THE MENUHIN HALL

This term in The Menuhin Hall

This summer marked the oneyear anniversary of The Hall’s reopening for public concerts for the first time since the pandemic began – and what a year it has been! Once again we can watch performers rushing to the foyer to greet friends and family, audiences sitting together in a packed hall, and everyone mingling around a busy bar waiting for hand-crafted servings of strawberries and cream. It is hard to believe that a year ago we were still running around with tape measures calculating distances between the expected locations of concertgoers’ noses and sticking QR codes to trees and benches for those brave enough to attempt ordering a cup of tea.

We can now say with confidence that the atmosphere of a thriving concert venue has returned to The Menuhin Hall; each time the house lights dim, the air becomes charged with the excitement of live music and the anticipation of what is to come.

The term started with us hosting two concerts of the Investec International Music Festival, where both the Modigliani Quartet and Gary Hoffman with Wu Qian gripped audiences with impassioned performances and expressive programmes centred around the world of Vaughan Williams, whose 150th anniversary we celebrate this year.

In June, the award-winning Farnham Youth Choir returned to premiere Herstory, a set of works for the three choirs that comprise the FYC and written by their 2021–22 composer in residence. The Hall buzzed with the joyous sound of young people singing their hearts out. It is not often that we hear singing in our auditorium and every time it is a reminder of the warmth and stunning acoustics of this venue.

This year’s gloriously eclectic Summer Festival was blessed by beautiful weather from start to finish as people came to The Hall to enjoy the concerts and themed Showcases. Amid the dances, caprices and musical potpourri, there was a note of bittersweetness for those who stood on our stage for the last time as a student at The Menuhin School. We wish all of them the very best for the future.

For the Opening Concert, Director of Music Ashley Wass joined our pupils for an extraordinary performance of Shostakovich’s Piano Trio Op 67. Along with the soloists in the first half, this concert set a high bar for the rest of the week. A bar that, of course, was met at each and every event.

The great British weather did not let us down on the Saturday as we opened the grounds for our popular Orchestral Picnic Concert. Basking in glorious sunshine, concertgoers spread their rugs on the lawn and tucked into delicious picnics – taking care to avoid the rash-

Gary Hoffman and Wu Qian

Ashely Wass and pupils

How to book

As before, we are encouraging all patrons to book online if possible.

If you need help with your booking, please do not hesitate to call the Box Office. Our opening times are

Monday to Friday 10am–3pm (lunch 12.15pm–12.45pm).

PRIORITY BOOKING:

Menuhin Circle opens 15 August Best Friends opens 15 August Friends opens 22 August

General booking opens 30 August

Please keep an eye on our website for the latest updates and any changes to these plans.

Book online at:

THEMENUHINHALL.CO.UK

Box Office: 01932 559400

inducing caterpillars that have, in a commendable effort to support our concerts, rather unexpectedly taken the liberty of nesting in our trees.

Maxim Rysanov’s Finale Concert brought the Festival to a close, followed by the presentation of scores to our leavers as our audience gathered for one more round of Pimms and Prosecco in the sunlit grounds.

Looking ahead, we already have another Festival planned for winter – with rumours of the return of the Snowman, the Nutcracker, and Maxim Rysanov, as well as a concert celebrating the 90th birthday of the amazing Ruth Nye, Professor of Piano.

Autumn/Winter 2022/3

DATE TIME EVENT

Thu 22 Sep 7.00pm Castalian Quartet

Sat 1 Oct 7.30pm You’re The Top! Michael Law’s Piccadilly Dance Orchestra

Tue 4 Oct 7.30pm Showcase Thu 13 Oct 7.30pm Özgür Kaya with Miho Kawashima Concert and Q&A

Thu 20 Oct 7.30pm Showcase

Tue 1 Nov 7.30pm Virtual Open Rehearsal #1

Thu 3 Nov 7.30pm Maiastra: The Karski Quartet with David Waterman

Thu 17 Nov 7.30pm Showcase

Tue 29 Nov 7.30pm Meeting of Minds: Ailish Tynan and Jocelyn Freeman

Sun 11–14 Dec Winter Festival

Thu 26 Jan 7.30pm Showcase

Mon 30 Jan 7.30pm Virtual Open Rehearsal #2

Tue 31 Jan 7.30pm Brodsky Quartet with Pupils of YMS

Sun 5 Feb New Year, New Instrument: Family Day with Keelan Carew

Thu 9 Feb 7.30pm Showcase

Thu 23 Feb 7.30pm Mahan Esfahani with Pupils of YMS

Piccadilly Dance Orchestra

Mahan Esfahani

Sprinkled among the Pupil Showcases will be events featuring the glamorous Piccadilly Dance Orchestra, returning to The Hall once again, a visit to Paris with leading Irish soprano Ailish Tynan, and unforgettable concerts featuring our pupils on stage with the Brodsky Quartet and world-class harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani.

After a face mask-covered winter and a spring during which much has changed in the world, The Hall continues to remain a haven for creativity and talent, a space where we celebrate excellence in music and humanity and will continue to do so throughout our upcoming seasons. We look forward to welcoming you back. Tamas Reti Manager, The Menuhin Hall