Performing – Alexandra Trio – Soprano, Violin and Piano – Performance Critique +

Alexander Trio – Soprano Violin and Piano

(picture to be updated more clearly)

Chesham Emmanuel Church Concert for their Restoration Fund: ” The concert consisted of songs with and without violin, and music for violin and piano, and ranged from the Baroque serenity of Handel’s Ombra Mai Fu, from the opera Xerxes, to the less restrained passion of Bizet and Puccini. whose aria O Mio Babbino Caro provided an exquisite finale to the evening. Between these, the composers included Mozart, Brahms, Schubert and more, with songs in English, French, Italian and German. Adriene Ellis rose to the challenge of such a varied selection of music with great imagination at its strongest in the first half in the vivid characterisation of English and American songs by Peter warlock, Michael Head and Leonard Bernstein and in the second half in three Granados songs inspired by Goya. Gregory Ellis’ performance of Brahms’ Sonatensantz……was fiery and intense. For once in the evening the accompanist was on equal terms with the soloist, Iain Ledingham’s playing full of resonant authority in Brahms’ notoriously difficult piano writing”. Bucks Examiner

Adriene Ellis formed the Alexandra Trio with her brother violinist Gregory Ellis and pianist Ian Ledingham. The Trio performed for Music Societies and Stately Homes.

Adriene Ellis is an Associate of the Royal Schools of Music in Singing Performing, a Trinity College of Music Honours Graduate and has Licentiate Diplomas in flute, piano and singing. Adriene sings different genres from Baroque, Elizabethan, Classical, Romantic, 20th century, Oratorio, Opera, Operetta, Musical, Victorian Ballads and Folk in English, Italian, German, French, Spanish and Portuguese. Adriene furthered her opera studies at Morley College London. She sang solo concerts for Charity and professionally, including in weddings, oratorio, and in the Choir of St James, Spanish Place, London. Adriene enjoyed coaching from both Ian (singing) and later Gregory (violin).

Gregory Ellis gained a competitive scholarship to study at the Royal College of Music, London, where he later coached string quartets. A fellow of the Royal Academy of Music, Gregory led the Vanbrugh Quartet which won the London International String Quartet Competition. The quartet was later appointed as Resident Quartet to RTE – Radio Telefis Eirann – Ireland’s National Radio Station. They performed around the world from China and Hollywood to South America and the Moscow Chamber of Fine Arts. The RTE Vanbrugh Quartet formed the annual West Cork Chamber Music Festival performing at Bantry House and St Brendan’s Church. and was presented with the National Entertaining Award for Classical Music. The Vanbrugh Quartet feature on the Irish Postage stamp. They recorded many CD’s, Classical Recordings at Presto Music http://www.prestomisic.com , with Labels including Collins Classics, Hyperion, Helios, Naxos, ASV, Marco Polo, Meridian, NMC, RTE Lyric and with Intim Musik Label (Europa Disc Classical http://www.europadisc.co.uk ) they recorded the COMPLETE BEETHOVEN QUARETS.

(Pic to be included)

Iain Ledingham, a Cambridge graduate and organ scholar, studied piano, harpsichord and conducting at the Royal College of Music, where he became Fellow and Professor. Iain accompanied singers and instrumentalists, recording for BBC and Radio 3. He was on the staff of Glyndebourne Festival Opera playing harpsichord and Continuo, and later formed the South Bucks Choral Society, became Director of the Royal Academy Opera, and most recently was appointed Director of the Royal Academy of Music’s Bach’s Church Cantatas Concert Series.

RECITAL at Amersham with Welsh National Opera Baritone Philip Rock: “I would like to recommend Adriene Ellis (soprano), Philip Rock (operatic baritone) and Courtney Kenny (piano accompanist) to you. They were engaged by the Parents’ Association, to provide musical entertainment for a soiree. The range of pieces, the interplay of voices, the professionalism of the performance all created delightful evening. Since then I have had many many compliments from members of the audience and the general feeling was iy was the most successful and happy occasion the Patrents’ Association had ever staged. We can not wait to repeat it.” Mrs S Lawson BA Dr Challoners’ High School, Amersham, Buckinghamshire.

*******