INTRODUCTION

By Mike Taylerson (Concert promoter)

Welcome to Hartlepool Music Society's 22nd season. Whether you have been a member for many years or are a first-time visitor, I hope that you will find something to interest and excite you in this year's programme.

There are six concerts this year, all of which take place in the Town Hall Theatre, and once again we welcome distinguished  European visitors , this season from Germany and the Czech Republic.

We begin 16 October with a piano recital by Colin Stone who combines performing activities with his role as Professor at the Royal Academy of Music. His recital includes music by Beethoven and Shostakovich, whose centenary it is this year, and our Czech visitors, The Martinu Quartet, will give us more Shostakovich and Beethoven on the 8th November, as well as Mozart's sublime Clarinet Quintet in which they are joined by Angus Meryon.

Our Christmas concert this year takes place on the 23rd December and will be a vocal recital. I am delighted that the soprano, Elizabeth Watts, will be the soloist. Miss Watts, who is currently singing with ENO, has just won the Kathleen Ferrier prize and should provide us with a memorable evening.

After our Christmas break, we resume on the 14th February with a concert by the second of our overseas visitors, the distinguished Trio Jean Paul from Germany.

You may have heard their wonderful playing of Haydn and Schubert Trios in the concert broadcast from last year's Edinburgh Festival, and I am delighted that they are playing them for us.

Another  piano recital  follows on the 6th March by the British pianist, Mark
Bebbington. Mark has won a growing reputation both on CD and with his concert series at St John's, Smith Square for his exploration of unusual piano repertoire, and he has prepared a fascinating programme for us.

The final concert of the season will be a first for HMS - a viola recital.
Sarah-Jane Bradley with Jonathan Ayerst (piano) will give us a programme of Schumann, Glinka, Elgar, Brahms and Martinu. It somehow seems appropriate as one of the greatest ever viola players, Lionel Tertis, was of course born in Hartlepool.

I hope you enjoy the season.