Events

ICONOCLASSICS: Classic Cole at Café Yukari

Sofia Kirwan-Baez (voice) & Alex Norton (piano) live at convivial Cafe Yukari in an evening of music and anecdotes from the life of Cole Porter
Tickets £25
Doors open 7pm for 7.30pm start
For this ICONOCLASSICS night at the Cafe Yukari, Sofia Kirwan-Baez (voice) and Alex Norton (piano) bring you an evening of highlights and anecdotes from the life of Cole Porter, accompanied accordingly by his wonderful music.
Turning away from a comfortable life as a lawyer in Indiana, the bold Cole Porter opted for an extravagant life writing for musicals. We will be recounting the colourful stories of a man at the dawn of America’s Golden Age era for musicals, known for incessantly challenging boundaries throughout his life.
From some of his earliest numbers in 1919 (from Hitchy-Koo) to High Society in 1956, our 90-minute-long whistle-stop tour will comprise the likes of What is this thing called Love? , Love for Sale , Night and Day , So in Love , C’est Magnifique , I love Paris , among many other masterpieces.
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Fresh from her performances as Musetta in Longborough Festival Opera’s La Bohème, Sofia Kirwan-Baez (Young Artist at the National Opera Studio 23/24) has performed at Wigmore Hall, Cadogan Hall, Sadler’s Wells, the Royal Opera House (the Crush Room), Wales Millennium Centre, the Royal Albert Hall, Bridgewater Hall, Usher Hall, among others. She has hosted Cabaret-Piano Lounge nights at the OSO Arts Centre since October 2020.
Alex Norton is a British pianist and continuo player, who trained as a Young artist at the National Opera Studio (2022/23). Alex has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Wigmore Hall, various internationally-renowned European venues, and made his concerto debut with the Leeds Symphony Orchestra performing Gershwin’s piano concerto.
Café Yukari is an intimate, friendly venue close to Kew Gardens tube station. Concert-goers enjoy high-quality classical music in a convivial setting and a chance to mingle with other music lovers and meet the artists. Plus authentic Japanese food and a beautiful Fazioli grand piano!
Praise for 7 Star Arts at Cafe Yukari:
“a truly uplifting evening- beautiful music and delicious food”
“as good as 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 7 Star Arts has to cancel the event

HIDDEN GEMS OF FRENCH SONG with SOFIA KIRWAN-BAEZ

Sofia Kirwan-Baez (voice & piano) presents an intimate evening at the 1901 Arts Club, featuring some of French song’s most luscious hidden gems, ranging from Nadia Boulanger to Barbara. Peppered by the composers’ fascinating biographies, the recital will also feature songs by Sofia (also a songwriter) who will be presenting her own musical responses (in English) to the texts featured in the recital.

BOOK TICKETS

Doors/bar open 6.30pm for 7.30pm start
Stay afterwards and meet the artist and mingle with other music lovers
A little bit about our composers:
Among her 1200 students, Nadia Boulanger taught the likes of Aaron Copland, George Gershwin, Michel Legrand, Astor Piazzola and Quincy Jones. Her compositions and pedagogy permeated most of the Western musical landscapes of the 20th century.
Nicknamed “my little Mozart” by Georges Bizet, Cécile Chaminade wrote over 400 pieces, of which 200 are piano pieces. A fantastic song composer, she was the first woman to be made Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur in 1913, a historical moment for the validation of professional female musicians.
Nadia’s sister, Lili Boulanger won the famed Prix de Rome in 1918, also the first one granted to a woman. Her song cycle Clairières dans le Ciel (1918) is a prime example of expressionist French music at the turn of the century.
Singer-songwriter Barbara’s career, spanning over four decades and stemming from the vibrant Parisian cabaret scene, has inspired French songwriters to this day. Her music played a huge role in painting a picture of post-war France. Her life story is a tumultuous one, and is reflected in her songs’ imaginative poetry.
What do all these wonderful people have in common? Their incredible music. Not to be missed.

Housed in a converted schoolmaster’s residence just a few minutes walk from Waterloo Station, the 1901 Arts Club is an intimate, convivial chamber music venue whose ethos, ambiance and decor is inspired by Europe’s ninteenth-century Salon culture

Music salon at the 1901 Arts Club

 

ALICE NEARY cello & VIV McLEAN piano at the 1901 Arts Club

Alice Neary cello

Viv McLean piano

Enjoy world-class chamber music in an intimate, convivial setting just a stone’s throw from Waterloo Station. Meet the artists after the concert in the elegant bar of the 1901 Arts Club

PROGRAMME

Debussy – Sonata in D Minor
Britten – Sonata in C, Op. 65
Franck – Sonata in A
Doors open 6.30pm for 7.30pm start

Housed in a converted schoolmaster’s residence just a few minutes walk from Waterloo Station, the 1901 Arts Club is an intimate, convivial chamber music venue whose ethos, ambiance and decor is inspired by Europe’s ninteenth-century Salon culture

1901 Arts Club

Music Salon at the 1901 Arts Club