Concordia has had a special relationship with the National Portrait Gallery since 2004. We have presented a number of concerts in various rooms within the Gallery, offering young musicians a chance to perform amongst some of the World’s greatest artworks whilst providing art-lovers with an audio-visual experience with presentations closely related to the exhibitions on show.
Supported by Dasha Shenkman
Our Next Appearance at the Gallery:
Friday 27th November at 6:30 pm
Room 20
Gabriel Faure across the Channel
An evening of music and theatre in the spirit of a soiree musicale featuring music by Faure, Mendelssohn, Grainger, Delius and International Operetta..
Musical Director: Marc Verter
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Previous Concordia productions at the National Portrait Gallery include:
Friday 26th June 2015 – A Song for the Lord Mayor's Table
An Evening of Music from renowned English composers including Walton, Holst and Vaughan Williams, to celebrate the power of the City of London and the country of England in this year of the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta. Directed by William Vann and featuring Joanna Marie Skillett, soprano, Max Welford, clarinet, Robert Cheung, piano.
Friday 5th December 2014 – Duelling Divas
An entertaining and informative tour of opera's greatest egos directed by Peter Foggitt and featuring Natasha Day and Rhiannon Llewellyn. Tales of the short-tempered and highly-demanding in operatic circles, from the nineteenth century divas Adelina Patti and Angelica Catalani to the castrati Farinelli and Bernacchi and in to more modern times.
Friday 27th June 2014 – The Ballad of Whitechapel: A commemoration of the life and work of Isaac Rosenberg; the school boy, the solider, the poet, the portrait painter.
Isaac Rosenberg is one of the 16 Great War poets commemorated in Westminster Abbey’s Poet’s Corner. The Rosenberg family was introduced to the Concordia Foundation, whose inspiring work in music, arts and education has resulted in a new project spanning art, poetry and music, involving five schools across London. This innovative and multi-dimensional project culminated in an hugely successful evening performance at the National Portrait Gallery.
Friday 29th November 2013 – Music through the Seasons Eclectic alternative-folk group Tir Eolas took the audience on a journey through the seasons from years beginning to years end.
Friday 13th September 2013 – Quintabile Brass Quintet A journey from the Tudors to the Twentieth Century, a celebration of the music of the brass ensemble inspired by paintings at the National Portrait Gallery.
Friday 14 June 2013 – Streets of London This wonderful evening of music devised by Gillian Humphreys and Richard Stirling took the audience on a journey along Craven Street, London WC2, celebrating the life and times of Benjamin Franklin, Heinrich Heiner and Herman Melville. Concordia Artists involved were the Arensky Quartet, Joanna-Marie Skillett, Ed Ballard and Ross Leadbeater.
Friday 7 December 2012 – If Music Be the Food of Love This recital of music with text and titles was themed from Shakespeare’s works. The recital was devised and presented as always by Gillian Humphreys with our wonderful Concordia Artists Louise Alder soprano and the Lawson Trio. As ever with the NPG presentations, there was not even standing room.
Friday 8 June 2012 – The Musical World of Charles Dickens The evening’s entertainment was devised and presented by Gillian Humphreys and written and directed by Concordia Artists Richard Stirling, Peter Foggitt and James Sherlock. The production included music by Handel, Chopin, Mendelssohn, Sir Arthur Sullivan and, as always with Concordia’s productions at NPG, there was not an empty seat (or standing room!) in the house.
24th June 2011 – Ballad Songs and Snatches, Jeff Clarke Director/Musical Director Concordia presents Tanya Cooling soprano, Angela Simkin mezzo-soprano, Philip Cox actor, Christopher Diffey tenor, Ian Belsey baritone, Annmarie McDade violin and Gavin Morrison flute. A programme of poetry and song in a tribute to Gilbert and Sullivan.
9th December 2011 – Sophisticated Ladies Concordia presents the Concordia Cello Ensemble and Anna Patalong. The Concordia Cello Ensemble of 10 talented Concordia artists was formed in 2011. Tonight they present a programme of elegant music from Bach to Villa-lobos and Jimi Hendrix in a tribute to the sophisticated ladies in the First Actresses Exhibition at the Gallery.
11th June 2010 – Meet Bridget Riley Concordia presents John Paul Ekins piano, Annie Yim piano, Michel Cwizewiez violin, Valda Wilson soprano, Emily Andrews flute and Gillian Humphreys presenter/director. In the company of Bridget Riley’s early portraits, we explore musical journeys taken by composers. We illustrate the first steps of our creative journey with Bach at the beginning, who inspired our featured composers including Arvo Part, Stravinsky, Ravel, Chopin, Paganini and Philip Glass.
3rd December 2010 – A Winter Serenade Concordia presents Joseph Middleton piano, Irmina Trynkos violin, Keri Fuge soprano and Anna Huntley mezzo-soprano. Gillian Humphreys invites you to join the Concordia International Ensemble for a festive evening of winter serenades and songs to the moon.