Cardiff Recorded Music Society meets on Wednesday evenings 7.25pm to 9.30pm
at St Edward's Church, Blenheim Road, Penylan, Cardiff, CF23 5DE

The Committee reserves the right to cancel or modify any advertised programme without notice.

2014

September 10: A Taste of Things to Come.

A foretaste of what is on offer this season brought to you by the Programme Secretary.

September 17: The Life and Music of William Walton

Charles Kinsey explores the life and works of this ground-breaking English composer, best known for his oratorio “Belshazzar’s Feast”and musical entertainment “Façade”.

September 24: Bel Canto

Bel Canto translates as “beautiful singing” and is mostly (though not exclusively) associated with nineteenth century Italian opera, notably in the works of Bellini, Donizetti and Rossini. But, as David Perkins reveals, this vocal style also influenced some later non-Italian composers.

October 1: From Classical to Romantic

From the high point of classicism in the 1780s, it took just 60 years for romanticism to become firmly established.  Tim Porter takes us through this fascinating period of transition.   

October 8: Symphonic Brass

No organised meeting tonight but we are invited to attend a concert in the church to be given by the Symphonic Brass Ensemble.

October 15: Music Magazine, Vol 66 No 1

A miscellany of recorded music and comment on items of topical or special interest
presented by editor Brian Gardiner. 

October 22:  Love and Hate in Opera

Rowland Edwards explores these conflicting emotions as revealed in a selection of scenes from the operatic stage.

October 29: Member’s Choice

The first of two opportunities for you to suggest favourite pieces of music.  Rod Delamere is again our resident DJ!

November 5: Musicians of the Great War                                                                                       

Many brilliant musical talents were lost in this conflict, and countless others had their lives permanently blighted. Yet much fine music was produced and Gwyn Parry-Jones will explore some of it, and consider the composers who created it.

November 12: The Symphonies of Franz Schubert

The “Unfinished” and the “Great C major” are well enough known but how much do we know about the others?  Keith Griffin explores Schubert’s output in the genre.                                            

November 19: An Evening with David Kempster

Chris Ball talks to former Wales representative in Cardiff Singer of the World and former ENO principal baritone David Kempster. David is singing the eponymous hero in WNO’s new production of Rossini’s “William Tell”.

November 26: Four Fourths

Symphonies, that is.  Geraint Lewis takes a look at four examples from across the
centuries (and one or two others may get an honourable mention too).    

December 3: The Welsh Choral Tradition                                             

Terence Gilmore-James introduces us to some notable choral works by Welsh (or partly Welsh) composers who resided in or outside Wales during the twentieth century.

December 10: Noel

The Society’s celebration of the festive season.

2015

January 7: To decorate or not to decorate?                  

Nothing to do with DIY!  Chris Ball surveys changing performance styles in the operatic music of Mozart, Bellini, Donizetti and Rossini as documented in recordings from 1890 to the present day.

January 14: Instruments in the making

Lynne Plummer introduces us to a new angle on music-making, featuring recorded interviews with instrument makers and music illustrations to match.

January 21: From Jazz Club to Concert Hall

Colin Heath illustrates through a range of recordings how classical music has been
influenced by jazz.  Composers featured include Ravel, Gershwin, Bernstein and Shostakovich.  

January 28: Musical Mysteries

A light-hearted exploration by Ian Cheverton of some of music’s enduring mysteries, questions and puzzles with some solutions and the odd wild guess!

February 4: American Migration

Several European composers left their homeland to take up residence in the United States for many different reasons. Geoff Trinick considers how the lives and music of Rachmaninov, Bartok and Martinu, for example, were affected by emigration to the New World.

February 11: What’s new from Chandos

Paul Westcott returns to dip into some of the latest additions to this acclaimed label.

February 18: Music Magazine, Vol 66 No 2

Another miscellany of recorded music and comment on items of topical or special interest presented by editor Brian Gardiner.

February 25: A Night at the Movies            

Many composers have shown an interest in and a considerable flair for writing film scores.  Korngold, Herrmann and  Morricone are among composers featured in Neil Pritchard’s survey of this significant area of composition.

March 4: Members’ Choice

A second opportunity for you to let Rod Delamere have your personal favourite pieces of music.

March 11: Conductors; the New Generation

Cardiff Philharmonic conductor Michael Bell highlights the work of some exciting young conductors such as Gustavo Dudamel, Edward Gardner and Andris Nelsons.

March 18: Italian Rarities

Prompted by an interesting discovery on the radio, John Thomas turns his attention to some of the byways of Italian orchestral and operatic repertoire.

March 25: The Violin Virtuoso

BBC NOW Associate Leader Nick Whiting explores the important tradition of the violin virtuoso from the time of Joachim to the present day.

April 1: Chairman’s Evening

Our new chairman, Geoff Trinick, presents a programme of music which has special significance for him.

April 8: The Annual General Meeting

The opportunity for you to air your views about the conduct of the Society.  Do come along to support this important occasion.  There will also be music!