Jessica Duchen

Feasting on French fabulousness chez Wigmore last night, courtesy of Louise Alder, Joseph Middleton, the Doric Quartet and friends...
https://inews.co.uk/culture/arts/louise-alder-wigmore-hall-review-gabriel-faure-2775281 #:~:text=Louise%20Alder%27s%20voice%20in%20many,an%20intimate%20ensemble%20around%20her.

I'm on Radio 4 Front Row tonight, talking about Ligeti. I hope I will make some sense. My cat died on Tuesday and I'm heartbroken, so my voice might sound a bit odd. If so, please forgive.

So excited about this!

So excited that we're taking SEEKING UTOPIA to the Three Choirs Festival! Performance is on afternoon of 27 July.

Seeking Utopia | Three Choirs Festival Jessica Duchen author/narratorShiry Rashkovsky violaViv McLean piano Holst Lyric Movement 12'Vaughan Williams Suite for Viola and Piano 26'Clarke Passacagl

Coming up on Saturday, 29 April: Viv and I are performing our Beethoven narrated concert in the amazing surroundings of Fairlight Hall, near Hastings. Do please join us if you can!

Beethoven's Immortal Beloved- A concert drama - Fairlight Hall Saturday 29 April 2023 6.30 – 9pm Fairlight Hall An evening of words and music as Jessica Duchen and Viv McLean explore the mystery of the identity of Beethoven’s ‘Immortal Beloved’. After Beethoven’s death in 1827, his secretary discovered a passionate letter amongst his correspondence ad...

I wrote an angry article for Prospect magazine. Pound by pound, the flesh of musical life in Britain is being sliced away - and by the very institutions that should be protecting it.
https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/arts-and-books/acts-of-vandalism-what-the-bbcs-cuts-mean-for-classical-music?fbclid=IwAR1vxwxGYX208F7J4F49--1U0SH2EG1kX2fybqB4YuiPbQpB1wXxXmWN4Po

Acts of vandalism: what the BBC’s cuts mean for classical music The broadcaster is slashing some of its most precious resources with little consideration. The fightback has begun, but we must fight harder

FOR CLARIFICATION, WE'VE BEEN MARRIED FOR NEARLY 25 YEARS... it's just that I hadn't popped that fact on to my Facebook profile before, so thought I'd do so... so my page put up a post saying that we got married yesterday, which we didn't. Nevertheless, please feel free to open champagne if you need a good excuse.

DALIA has won the Excellence in Musical Theatre Award at the Music & Drama Education Awards! The incredible teamwork and stellar performances from community+youth+professional cast, heroic direction by Karen Gillingham, and sheer vision from Garsington Opera in committing to it left Roxanna Panufnik and me feeling like the luckiest composer/librettist pair on earth.

My new play about Korngold (it’s a full-whack drama, more than a narrated concert) is at the wonderful Brundibár Brundibár Arts Festival on 26 Jan!

On 26th January, join us for a special event dedicated to Erich Wolfgang Korngold. In the 1930s, Korngold escaped N**i Vienna to Hollywood, where he became a successful film composer.

We commissioned Jessica Duchen to put together a narrated concert all about Korngold's fascinating life. With direction from the wonderful Robert Hersey, plus a fabulous cast of local actors and world-class musicians, this is going to be a real one-off and we can't wait to share it with you!

Lovely review of ’LCO:101 Years of Transformation’ in Xmas issue of BBC Music Magazine. 😇

Two more narrated concerts in November!

TONIGHT, Thursday 10th at the OSO Barnes, Viv McLean and I revisit 'Alicia's Gift' for one night only. The story of a child prodigy pianist trying to grow up, with music by Chopin, Debussy, Ravel, Gershwin et al. https://www.barnesmusicsociety.org/duchanandmclean

Next, Thursday 24 November at JW3, Finchley Road, Hampstead NW3: 'Seeking Utopia', the story of the artistic and humanitarian friendship of Ralph Vaughan Williams and Lionel Tertis, starring violist Shiry Rashkovsky, pianist Viv McLean and narration from me. Music by RVW, Holst, Clarke, Bloch, Delius and Korngold.
https://www.jw3.org.uk/index.php/whats-on/seeking-utopia

Seeking Utopia In celebration of Vaughan Williams's 150th, Seeking Utopia tells the story of the unlikely friendship between Williams, a stalwart of English classical music, and the violinist Lionel Tertis, son of an impoverished Jewish East End cantor. Their musical connection transcended religious, cultural and....

