PRESIDENT John Williams OBE
PATRONS Frankie Armstrong * Michael Berkeley * Wissam Boustany * Martyn Brabbins * Billy Bragg * Phil Collins * Sir Mark Elder * Bryan Ferry CBE * Dame Jane Glover DBE * Julian Jacobson * Dame Emma Kirkby * Dame Cleo Laine * Ralph McTell * Colin Matthews OBE * Riccardo Muti * Michael Nyman CBE * Mary O'Hara * Sir Simon Rattle * Peggy Seeger * Roger Vignoles * Judith Weir CBE
PAST PATRONS Steuart Bedford OBE * Leonard Bernstein * Sir John Dankworth * Sir Colin Davis * Antal Dorati * Sir Charles Groves * Lynn Harrell * Emanuel Hurwitz * Kay Hurwitz * Nona Liddell * Ewan MacColl * Sir Neville Marriner * Sir Peter Maxwell Davies * Jessye Norman * Sir Peter Pears * William Pleeth * Bernard Roberts * Robert Simpson * Sir Georg Solti * Ronald Stevenson * Sir Michael Tippett * Paul Tortelier * Stan Tracey CBE
Musicians for Peace and Disarmament was founded in 1983. Originally known as MANA, Musicians Against Nuclear Arms, it was the brainchild of a group of musicians and music lovers who had the idea of organising concerts by professional musicians to raise funds for the peace movement. Since then it has donated over £75,000 to organisations within the peace movement. Over the years many leading conductors, soloists, orchestral players and chamber musicians have taken part in our regular concerts, and continue to do so, with everyone giving their services for free. At most of our concerts a speaker is invited to give a short address. As well as our musical activities we produce a quarterly newsletter. MPD's president is the distinguished guitarist John Williams and our patrons are all prominent and influential figures drawn from many different areas of the musical profession. Our new name, MPD, was adopted a few years back to reflect today's wider but still urgently relevant concerns for world peace. MPD is affiliated to CND and Network for Peace and membership is open to anyone with an interest in music and a desire to further the cause of peace.
Dates For Your Diary
Thursday 10th April 2025, 7:30pm
Lauderdale House, Waterlow Park, Highgate Hill, London N6 5HG
MPD Concert for Peace: The French ConneXion
French piano music from the Belle Époque
Julian Jacobson (piano)
This evening's recital is given by Julian Jacobson, one of our most supportive Patrons and a highly respected pianist who has performed to huge acclaim around the world. His programme consists of music by French composers, written over a period of more than 200 years, and encompassing an enormous range of styles. The centrepiece is Book 1 of Debussy's Préludes, whose twelve pieces range from the delicate sounds of Voiles and Des pas sur la neige to the expressive La fille de cheveux de lin, the powerful and evocative La cathédrale engloutie and the whimsical La danse de Puck and Minstrels. In contrast to these concentrated miniatures is Bourrée fantasque by Chabrier – expansive and ebullient. The great pianist Alfred Cortot described it as 'one of the most exciting and original works in the whole literature of French piano music' and the composer himself said it should be 'bright and crazy!'' The evening begins with two character pieces by Rameau, and also includes works by Fauré, Satie, Auric and Poulenc. Don't miss the chance to hear this intriguing programme performed by one of today's most talented and imaginative pianists. Interval speaker: Jeremy Corbyn |
| Programme | |
| Rameau | Les tendres plaintes |
| Rameau | La Poule |
| Fauré | Valse-caprice No. 3 Op. 59 |
| Debussy | Préludes Book 1, Nos. 1-6 |
| Interval | |
| Debussy | Préludes Book 1, Nos. 7-12 |
| Satie | Gymnopédie No.1 |
| Auric | Trois Pastorales Nos. 1 and 2 | Poulenc | Novelette No.1 |
| Chabrier | Bourrée fantasque |
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