Sunday 10 August, 2014
Kings Place St Pancras Room
Tête à Tête
Bill Bankes-Jones writes:
“Jane Manning and her composer husband Tony Payne have been the most wonderful, inspirational supporters of our work with Tête à Tête from the early days. Until last year, however, neither had ever actually worked with the company. As Jane was hitting a landmark birthday, I asked her if it was time to finally break this duck. Her disarming answer was: ‘darling I would love to, but I couldn’t face learning a lot of new music’. My heart sank. Then Jane continued: ‘but I’d be very happy to sight read anything you like’. And so JANE’S CONTEMPORARY CLINIC was born. We spent a wonderful hour in her company, reading through a dozen short works and discussing the writing with the composers and audience. And I’m very happy that Jane has kindly volunteered to do the same again. I can’t wait to see what happens”.
Pianist: James Young
Performer: Jane Manning
Pianist: James Young
Performer: Jane Manning
Jane Manning has made a career unique amongst classical singers, producing definitive recordings of seminal repertoire – notably Schoenberg’s Pierrot Lunaire, writing essential books on vocal repertory including the latest work Voicing Pierrot, tirelessly supporting young artists and composers, creating a body of over 350 new vocal works, and conducting an intense performing schedule for nearly half a century while establishing herself as one of the best loved figures in British contemporary music. Jane was awarded the OBE in 1990. Famed for her unparalleled facility and accuracy in the most demanding of music allied to a complete commitment to its emotional content, Jane is one of the great performers of our time.
Royal College of Music-trained pianist, composer and conductor James Young has fulfilled commissions from the Park Lane Group, European Union Chamber Orchestra, Phoenix Piano Trio and harpist Keziah Thomas – Varying Rule Britannia (for solo harp) has just been released on an album entitled Crossing Waves by Discovery Records. He performs as a pianist regularly at major venues such as Wigmore Hall and Purcell Room, working with artists including Jane Manning, Roger Heaton and the O Duo. He is also a member of Piano Circus and creates experimental and improvised theatre – including Six Word Operas at Tte Tte: The Opera Festival and Event 001 with Neil Georgeson at the Rosemary Branch Theatre. He is also Music Director for Third Hand Opera and Tte Tte: The Opera Festival’s Pop Up Operas. His first opera, Njogel – written with librettist Neil Georgeson for Third Hand – premiered at Tte Tte: The Opera Festival 2014.