One of the more intriguing developments in London’s new music scene in 2017 was the founding of the Borough New Music series by pianist Clare Simmonds. These lunchtime concerts take place every Tuesday now at St George the Martyr Church on Borough High Street, near the famous market, in the shadow of the Shard and across the river from the City. (Also the church where Dickens’ Little Dorrit was christened and married.) I haven’t been able to make my way yet, but that’s something I plan to rectify in the coming weeks.
Lunchtime concerts are a feature of the City’s churches – but these are typically touristy pops selections, or organ recitals. Both have their place of course, but it’s nice to see the offering widening in Borough to include new music as well. Here’s hoping the series grows in strength through the year.
Programmes have been announced right up to June now and full listings can be found here. Interesting things I spotted in the next couple of months include:
23 January
Miloš Milivojević (accordion) playing music by Astor Piazzolla, Franck Angelis, Robert Percy, Viaceslav Semenov and Victor Vlasov.
6 February
Ben Smith (piano), Kirsty Clark (viola) and Patricia Auchterlonie (soprano) playing music by Helmut Lachenmann, Richard Melkonian and Martin Lodge.
6 March
Chris Brannick (percussion) and Sara Stowe (soprano) playing music by Jorge Vidales, Giacinto Scelsi, Adrian Sutcliffe, Chris Hobbs, Julie Sharpe, Mauricio Kagel, Paul Burnell, and John Cage/Erik Satie.
20 March
A toy piano special in collaboration with World Toy Piano Week – Kate Ryder plays music by Cage, Stace Constantinou, Christian Banasik, Julia Wolfe, Brian Inglis, Yumi Hara, Katharine Norman, Meredith Monk, and Stephen Montague.
27 March
A portrait of composer Gregory Rose by Loré Lixenberg (voice), Chris Brannick (marimba) and Clare Simmonds.
All concerts start at 1pm, and all are free admission.
The Rambler 