Current Season

Covid-19

Investigating the possibility of restarting our 2020-2021 season.

While it is still not clear if and when Leighton Buzzard Library Theatre might again be available for recitals we wish to determine the viability of holding recitals at St Barnabas's Church, Linslade subject to the Covid-19 rules continue to permit, as they do at the moment (25th October). To this end, the following letter from our chairman was sent to everyone on our email list. To be sure that we reach all of our supporters here is a copy. We would be pleased to have a response from you.

Dear Supporters of Leighton Buzzard Music

Restarting our concert season

At the moment we have no news from Leighton Buzzard Library Theatre as to when they might reopen for performances. For that reason we are exploring the possibility of holding our concerts in St Barnabas' Church, Linslade. Since the vicar, Fr Bernard Minton, is very keen for the church to be used again by the community to this end our secretary, Brian Coulstock, and I had a meeting last Wednesday with him to discuss the possibility. (Already Leighton Buzzard Festival Singers have resumed rehearsals there on Monday evenings.)

Of course the vital consideration at this time is how safe we can make the building from the Coronavirus threat.

    • the vicar believes that with suitable social distancing of 2 metres between either single people or couples who live together, we could safely accommodate up to 100 people;
    • we anticipate a concert length of about 60–70 minutes without an interval;
    • we are minded at present to hold concerts on Saturday afternoons starting at 2.30 or 3.00pm. and hope, in the immediate future to restart with one concert before Christmas, in late November — to be arranged;
    • there will be sanitising facility on entrance;
    • seating positions will be marked on the pews;
    • all would be required to wear a masks;
    • there will be separate entrance and exits;
    • all tickets must be purchased beforehand — details to follow — and track and trace details must be taken.

This is a summary of the measures we will take to try to bring back live music to our community. Details of dates, and the artists we will present (if possible from our already booked, but delayed, season) are all still to be finalised, but will be given as soon as we can.

We cannot go forward with future plans unless we are confident that our supporters would welcome this and make it financially viable. Of course, we have complete respect for anyone who might feel apprehensive about attending.

It would be a great help to us if you would kindly let us know by Saturday, 31st October if you would be prepared to attend a concert at St Barnabas under the circumstances I've outlined above or, on the other hand, if you would definitely not want to take the risk.
Please send your reply to me:- davidphillips1037@gmail.com and copy to our secretary:- brian-coulstock@talktalk.net .

In the meantime may I wish you continued good health and safety.

David

David Phillips
Chairman, LB Music

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As is the case with all performing arts organisations, our programme of events ceased in March. Further, due to the continuing covid-19 crisis, the recital series planned for our 2020–2021 season — although listed — has had to be cancelled.
Although the lockdown regulations are beginning to be relaxed, it is still not clear enough if and when live performances of music indoors might be possible in the venues we use.
We very much hope to be able to restart our concerts again as soon as we can, depending on three factors: clarity on the government regulations for indoor events to re-commence; being able to design an acceptable seating plan as social distancing relaxes; and on funding for our plans. The situation is financially critical for performers, promoters and venues alike.
The trustees of Leighton Buzzard Music are monitoring the status and hope to plan a new series of recitals, possibly, but not committed, to involve artists in the originally outlined 2020–2021 season. We’ll keep you updated on our progress on this website and by email if you have subscribed to our mailing list.

Concerts 1–7 were to be held at Leighton Buzzard Library Theatre, Lake St, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 1RX

Concert 8 was to be held at St Barnabas’ Parish Church, Linslade LU7 2NR

Saturday 12th September 2020 - 7:30PM

Florian Mitrea

Recital cancelled due to covid-19 crisis.

The return of the superb pianist

Florian Mitrea

Programme

Mozart - Sonata in C major KV 309
Beethoven - Sonata op. 2 no. 3 in C major
Schoenberg - 6 Little Piano Pieces op. 19
Prokofiev - Sonata no. 6 in A major op. 82

Saturday 10th October 2020 - 7:30PM

Amy Roberts

Recital cancelled due to covid-19 crisis.

