A large and enthusiastic audience of people attended Conway Hall, London, on Saturday 24^th September 2022, for a celebration concert of Leonard Salzedo’s music exactly 101 years to the day since he was born.

The beautiful programme full of photos and information guided everyone to a wonderfully varied and inspirational concert.

Brass first then piano and singing

Fine Arts Brass Ensemble (FABE) played the Divertimento which starts with the Open University fanfare and comprises four very different moods in its four movements, followed by the jazz-infused Capriccio; on the piano Viv McLean played the Sephardic-influenced Cancion en la Noche, the Tango from Salzedo’s first ballet the Fugitive, and the poignantly beautiful Elegy written for a family friend. Mezzo Lotte Betts-Dean, with Ben Costello at the piano, sang five very different songs: the evocative Wind at Morning, the sorrowful Solitary Song; the stately Drop, Drop, Slow Tears; the delightful Mistress Margaret Hussey and ending with the droll Last Song of Penelope.

A commitment to my father Leonard and his music

The first half ended with a heartfelt tribute to my father from me, Caroline Salzedo, with a commitment to see more of his music played and recorded.

More brass and more singing – accompanied by harp, vibraphone and cello

FABE began the second half with the Toccata – written for them; after which baritone Geoff Williams sang five songs from the Lotus Eater Abroad song cycle accompanied by a harpist, cellist and vibraphone player from Trinity Laban, which took us on a languorous journey from Switzerland to the Lebanon.

Bravura performance

The evening ended with a virtuoso performance of the Viola Concerto by Richard Crabtree, soloist, and professor at Trinity Laban, conducted by Charles Matthews and accompanied by graduates and students of Trinity Laban, which held the audience spellbound.

The concert was filmed and the Leonard Salzedo Society will make that available to members and those who bought tickets for the concert as soon as we can. If you’re not yet a member of the Society, click here to join. If you like Leonard’s music we would really appreciate your support. If you’re a bit tech-averse but want to join, email me and I’ll sort it out for you.

The journey continues

More blog posts will follow and we have plans to support future concerts and recordings – watch this space

And there’s the film on YouTube that we made last year Leonard Salzedo A Life Composed in Music

Leonard Salzedo website and you can buy CDs here

Caroline Salzedo