'JANE AUSTEN & COLETTE: WRITERS
AND MUSICIANS'
Saturday 28 June, 20:00 - Wadhurst Parish Church
“Three superb artistes... an enchanting evening” The Guardian
Maggie Henderson, Maggie Cole and Jane Streeton have
performed this concert of words and music to great acclaim in both the UK
and America.
Both Jane Austen (1777-1817) and the French novelist Colette (1873-1954)
were passionate musicians as well as writers – Jane Austen a keen domestic
keyboard player, and Colette a flamboyant music -hall singer-entertainer. The
music of the first half of the programme comes from Jane Austen’s personal
collection of works she knew well and loved – charming songs by English
composers of her day. These selections are interspersed with excerpts
from her novels in which music and love are often hilariously intertwined.
The second half is devoted to Colette’s vivid pen portraits of her
much admired friends; Ravel, Debussy and Poulenc. The readings are
juxtaposed with some of the most exquisite and sensual songs by these composers. Colette
created the story of ‘Gigi’ and the programme ends with
songs from the musical film.
Maggie Henderson has had a long career in television and the West End theatre.
Maggie Cole is an international soloist on harpsichord, fortepiano and piano.
She records for Virgin Classics. Jane Streeton has an operatic career
which she now combines with her work as Head of Singing at RADA.
