Classical music fans in the North-east can enjoy two first rate performances this week as the University of Aberdeen Spring Recitals continue.
Acclaimed soprano Suzanne Manuell will be accompanied by musical medic Anthony Seddon on piano at the Picture Gallery, Mitchell Hall tomorrow (Thursday, March 1) at 7.45pm for an evening of music by Schubert, Duparc Poulenc and Quilter.
And at 7.45pm on Sunday (March 4) Suzanne is joined by the University Symphony Orchestra at Mitchell Hall, where Pete Stollery, David J Smith and Alastair Macdonald will conduct a programme featuring Slavonic and Austrian compositions, including Mahler's Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen.
This concert is dedicated to the memory of Chris Cadwur James, conductor of the University Symphony Orchestra, who died in January. It will also feature his work Furv for string orchestra.
Suzanne Manuell's operatic performances include The Magic Flute, Die Fledermaus, The Barber of Seville, and the title roles in Rossini's La Cenerentola, Bizet's Carmen, Puccini's Madame Butterfly and, in a part specially created for her, Russell Pascoe's 'The Murder of Charlotte Dymond'.
She has appeared at The Royal Albert Hall, the Savoy Hotel, London and The Crush Room, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Suzanne has sung with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and is a regular performer at Newcastle's annual 'North East Last Night of the Proms' with the Northern Sinfonia. She has also had the honour of singing for HRH The Princess Royal. For more information visit www.suzannemanuell.co.uk
Anthony Seddon was a chorister at King's College Cambridge. He then obtained a music scholarship to Clifton College Bristol and from there was awarded a choral scholarship to Magdalen College Oxford where he studied medicine. Whilst an undergraduate he was a member of a close harmony pop group, Unauthorized Version, which made several records and television appearances.
He was musical director for Duchy Opera's productions of Café Puccini and La Cenerentola. With two other doctors he performs in cabaret as Medical Maelstrom. Since 1993 he has regularly accompanied Suzanne at her recitals and for her guest appearances.
For ticket information please contact the Aberdeen Box Office on: (01224) 641122 or visit: www.abdnboxoffice.com
Tickets will also be sold at the door of each concert. Seats are unreserved and special discounts are available for groups of 10 or more and for school parties. For further details contact the University Music Office on: (01224) 272570, or email href="mailto:music@abdn.ac.uk" title="mailto:music@abdn.ac.uk">music@abdn.ac.uk</a></p>