Aspidistra
Drawing Room Orchestra
St Valentine’s Day Concert
February 14th 2026
The ADRO has, for
many years now, given a Spring
Concert at the historic
Lauderdale House on Highgate Hill
in North London.
For the first time
this year, we are fortunate to
have been treated to an extra
event – a St.
Valentine’s Day Concert,
held in the evening of February
14th.
Some of the pieces
on the programme were being
performed for the first time by
the orchestra, and most were
somehow connected with the spirit
of St. Valentine’s Day.
It has become a
tradition with the ADRO that
their repertoire often features
compositions which are unlikely
to be heard anywhere else ! It is
very pleasantly surprising that
they consistently find so many
works which are largely by
forgotten – or even totally
unknown – composers. I can
imagine that a great deal of
'midnight oil' must be burned to
unearth these gems.
The full list of
items performed is as follows:
| Melodie
Beguine |
Johan Olan |
| Who ? |
Jerome
Kern |
| Extase |
Louis
Ganne |
| Buttons
and Bows |
Jay
Livingston |
| Love in
Arcady |
Haydn Wood |
| Parlami
D’amore |
Mariu
Cesare Bixio |
| Nobody’s
Sweetheart |
E.Schoebel/M.Seiber |
| Yearning |
Joe Burke |
| Aus
Eigensin |
H.Munsonius |
| Your
Beautiful Clematis |
Liz
Menezes |
| The
Continental |
Con Conrad |
| Loving You |
Jack
Yellen |
| Souvenir
d’Ukraine |
Adelgiso
Ferraris |
| Early In
The Mornin’ |
Charles
O’Flynn |
| Tous est
Permis quand on Reve |
W.Heymann |
| True Love |
Cole
Porter |
| encore: |
|
| Heather On
The Pampas |
S. Del
Monte |
The orchestra
featured its regular musicians:
| Liz
Menezes |
Violin /
Voice |
| Kate Clark |
Violin |
| Michael
Bennett |
Viola |
| Kate
Rattenbury |
Cello |
| Derek
Benton |
Flute/Piccolo |
| Adam
Bakker |
Cor
Anglais |
| Rosi Ward |
Piano |
Unfortunately,
Camilla Cutts [voice], was
suffering from laryngitis and
therefore was unable to take
part.
Many audience
regulars were joined by a number
of newcomers, and a very
enjoyable evening was had by all
!
Many thanks are
due to Adam Bakker and his
stalwart band of highly-competent
and very enthusiastic musicians.
We look forward to their next
concert at Lauderdale House, on
Spring Bank Holiday, May 4th.
© Tony
Clayden
February 2026
|
