Category Archives: Blog

News from the Office

Posted on April 21, 2013 by Will Gardner| Comments Off

Aside from enjoying the sunshine, we’ve spent the last couple of days talking about Michel van der Aa’s new opera Sunken Garden, which recently premiered at the Barbican; the inspirational Colin Davis, who sadly died this week; and a stunning performance of La Mer by the London Symphony Orchestra, also at the Barbican.

We’ve also put together a playlist of what we’ve been listening to recently, and what we’ll be listening to as spring blooms. We’ve even put it together on Spotify for you. Hope you enjoy it!

Fourfortytwo’s Spring Playlist:

1. Copland, Appalachian Spring (NYPO/Bernstein)
2. The Knife, Shaking the Habitual
3. Mozart, Haffner Symphony No. 35 (SCO/Mackerras)
4. Byrd, Mass for Five Voices (Tallis Scholars/Phillips)
5. David Sawer, the greatest happiness principles (BBCSO/Brabbins)

Stairs-(small)

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Posted in Blog, fourfortytwo, News

Onyx Brass is 20!

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Philip Lawton| Comments Off
Happy Birthday, Onyx!

Pro brass players shouldn’t have any trouble blowing out the candles!

Onyx Brass turns 20 this year, and the party has already started! During the first half of the year, they’re celebrating with other young people in a series of family concerts and evening concerts with Music in the Round, who specialise in providing informal performances by great musicians. That suits Onyx down to the ground, and they’re looking forward to meeting the next generation of concert-goer, too.

Last year, Onyx premiered Cheryl Frances-Hoad’s “The Madness Industry”. Audiences loved it, and the new piece is at the centre of Onyx’s programmes in their 20th anniversary year. Cheryl heard the group perform it last night in Milton Keynes, and was very pleased – a great birthday present.

In May, Onyx will be at Kings Place in London, as part of their “Bach Unwrapped” season, playing some of the most popular music from their “Fugue” and “Time to Time” CDs, as well as transcriptions of grander works by the Baroque master, including the famous Toccata and Fugue in D minor.

All of this, though, is laying the groundwork for some very exciting plans we have for 2014 – when Onyx will be coming of age, 21!

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Posted in 2013 concerts, Blog, commissioning, Events, News, Onyx Brass, Recordings

Phoenix Piano Trio on In Tune

Posted on December 17, 2012 by Philip Lawton| Comments Off
Phoenix Piano Trio on In Tune, May 2012

Phoenix Piano Trio on In Tune, May 2012

Our favourite piano trio – Phoenix – will be appearing on BBC Radio 3′s “In Tune” tomorrow, Tuesday 18th Dec, at about 4.30pm. You can listen live from the BBC website, and we’ll put up a “Listen Again” link as soon as we have one.

They’re being interviewed by Sean Rafferty ahead of their concert at Wigmore Hall this Saturday, 22nd, 7.30pm. Audience (and Trio) favourite, Beethoven’s “Archduke” Op.97 is paired with Schumann’s “Phantasiestücke” Op.88 and Haydn’s E-flat trio HXV:30. You can join the event on Facebook, and buy tickets from Wigmore’s website here.

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Posted in 2012 concerts, Blog, fourfortytwo, News, Phoenix Piano Trio

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I’m dreaming of an Onyx Christmas

Posted on December 17, 2012 by Philip Lawton| Comments Off

…just like the ones I used to know.

If there’s anything that sounds like Christmas to me, it’s probably a brass band playing carols. Being at the top of their game, our very own Onyx Brass are always busy around this time of year. They’ve already played two concerts with choirs (Laudate and Eltham Choral Society), and they’ve got a very busy day this Wednesday.

At 12pm and 5pm, they’re playing for “Fleet Street Carols” at St. Bride’s, Fleet St., London. The church is a beautiful venue, and both carol services are absolutely free. After the second one, Onyx will be hieing across London to St. Luke’s, Chelsea for the Caravan charity carol concert. (Link for tickets on their website).

If you can make it to any of those, you’re bound to have a very Christmassy time, indeed. No humbugs allowed.

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Posted in 2012 concerts, Blog, Events, News, Onyx Brass

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COMPETITION to win the latest Onyx Brass CD

Posted on July 16, 2012 by Philip Venables| Comments Off

We’re running a competition to celebrate our first quarterly newsletter that is being sent out on Friday.  Sign up to our newsletter on the form on the left of this homepage and we’ll enter you in a draw to win one of three copies of ‘Time to Time’, Onyx Brass’s latest CD featuring baritone Mark Stone.  The winners will be announced in the next edition of the newsletter in September.   Send it round all your friends and they can sign up to win too!

Good luck!

 

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Posted in Blog, fourfortytwo, News

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Full house for Onyx Brass at Durham International Festival

Posted on July 16, 2012 by Philip Lawton| Comments Off

Onyx played to a packed house at Durham International Festival on Thursday – they had a great time, and so did the audience. The concert was filmed, so we’ll be uploading some footage as soon as we can.

Music from Gabrieli and Dowland was played alongside new pieces written by composers who all have a special relationship with Onyx, including their own arrangements of Fugues in G major by Bach and Shostakovich.

In September, Onyx Brass are touring Switzerland, but they’ll be back in the North for a Music in the Round concert in Sheffield on October 24th.

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Posted in 2012 concerts, Blog, commissioning, Onyx Brass, videos

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