Venetian Splendour – a concert of Italian Baroque music presented by Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College with The English Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble – February 9th 2008
With the invaluable help and vision from the Head of Music at Leicester’s Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College, Ann Ward helped us to achieve this amazing vision. Our joint aim was to involve and inspire as many younger performers from across the spectrum as possible to recreate the atmosphere of this most glorious of ages.
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Venetian Splendour turned out to be one of the finest college productions I have been involved with over my twenty-eight years of teaching. The idea for a concert of Italian Baroque Music presented by a sixth form college might not at first appear to be so stimulating, following productions of ‘I got Rhythm’ (an evening devoted to the work of George Gershwin) and previously a full production of ‘Sweet Charity’ both of which were received with great delight by students and audiences alike, Yet Venetian Splendour turned out to be an incredibly exciting event which included input by students of Music, Drama, Dance, and Art and Design, culminating in a spectacle of sound as well as visual image which will never be forgotten.
It was an evening worthy of any professional concert and much of this was due to the input of ECSE. It is always difficult in a school/college environment to create a balanced sound scape and it takes much organisation and planning to create an evening of this stature solely with the input of current students. This is where ECSE were so valuable – they underpinned the concert with their spectacular sounds and supported our students superbly. Adrian France was a superb link with the group and his organisation of the group’s input into the final day of rehearsals and concert made this side of the planning very straightforward. Adrian was sensitive to our needs as a sixth form college, willing to include a euphonium as part of the 8 – part ensemble in Gabrieli’s “Sonata pian’ e forte”, avoiding temptations to be too purist as is essential in this type of working situation!
Emily White’s contribution was inspiring also, as she led our students through the complex world of early music conventions and her sensitivity as well as her professionalism, was appreciated by all!
All in all, Venetian Splendour was a great challenge to produce and we are all most grateful for the support, friendliness and musicianship offered by ECSE in this event.
Ann Ward.
Head of Music: Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth 1st College, Leicester.
April, 2008