Music on Thursdays

Bedford Music Club is a registered charity (262943) that promotes classical music concerts by established and up-and-coming professional artists. We are proud to announce our 2023 season.

On Thursday 16 February the Choir of Clare College, Cambridge and conductor Graham Ross return to Bunyan Meeting with a spectacular choral programme. William Byrd’s masterful Mass for four voices is interwoven amongst works from Monteverdi and Rachmaninov to Arvo Pärt and Freya Waley-Cohen, including Howells’ St Paul’s Service and James MacMillan’s masterpiece, Miserere.

Next up, on Thursday 16 March, a brilliant young ensemble, the Alkyona Quartet performs string quartets by Caroline Shaw, Janáček and Brahms in fresh interpretations at Bunyan Meeting. Alkyona is Greek for ‘kingfi sher’ and all music makers can relate to the thrill of chasing the fl eeting musical moment, or the ‘fl ash of blue’ as the kingfi sher streaks past.

Moving venue to St Paul’s Church on Thursday 20 April violinist Mathilde Milwidsky and pianist Annie Yim present a programme of late romantic and classical compositions by Schumann, Ravel, Boulanger, Beethoven and Ysaye. This concert is sponsored by the Countess of Munster Musical Trust and follows on from a sensational online concert that Mathilde gave for Bedford Music Cub during the long Covid lockdown. Finally, we return to Bunyan Meeting on Thursday 18 May for a concert-play, Into the Melting Pot. This concerns the intolerance experienced by Jewish, Christian and Muslim women in 1492 Spain. At twilight on her fi nal night in Seville, a Jewish woman lights the lamps. She is being forced to leave Spain and set sail for an uncertain future. Down the centuries, women’s stories of integration, love, the rich cultural heritage of the Spanish peninsula and racial intolerance are played out to a soundtrack of plaintive Sephardic songs and lively medieval music, with full staging and stunning lighting. Be transported back to 15th century Seville!

All concerts begin at 7.45pm

Full concert details and booking information are available now at www.bedfordmusicclub.co.uk

For more information, contact Ian Rowlands T 07401 119776 E ian.rowlands@ntlworld.com

WIN a Family Ticket to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on FRiday 10th February

T’s & C’s: • Tickets are for the Friday 10 February 7pm performance only. • Tickets will be sent via email in advance of the performance. • Tickets are non-transferable, nonrefundable, non-exchangeable and cannot be re-sold. • No cash alternative will be given Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - The Musical; the devilishly, delicious tale of young golden ticket winner Charlie Bucket and the mysterious confectionary wizard Willy Wonka (Gareth Snook), will play Milton Keynes Theatre in 2023. Embarking on its fi rst ever UK & Ireland Tour, this dazzling new production of the successful West End and Broadway musical will take you to a world of pure imagination. When Charlie wins a golden ticket to the weird and wonderful Wonka Chocolate Factory, it’s a chance of a lifetime to feast on the sweets they’ve always dreamed of. But beyond the gates astonishment awaits, as down the sugary corridors and amongst the incredible and edible delights, the fi ve lucky winners discover not everything is as sweet as it seems.

To be in with a chance to win, email your name and phone number to competitions@bedsLifemagazine.co.uk and tell us who wrote the book ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’. Entries must be received by Monday 6th February

UPLIFTING ENTERTAINMENT AT MILTON KEYNES THEATRE!

THU 9 FEB – SUN 5 MAR FRI 17 & SAT 18 MAR THU 23 – SUN 26 MAR

ATGTICKETS.COM/MiltonKeynes*

*Fees apply.