The arts are facing the most challenging time in a generation. If you love music, if you love Clonter, and if you are able to, please donate to protect Clonter’s future. Every little bit helps.
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Clonter’s Digital Outreach Programme
Thank you so much for engaging with our online digital programme. We have received some lovely feedback over the last 4½ months, and we can see that many of you are engaging with it, which is very reassuring that we are producing content that is of interest.
None of us knew how long this situation would last, and whilst we had accepted fairly early on that we would not be able to do the opera this summer, we had very much hoped to be able to welcome you back into the theatre this autumn, to events in the run up to Christmas. Whilst we will continue to review this, what we suspect will be the case is that we will continue to be operating on a virtual level for a short while yet.
Having presented the whole of the back catalogue, with ‘Where Are They Now’ updates, a virtual tea, 2 recitals, and Just Wyn, we are now going to adopt a mechanism that is helping keep the prospect of theatres reopening globally a possibility, and that is to ask that any future content is purchased on a ‘Pay What You Feel’ basis. This also enables us to offer this FREE to Friends and Patrons of Clonter.
In order to make a negative into a positive, we would like to invite you to engage with the artists, in advance of some of the events, which is not something you are usually able to do.
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Digital Outreach Programme
Clonterbrook Music Room Recital
Baritone – George Reynolds – Sat 15 August
We are absolutely delighted to be able to present the baritone, George Reynolds, who was due to come to take part in this summer’s opera production of the Barber of Seville, following in the footsteps of Elsa Roux-Chamoux. George Reynolds is currently studying at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama.
Clonterbrook Music Room Recital
Baritone – John Ieuan Jones – Sat 22 August
No prizes for recognising this name and face. John Ieuan Jones took part in the Tea with programme earlier in the year, AND both performed and directed, as well as edited, the virtual tea in June, joined the second time by Naomi Rogers, both students from the Royal Northern College of Music. Prior to that he played a pivotal role in the education programme, and performed in front of the Friends and Patrons, last September. It seems not only right and proper but it is our absolute pleasure that we should be able to offer him, the only real platform we are currently able to offer any artists, a Clonterbrook Music Room Recital. Whilst he will be the second baritone, he will be offering up a very different affair.
Tea with… Songs from the Shows
Wed 16 September
The response to our last tea was so tremendous that we thought we would do another one, but this time it will be transmitted from the Ramsey Room at Clonter, and both singers, and pianist, will be in the same place at the same time!
With this we will also offer the facility to purchase the Clonter tea, which will be delivered to your door.
A Christmas edition is also in the planning.
An Evening with Lemn Sissay
Sat 12 October
How appropriate it seems that such an inspirational figure should be imparting an insight into how to overcome adversity, in this year of all years, and on World Mental Health Day.
Part of the show includes a Q&A, and therefore we would like to invite anyone to submit questions in advance, which we will pass on to him.
For those unfamiliar with this name, Google “Lemn Sissay” and all the returning hits will be about him because there is only one Lemn Sissay in the world. Lemn Sissay is a BAFTA nominated award winning writer, international poet, performer playwright, artist and broadcaster. He has read on stage throughout the world: from The Library of Congress in The United States to The University of Addis Ababa, from Singapore to Sri Lanka, Bangalore to Dubai, from Bali to Greenland AND Wigan library.
He was awarded an MBE for services to literature by The Queen of England. Along with Chimamanda Ngoze Adichie and Margaret Atwood he won a Pen Pinter Prize in 2019. He is Chancellor of The University of Manchester and an Honorary Doctor from The Universities of Huddersfield, Manchester, Kent and Brunei. He is Dr Dr Dr Dr Lemn Sissay. He was the first poet commissioned to write for the London Olympics and poet of the FA Cup.
John Dhali
Sat 21 November
John is a rising soul-folk artist, combining prophetic life affirming lyrics, instantly familiar melodies and a soaring vocal to form a musical medicine for the soul.
His uniquely powerful and uplifting style has already earned him national radio airplay and 2 regional awards for ‘best solo artist’.
Known and loved by a devoted following in the North-West, John delivers a live performance that draws you into your own heart as songs pour out from his. Expect to Leave happy!
‘We think this man is a future number one artist’ – Rob Adcock, BBC Introducing
‘Postponed’ Jazz in June
TBC
We haven’t given up on the hope of you having your annual fix of Mr Pearson and Friends, so keep watching this space.
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Gospel@Clonter – London Adventist Chorale
Sat 5 December
Who knows where we will be at Christmas time, but whilst we all live in hope that we might be able to get this lovely choir and all of you in the same space this year, we are firming up a Plan B, which we think will consist of the choir convening in a venue in London, and transmitting a concert specially for the Clonter audience to you all at home. Again this offers us an opportunity to invite the Clonter audience to submit requests in advance. Should things change, you will all be the first to know.
More info to follow.
Until next week, take care!