For one night only! Viv and I are bringing our ALICIA'S GIFT concert back to the OSO Barnes, courtesy of Barnes Music Society, on 10 November.
"The book that inspired our family" -- The Kanneh-Masons

JESSICA DUCHAN & VIV MCLEAN | barnesmusicsociety Alicia Bradley, aged three, sits down at the family piano and plays with both hands, by ear, in the right key, a piece she’s just heard at nursery school. Her family, seeking a quiet life in Derbyshire, doesn’t know what’s hit them. Alicia’s dad, Guy, plays the piano himself, but only for fu...

My history of the London Chamber Orchestra is now out and buyable from the orchestra itself, as well as "all good bookshops". It's a roller-coaster ride through a turbulent century of musical life in Britain and has been beautifully produced as an illustrated coffee-table book by Pimpernel Press. We hope you enjoy it!

London Chamber Orchestra - 101 Years of Transformation by Jessica Duchen - London Chamber Orchestra Discover the world surrounding the music industry throughout the last century with this intriguing book by Jessica Duchen. The London Chamber Orchestra is the longest standing professional chamber orchestra in Britain. Encompassing over a century of music, its roller coaster story is told for the fi...

Tomorrow, Sunday 16th, Shiry Rashkovsky, Viv McLean and I take SEEKING UTOPIA to the much-loved Conway Hall, in Red Lion Square, which is 5 mins from Holborn station in central London. Please join us for an evening of words and music celebrating Vaughan Williams, for his 150th birthday, and his friend Lionel Tertis, the first of the great violists, who inspired not one generation of composers, but quite a few. There’s also a livestream (yikes!). Music by RVW, Holst, Clarke, Delius, Bloch, Korngold…

Seeking Utopia - Conway Hall ‘Seeking Utopia’: a programme of words and music celebrating the friendship between Ralph Vaughan Williams and violist Lionel Tertis, in the 150th year since Vaughan Williams' birth. Vaughan Williams and Lionel Tertis' origins could scarcely be more different, however they proved to match one an...

Some wonderful responses after the premiere of SEEKING UTOPIA the other day! For the next performances violist Shiry Rashkovsky, pianist Viv McLean and I will be visiting: Conway Hall (Red Lion Square, central London) 16 October, 6.30pm; 22 Mansfield Street, 4 November; JW3 (Hampstead), 24 November.

"Yes, music is a language that can speak for itself. But words wrapped around music can make it sing all the more vividly - the stories behind the notes, the contexts in which works were written and performed. As she's done so often before, Jessica Duchen has come up with a winning formula in the shape of 'Seeking Utopia', bringing the genius of Vaughan Williams and viola virtuoso Lionel Tertis to life in magical fashion, partnered by the talents of Shiry Rashkovsky and Viv McLean. All in all, an insightful and imaginative way to celebrate Vaughan Williams's 150th birthday." -- Andrew Green, music journalist, broadcaster and Vaughan Williams researcher

" Congratulations for a splendid programme - terrific original treatment and two wonderful players" - Lewis Foreman, musicologist, biographer of Arnold Bax

Thanks to Jessica Duchen, Shiry Rashkovsky and Viv Maclean for a great performance of Seeking Utopia on Saturday evening. The story about the friendship between Vaughan Williams and Lionel Tertis was fascinating; we loved to hear Shiry's mellow viola in the church acoustic. And Viv McLean is always welcome at Amersham to play the piano for us!

If you missed the concert, or would like to hear it again, there is a performance at the Conway Hall in London on the evening of Sunday the 16th October. This will be live streamed so you can watch it from the comfort of your own home. Details here: https://www.conwayhall.org.uk/whats-on/event/seeking-utopia/

SEEKING UTOPIA is on the road! So thrilled to be taking it to
the Conway Hall Sunday Concerts because it was there that I learned most of the chamber music repertoire as a kid going there most weekends with my dad. I’d sit contemplating the text over the stage TO THINE OWN SELF BE TRUE. And have been trying to follow that advice all my life since. ❤️🎶🙏

'Seekng Utopia’ is a programme of words and music celebrating the friendship between Ralph Vaughan Williams and violist Lionel Tertis, in the 150th year since Vaughan Williams’ birth. This enticing performance features author & narrator Jessica Duchen, critically acclaimed violist Shiry Rashkovsky and world-class pianist Viv McLean.

🗓 Date & time: Sunday 16 October, 6.30pm (doors open 5.45pm)
📍 Location: Conway Hall – 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL
🔗 Info & tickets: bit.ly/SeekingUtopia
🎫 Tickets free for under-26s

Ralph Vaughan Williams Society

Our Ralph Vaughan Williams 150th anniversary concert in Amersham is on Saturday 1st October.

