Last night saw ROSL musical alumni from around the world gather to honour the memory of those who fought in the First World War, with particular emphasis on the composers whose works reflected the changing attitudes towards the hostilities.
The evening began with a short introduction from Director of Arts Geoff Parkin, which spoke of the great impact the war had on the artistic output of a whole generation of young men, not just composers, but poets, writers and visual artists. He then spoke about ROSL's efforts during the war to raise money for the war effort, more about which can be read here.
He then introduced the evening's first performance from baritone Nicholas Mogg and pianist Jams Coleman of six songs from A Shropshire Lad by George Butterworth. Then followed South African cellist Abel Selaocoe and pianist Dominic Degavino, who performed Debussy's Cello Sonata, before Degavino was joined on stage by Canadian pianist Carson Becke for a two-piano rendition of Mars and Jupiter from Holst's The Planets Op.32.
After such an energetic performance, the audience were able to take a quick breather at the interval before Mogg and Coleman returned to the stage to perform Ivor Gurney's In Flanders, By a Bierside and Sleep. The evening was rounded out by Italian-Australian pianist Jonathan Ferrucci's virtuosic performance of Ravel's Le Tombeau de Couperin.
The musicians then joined the assembled audience for drinks following the concert as talk turned to the next event in ROSL's First World War Remembrance series; Never Such Innocence on Monday 5 November. We hope to see you there!
