A Unique Evening of International Music (Part 2)

Luciano Gerber playing and singing contemporary Brazilian songs

Alice playing the Chinese piano

This was certainly an evening that lived up to its title!

Detail of the beautiful craftsmanship of Alice’s Chinese piano

I’ve never heard a Chinese piano (or guzheng) played live to this standard before, and it was something of a revelation.  Alice Wang is currently studying accountancy in Manchester, but has been learning the instrument from a young age and brought hers with her when she came to the UK; no mean feat in itself as it is both bulky and delicately beautiful.  Alice explained the origin and meaning of each piece she played, and the audience certainly seemed to appreciate the complex and intricate music.

Luciano Gerber then expertly played and sang us a selection of contemporary Brazilian music.  His explanations of the Portuguese lyrics and the different styles of music from various corners of his vast homeland certainly added to the enjoyment of the evening.

The SSO after the Bramhall concert
[photo by Gordon Jackson, Bramhall & Woodford Rotary Club]

After some very welcome refreshments during the interval, the SSO took over, and attempted to cover the rest of the world in the second half of the concert.  Here’s the programme we played:-

• Tahiti Trot – Shostakovich arr. Gordon Robson
• Medley from ‘The Sound of Music’ – Richard Rodgers arr. Don Ashton
• Engine No. 9 – Les Hooper arr. Don Ashton
• Marigold – Billy Mayerl arr. Gordon Robson
• The Sheik of Araby – Ted Snyder arr. David Webber
• Moon River – Henry Mancini arr. Don Ashton
• African Waltz – Galt MacDermot arr. Gordon Robson

All in all, a very successful and enjoyable evening, which raised somewhere in the region of £1000 for  WaterAid, End Polio Now and local Rotary Club charities.