Carillon Mezzo!

Leiden city carillonRecital with carillon

Leiden City Hall Square

Tuesday, 2nd September, 18:00

On Tuesday, 2nd September, at 18:00, Emma will give a recital from the square outside the Leiden City Hall. This concert has an unusual twist, for she will be accompanied by the carillon (city bells) in the clock tower, played by carillonneurs Levina Pors and Henk Veldman. The local press has advertised this event thus: “Mezzo-soprano takes on City Hall carillon.”

 

The City Hall carillon is no small opponent. It has 49 bells, the heaviest weighing 5,500 kg. It can be heard across the whole city, chiming a different tune every quarter hour during the day. It is a much-loved icon of the city of Leiden.

 

Emma’s recital is the first time the carillon that will be used to accompany a singer in a solo recital. This is a high-profile public experiment to show the possibility of using the carillon as an accompanying instrument. The repertoire is therefore broad, including Bach, Handel, Hahn, Grieg, and some musical theatre.

 

The concert is organised by the Leids Carillon Genootschap together with the city council.

2016-12-09T18:50:21+02:00August 28th, 2014|

Singing for ‘Help for Heroes’

Outside Tedworth House

Outside Tedworth House

On 11th August, Emma had an inspiring visit to Help for Heroes. She was introduced to staff and volunteers at the Tin Hut, and given a behind-the-scenes tour of the flagship recovery centre at Tedworth House. As a result of this visit, Emma is delighted to be giving recitals in November at the four Help for Heroes recovery centres in England.

 

Help for Heroes began in 2007 to raise funds to build a swimming pool for injured and wounded military personnel. This rapidly expanded to provide residential recovery centres for serving and veteran members of the Armed Forces who had been wounded, injured, or become sick.

 

The charity’s administration is still carried out in the original tin hut in which it began. Photographs and newspaper cuttings cover the walls as a living collage of fund-raising activities and the success stories of residents.

 

Tedworth House is a former Palladian mansion in Wiltshire. It has been used by the Military since 1901, and was opened as the flagship recovery centre of Help for Heroes in 2011. Tedworth House helps its residents to re-enter civilian or military life following medical rehabilitation. A vital part of recovery is participation in a wide range of activities: this is not only inspirational, but also empowering.

 

Emma at the Help for Heroes Tin Hut

Emma at the Help for Heroes Tin Hut

It was an uplifting tour: not only through seeing the ingenious adaptions of sports combined with state-of-the-art equipment for the injured and wounded, but also in recognising their sheer determination and courage to excel in different areas.

 

Emma will be performing with pianist Han-Louis Meijer at four Help for Heroes recovery centres in November.

2016-12-09T18:50:21+02:00August 12th, 2014|
Go to Top