Bennett Centre Summer Concerts – Finale!

THE last of a highly successful summer lunchtime chamber music series at the Bennett Centre (St John’s Church Hall), in Vicarage Street, will take place on Sunday 15th September. 

Organised by pianist Jacquelyn Bevan and performed by professional chamber musicians based in the Frome area, the music events have attracted large audiences, with over 100 people attending Neil Moore’s clarinet recital, ‘The Twentieth Century Clarinet’, which was broadcast on Frome FM. 

The last of the 8 weekly concerts will feature bassoonist Martin Gatt. Martin has had a long and illustrious career, including playing with the London Philharmonic Orchestra from 1958-66, the English Chamber Orchestra from 1966-76, and the London Symphony Orchestra from 1977-98. With the LSO he recorded the soundtracks composed by John Williams for such films as Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark. Martin was also bassoonist in the Barry Tuckwell Wind Quintet from 1967-91; he taught at Guildhall School of Music and Drama from 1967-84 and is Professor of Bassoon at the Royal College of Music.

Accompanied by Jacquelyn Bevan, Martin will perform a selection of mostly Romantic music, including Elgar’s Romance, and transcriptions of a selection of some of the most beautiful songs by composers including Frank Bridge, Schubert, Saint-Saens and Poulenc. 

Doors open 12.45 for refreshments, the concert begins at 1pm and lasts approximately 45 minutes. Seating is cafe-style, and the performers introduce the music. Entrance is free, with a retiring collection.