Leonard Salzedo Celebration Concert - Lotus Eaters

This concert will take you on a trip from the Open University via a Lotus Eater and a Tango to the Sephardic Jews of 15th Century Spain.

Leonard Salzedo, born on 24 September 1921, was a prolific composer who drew on his experience as an orchestral player and conductor and his Spanish/Jewish ancestry.

The Divertimento for Three Trumpets and Three Trombones which opens the concert was the Open University theme for many years. Brass was a favourite medium and the Fine Arts Brass Ensemble will also play a work written specially for them.

The Viola Concerto was written for Richard Crabtree, professor at Trinity Laban, and premiered at the Helmsley Festival in 1983. Richard will play it tonight, accompanied by Trinity Laban students, and conducted by Maestro Leslie Howard, a close friend of Salzedo’s.

Piano works played by Viv McLean include Tango from The Fugitive, Salzedo’s first ballet, written for Ballet Rambert, and Canción en la Noche (Song in the Night) from Ladinos.

Baritone Geoff Williams will sing from the song cycle The Lotus Eater Abroad and mezzo-soprano Lotte Betts-Dean will sing a range of songs written between 1947 and 1973, with Ben Costello on the piano.

And no Salzedo concert would be complete without the violin, Salzedo’s instrument. Ann Hooley will play two solo violin pieces, worthy of the virtuoso musician that Salzedo himself was.