8th November 2012 - 12.30 Lunchtime Concert

Alice Bishop, soprano
Matthew Rickard, piano
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Mai, Opus 1 No 2 Victor Hugo Clair de Lune, Opus 46 No 2 Paul Verlaine Green, from Cinque Mélodies de Venise Opus 58 Paul Verlaine Fleur Jetée, from Four Songs, Opus 39, 1884, Paul Armand Silvestre Piano Solos from Chants d'Espagne, Opus 232 Sous le Palmier Córdoba Mädchenblumen for voice and piano (Maidenflowers) 1. Kornblumen (Cornflowers) 2. Mohnblumen (Poppies) 3. Epheu (Ivy) 4. Wasserrose (Waterlily) She Moved through the Fair Irish traditional A Green Cornfield Christina Rosetti Drink to Me Only Ben Jonson Love's Philisophy Percy Bysshe Shelley |
Alice Bishop, soprano

Alice Bishop graduated in music from the University of Surrey (BMus (Hons)) and completed the Diploma in Performance Studies at Abbey Opera and Birkbeck College.
Recent solo engagements have included Strauss’ Four Last Songs , Handel’s Dixit Dominus, Mozart’s Ch’io mi scordi di te?, Bruckner’s Mass in F Minor, Beethoven's 9th Symphony, Haydn’s Little Organ Mass, Rutter’s Requiem, Mass of the Children and Feel the Spirit, Vivaldi’s Gloria and a recording of a new oratorio by Joe St Johanser. Alice also enjoys giving recitals and recent performances have included a recital for Guildford URC Music Society, the London premiere of a song cycle, 'The Year of Green Parrots' by Joe St Johanser and many solo recitals in and around London. Opera roles include Micaela (Carmen), and Janet (premiere performance of Joe St Johanser’s ‘Spem’).
Matthew Rickard, piano

Matthew Rickard studied at the University of Surrey and the Royal Academy of Music where he specialised in piano accompaniment. His teachers have included Michael Dussek and Clive Williamson. Matthew currently works as a freelance pianist and regularly gives performances as both chamber musician and soloist throughout the UK and abroad.
Over the past year or so Matthew has given concerts in London, France, Holland, Ireland, Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Dorchester-on-Thames, Durham, Guildford, Oxford, Windsor and Woking. Matthew has recorded three CDs for the EM Records label with the violinist Rupert Marshall-Luck. Their first disc, featuring music by Bliss, Walford Davies and Bowen was described as “a complete success” by International Record Review, whilst another critic described the duo’s playing as “fiery, to the point of molten”. Matthew’s playing on the second disc, which contains music by Granville Bantock and Joseph Holbrooke was described by one critic as “heroically impressive”. Matthew has also recorded a disc of chamber music by contemporary composer John Pickard for the Toccata Classics label. Matthew has been instrumental in setting up a professional recital series at his local church, St. Peter’s in Old Woking. Matthew has also performed live on BBC Radio 3’s “In Tune” programme.
As an orchestral pianist and accompanist Matthew has worked with groups such as the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Moscow City Ballet, Constanza Chorus, Godalming Choral Society, Guildford Opera, Hart Voices, Lloyds Choir, Royal Free Music Society and the Rushmoor Choir. Matthew currently teaches the piano at Longacre Preparatory School in Surrey as well as having a private teaching practice.
Over the past year or so Matthew has given concerts in London, France, Holland, Ireland, Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Dorchester-on-Thames, Durham, Guildford, Oxford, Windsor and Woking. Matthew has recorded three CDs for the EM Records label with the violinist Rupert Marshall-Luck. Their first disc, featuring music by Bliss, Walford Davies and Bowen was described as “a complete success” by International Record Review, whilst another critic described the duo’s playing as “fiery, to the point of molten”. Matthew’s playing on the second disc, which contains music by Granville Bantock and Joseph Holbrooke was described by one critic as “heroically impressive”. Matthew has also recorded a disc of chamber music by contemporary composer John Pickard for the Toccata Classics label. Matthew has been instrumental in setting up a professional recital series at his local church, St. Peter’s in Old Woking. Matthew has also performed live on BBC Radio 3’s “In Tune” programme.
As an orchestral pianist and accompanist Matthew has worked with groups such as the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Moscow City Ballet, Constanza Chorus, Godalming Choral Society, Guildford Opera, Hart Voices, Lloyds Choir, Royal Free Music Society and the Rushmoor Choir. Matthew currently teaches the piano at Longacre Preparatory School in Surrey as well as having a private teaching practice.