As a change from our usual programmes we invited the soprano Alice Bishop and pianist Simon Marlow to provide an evening of song with piano on Friday 26th April. Split between the two genres, the recital started with two songs by Purcell--"Music for a while" and "Sweeter than roses"followed by three keyboard sonatas by Scarlatti in D minor,B minor and C major. Each of these gems were in different styles, the last being a scintillating and brilliant example of countless similar works requiring great keyboard skills. Two more Purcell songs--"My mother bids me bind my hair" and "The mermaid" followed by Haydn`s "Theme and variations in F minor" for solo piano concluded the first half.

After the interval the artistes proffered three songs by the inimitable Gabriel Faure--"Les roses d`ispahan" "Mandoline" and "En Sourdine"and two of his six piano sonatas--No.4 in E flat and No.3 in A flat....Brahm`s "O wusst ich doch den Weg zuruck" and "Unbewegte, laue Luft." Quilter`s Song of the blackbird",--"Drink to me only with thine eyes" and "Love`s philosophy"completed a recital by two fine musicians who combine with consummate skill and brilliance to great effect as was abundantly clear by their well deserved and enthusiastic applause.

P.B.

Alice Bishop

Alice has a particular love of performing the classical song repertoire. She has given many recitals in London and the South East, frequently being asked back for repeat visits.

Her ever-growing repertoire is wide and varied, enabling her to put together rewarding recital programmes that are much enjoyed by audiences. If desired, programmes can be arranged around particular themes.

Her interest encompasses songs by contemporary composers and she recently gave the first performance of an extensive song cycle by St Johanser.

"A warm lyric soprano with a glorious voice and a particular gift for communicating"

Simon Marlow

Simon Marlow read music at Cambridge University, studied the piano with Ivey Dickson and Lilli Raeburn, and chamber music with Manoug Parikian.

Among the many musicians Simon has worked with, he has built an outstanding partnership with Ivo-Jan van der Werff, the Medici Quartet violist, with whom he has recorded music by Max Reger and a CD of all the viola/piano works of Arnold Bax. They recently made a round-the-world tour with concerts in New York, New Zealand and Hong Kong, where they also gave a series of master classes at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.

His life has taken a number of unexpected directions, including working for ten years with the Lucis Trust, an educational charity.

But central to his interests is his busy musical career which features frequent concert appearances in Britain and many other European countries as well as recitals in the United States, Sri Lanka and Iceland. He has appeared with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, broadcast and made several recordings.