly-published poetry collection.

Expect beautiful music, poignant poems and spot-on mimicry.

It’s a unique evening and three great shows in one!

Tickets £35 (includes welcome drink)
Doors open 6.30pm for 7.00pm start
 


 

DIVINE FIRE at the 1901 Arts Club

The story of Chopin and Sand in Music & Words

VIV McLEAN piano

SUSAN PORRETT narrator

Tickets £35

Doors/bar open 6.30pm, concert starts at 7.30pm

Post concert Q&A/Meet the Artists

 

Performed by Viv McLean (piano) and Susan Porrett (narrator) and featuring some of Chopin’s loveliest piano works, Divine Fire traces the relationship between Fryderyk Chopin and the authoress George Sand, from their first meeting in Paris in 1836 until their parting in 1849.

The story unfolds through a compelling, dramatic narration of events by the RSC, National Theatre and TV actress Susan Porrett, interspersed with fiery Scherzos, heartrending Ballades, intimate lyrical Nocturnes and stirring Polonaises, performed by acclaimed concert pianist Viv McLean.