The outstanding young oboist

Amy Roberts

With Gamal Khamis, Piano

Amy is supported by Making Music’s and Philip & Dorothy Green’s Young Artists Award

Programme

To include: Sonatas by Telemann, Saint Saens and Dutilleux, songs by Schubert and Schumann (on the oboe),
and pieces by Messiaen and Richard Rodney Bennett.

Saturday 7th November 2020 - 7:30PM

Rosamunde Trio

Recital cancelled due to covid-19 crisis.

The world-famous Rosamunde Trio

Martino Tirimo, piano
Ben Sayevich, violin
Daniel Veis, cello

Programme

Josef Suk – Piano Trio in C minor Op.2,
Shostakovich – Piano Trio No.2 in E minor Op.67,
Brahms – Piano Trio in B major Op.8

Saturday 28th November 2020 - 7:30PM

Laura Snowden

Recital cancelled due to covid-19 crisis.

The return visit of the brilliant guitarist Laura Snowden

Programme to include music by Paraguayan composer Barrios as well her own compositions and arrangements of traditional Celtic folk material

Saturday 30th January 2021 - 7:30PM

Matt Farthing

Recital cancelled due to covid-19 crisis.

The brilliant percussionist Matt Farthing

Finalist in the BBC Young Musician 2014 and winner of UK Tuned Percussion competition 2014

Matt is sponsored by the prestigious Countess of Munster Musical Trust

Matt Farthing is a dynamic percussionist based in London. He is delighted to be supported by the Countess of Munster Musical Trust. Matt performs regularly with orchestras and ensembles including the London Symphony Orchestra, the John Wilson Orchestra and the Colin Currie Group. Performances include playing with the LSO and Sir Simon Rattle at the 2018 BBC Proms and Lucerne Festival in Switzerland. More recently, Matt has enjoyed recording with the LSO at Abbey Road Studios in London. As a soloist, Matt was a Percussion Category Finalist in the BBC Young Musician of the Year 2014, and the Winner of the UK Tuned Percussion Competitions in 2012 (U16) and 2014 (U18) Competitions.

Saturday 27th February 2021 - 7:30PM

Abel Puustinen

Recital cancelled due to covid-19 crisis.

The outstanding Finnish violinist Abel Puustinen

with Ossi Tanner piano

Abel is supported by Making Music’s and Philip & Dorothy Green’s Young Artists Award

Rautavaara ~ Lost Landscapes

Sibelius ~ Six Pieces Op 79

Clara Schumann ~ Three Romances

Elgar~ Sonata for Violin & Piano, Op 82

Saturday 20th March 2021 - 7:30PM

Antonina Suhanova

Recital cancelled due to covid-19 crisis.

The immensely gifted Latvian pianist Antonina Suhanova

Antonina is supported by Making Music’s and Philip & Dorothy Green’s Young Artists Award

Programme

Beethoven Sonata in Ab Op 110
Prokofiev - Sonata No 7 in Bb Op 83
Alban Berg - Sonata Op 1
Beethoven - Sonata in C minor Op 111

Saturday 17th April 2021 - 7:30PM

Blackweir Brass Quintet

Recital cancelled due to covid-19 crisis.

The versatile Blackweir Brass Quintet

Alex Morgan - trumpet
Emily Ashby - trumpet
Lynn Henderson - horn
Toby Carr - trombone
Ben Pepler - tuba

Blackweir Brass was formed in 2016 at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, and first premiered their ‘Music and Words’ programme in the same year. In this unique setting, spoken poetry is paired with a variety of pieces from the brass quintet repertoire. The pieces and poems selected are constantly changing, but there has always been a strong connection with the poetry of Sir John Betjeman, and the music of Benjamin Britten.

‘Music and Words’ The programme will include the Brass Quintet by the American composer Michael Kamen, Chopin’s Minute Waltz, selections from Debussy’s Children’s Corner Suite and Britten's Hymn to Saint Cecilia. Our poetry stretches from Betjeman to Roald Dahl and Spike Milligan.