Aspidistra
Drawing Room Orchestra Spring
Concert
Sunday June 12th 2022
A pleasantly warm
and sunny day was the backdrop
for the annual concert of the
ADRO, which was given at its
regular venue, Lauderdale House
on Highgate Hill, North London.
Normally taking
place on Spring Bank Holiday
Monday, the event was 'offset' by
one week, due to the special
four-day celebrations held the
previous week to honour the
Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty
Queen Elizabeth.
The concert was
dedicated to the memory of the
orchestra's flautist, Anastasia
Arnold, who tragically lost her
life whilst riding her beloved
Triumph Bonneville motor cycle,
in a road traffic accident
earlier this year in North-West
France.
She was on her way
to the Chateau Charly studio in
Cherbourg, for the recording of
the orchestra’s latest CD.
The session was thankfully able
to proceed, courtesy of flautist
Claire Harmsworth, who gallantly
'stepped-in' at the eleventh
hour. Copies of the CD, also
dedicated to Ana's memory, were
available for purchase. A full
review of the disc can be found here.
Ana was not only
an exceptionally talented
musician – but, since
joining the band several years
ago, had become one of its
driving forces. She took the
initiative to produce several
'lockdown' recordings during the
pandemic, created its YouTube
channel and also its presence on
Spotify.
Despite the tragic
circumstances, the players did
not wish this concert to be a
mournful occasion, but rather to
be a celebration of Ana's life,
her indomitable spirit, sense of
fun and joie de vivre.
In addition to the
regular performers – Liz
Menezes [lead violin/voice], Kate
Clarke [violin], Michael Bennett
[viola], Kate Rattenbury [cello],
Rosi Ward [piano], Adam Bakker
[oboe/cor anglais, who is the
ADRO's 'supremo'] and Camilla
Cutts [mezzo] – Derek
Benton, Ana's predecessor, was
welcomed back once again on
flute.
The programme
included music arranged by Ana
Arnold, together with some
numbers which she particularly
liked. Two new pieces were
presented, specially arranged
after her death – I'll
Be With You by the American
composer Arthur Altman, which was
found crumpled-up in an Amazon
delivery box (!) by Derek Benton,
who immediately recognised its
charm and set-about making the
arrangement, and Dawn Chorus
by Liz Menezes. This celebrates
the good times that the
instrumentalists had together,
quoting no less than fifteen
pieces they had performed in
recent years.
Amongst the very
generous helping of quality light
music served-up for our delight
were pieces by Adelgiso Ferraris
[Souvenir d' Ukraine],
Irving Berlin [Alexander's
Ragtime Band], Harry Wood,
elder brother of Haydn [Il
Seraglio, ragtime waltz],
and Haydn Wood himself, who was
represented by a relatively
unknown composition [Day
Dreams, morceau de concert].
This was assembled from various
mislaid parts, some of the latter
having been sent all the way from
Vancouver Island by our good
friend Marjorie Cullerne, who is
– of course – Haydn
Wood’s great niece.
Another newcomer
was Heather On The Pampas,
[tempo di Joropo], by Sydney Del
Monte, which had made its ADRO
debut in one of the orchestra's
'lockdown' videos last year
– as mentioned above.
It is
heart-warming to remind ourselves
that this ensemble has been in
existence since the mid-1990s and
continues to flourish. Sadly,
there are so few opportunities to
hear this kind of fare and the
audience in the very full gallery
of Lauderdale House were very
appreciative of the standard of
performance and indeed the
enthusiasm of the players, as
always.
Once again, very
many thanks are due to Adam and
his intrepid band of musicians,
for a wonderful afternoon of
equally wonderful music.
© Tony
Clayden June 2022
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