Ardingly church hosts concert

Spokeswoman Gerry Burgess said: “We are extremely fortunate to have these artists in Ardingly village for a day, which combines work with local primary school children and the evening concert. We hope many people will come and enjoy this very appealing programme.

“This first Music at St Peter’s concert of 2012 takes place on Friday, March 9 at 7.30pm and features the welcome return of several performers. Two singers – soprano Alexandra Kidgell, soloist in Haydn’s Creation at St Peter’s and at the first of the recital series in 2009, and Carris Jones, who sang in 2010 - join to perform Pergolesi’s beautiful Stabat Mater.

“Appropriately for Lent, the text is a series of Mary’s reflections at the cross, and Pergolesi’s setting is poignant and heartfelt. This will be accompanied by the Hampden Quartet, led by violinist Alexandra Reid, who has delighted Ardingly audiences several times in this series.

“In the second half of the concert, the quartet will perform some of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, enduringly popular for their familiar melodies, but also extraordinarily imaginative, colourful and dramatic in their painting of the different seasons.

“These will be contrasted with more modern tango settings by Piazzolla of the same seasons – a fun and flamboyant way to end the evening!

“On this occasion the series organiser Elizabeth Burgess relinquishes her usual place at the piano in favour of directing the concert from the harpsichord.

“As with all Music at St Peter’s events, admission is free, with a retiring collection on this occasion for the Imara Uganda Education Fund, which helps support education for some of the poorest children in remote northern Uganda.”