All are welcome to join us for a celebration in words and music of the friendship between Vaughan Williams and the virtuoso solo viola player Lionel Tertis. Jessica Duchen has developed this new concert which promises to be intriguing and enjoyable (it's the world premiere!); we are joined by Viv McLean on piano and Shiry Rashkovsky on viola.

Details and tickets here: https://www.amershamconcerts.org.uk/season2022-23concert1

British Viola Society Amersham Festival of Music Amersham Music Centre Amersham Band Midsummer Music Little Missenden Festival Wooburn Singers Wooburn Festival Chiltern Camerata Octagon Music Society West Wycombe Chamber Music Festival

New season, new narrated concert! Please join me, Shiry Rashkovsky and Viv McLean for an encounter with Vaughan Williams, Lionel Tertis and their musical circles in our special presentation SEEKING UTOPIA. Premiere at Amersham Concert Amersham Concert Club on 1 October - details below. Further dates to follow.

Our first concert of the season should be special, Words and Music to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Ralph Vaughn Williams and his friendship with the viola player Lionel Tertis. All welcome to join us. More details and tickets available here: https://www.amershamconcerts.org.uk/season2022-23concert1

Jessica Duchen, Shiry Rashkovsky Ralph Vaughan Williams Amersham Festival of Music Amersham Band Midsummer Music Little Missenden Festival Wooburn Singers Wooburn Festival Chiltern Camerata Octagon Music Society West Wycombe Chamber Music Festival

I interviewed the incredible Lise Davidsen in Bayreuth…

Lise Davidsen on the Last Night of the Proms: 'It's the closest I'll get to being a rock star' The star Norwegian soprano talks about gearing up for the Royal Albert Hall, dealing with booing and how opera needs to find younger fans

Interviewed Semyon Bychkov for the Sunday Times

Semyon Bychkov at the BBC Proms: ‘I couldn’t stay silent on Ukraine’ He has been an outspoken critic of the Kremlin — but the Russian conductor warns against cancelling his countrymen

Out in October and now available for pre-order from 'all good bookshops', including this one. It makes it look a bit as if I am the Duchess of Cornwall, which I'm not.

London Chamber Orchestra by Jessica Duchen, HRH The Duchess of Cornwall | Waterstones Buy London Chamber Orchestra by Jessica Duchen, HRH The Duchess of Cornwall from Waterstones today! Click and Collect from your local Waterstones or get FREE UK delivery on orders over £25.

A reminder ahem that my 4th novel, Songs of Triumphant Love, is the only one besides Immortal that's available as an audio book - recorded by an actress who had an amazing way with its many different accents. My consultants for this story of an opera singer losing her voice included some extremely prominent Wagnerians. Further inspirations included the Turgenev-Viardot love story; and a visit to Bosnia.

Songs of Triumphant Love Songs of Triumphant Love

The age-old question... who is Beethoven's "Immortal Beloved"? Maybe the answer lies in his music…

Tomorrow night Jessica Duchen explores the identity of this woman in a narrated concert. Come on down to the JdP Music Building to hear more of this heart-breaking love story, with excerpts of Beethoven’s beautiful chamber works in between ❤️🎶

Tickets: https://oxfordphil.com/event/immortal-beloved/

Benjamin Appl baritone
Mason Fischer-Dieskau piano
Darragh Morgan violin
Katerina Nazarova violin
Garfield Jackson viola
Mats Lidström cello

Who actually is Beethoven’s ‘Immortal Beloved’? 💭❤️

This Saturday, author and music critic Jessica Duchen explores the identity of the mysterious woman Beethoven wrote an unaddressed love letter to in 1812. This narrated concert brings a heart-breaking love story to life while demonstrating its heroine’s enduring presence in Beethoven’s works.

Book your tickets today! ✨

🗓Saturday 2 July, 7.30pm
📍JdP Music Building, St Hilda’s College
🎵A selection of works by Beethoven
🎟Tickets: https://oxfordphil.com/event/immortal-beloved/

My Composer of the Month piece about Korngold for BBC Music Magazine is now online…

Korngold, Erich Wolfgang Embracing youthful stardom, N**i censorship and Hollywood success, Erich Wolfgang Korngold's story was truly remarkable, says Jessica Duchen

Stuck around to say congratulations to the Longborough team after a terrific opening night of my beloved Die tote Stadt yesterday.