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Avi Avital at Surrey Hills International Music Festival, Denbies Estate
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Cantabile, Banstead Music Festival
Local classical music enthusiast Ian Codd brings you the pick of events coming up in Surrey Downs this month
Denbies winery will host a concert given as part of the Surrey Hills International Music Festival. Entitled ‘A little Latin’, it will feature music for mandolin and accordion by Bach, Rachmaninov, Falla, Bartok and Piazzolla. The Argentine composer Piazzolla is now becoming known for his lively jazz-inspired music. His fiery tangos will be played by Grammy-nominated Avi Avital, one of the world's leading mandolin players.
1st at 8.00, accordion and mandolin at Denbies, £25, 01483 444334 denbies.co.uk
Watermill Jazz meets each Thursday evening at the Friends Life social club in Pixham Lane. Their programme for May is as follows: the Michael Woolny trio (1st), “Charlie Parker on Dial” sextet featuring Nathaniel Facey (8th), the Skelton/Skinner all-stars big band (15th), Tommy Smith and Brian Kellock (22nd), and Brassjaw (29th).
1st 8th 15th 22nd 29th at 8.30, Watermill Jazz at Friends Life, £17-21, 07415 815784 watermilljazz.co.uk
The legendary Banstead Festival returns. Look forward to lunch-time concerts, exhibitions, talks, coach visits and concerts by a wide range of well known performers. The Festival also includes a number of events arranged by other local organisations and societies. Highlights include the legendary Cantabile, ‘Harmony and Humour’ quartet, and The Thameside Seven Jazz Band.
3rd – 18th May, 43, High Street, Banstead, call 01737-350288 or book on the door (subject to availability) bansteadarts.co.uk
To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Royal College of Organists, there will be a special organ recital given at St Martin’s by organist Mark Brafield. Martin Ellis will give a further celebratory recital next month.
10th at 7.00, organ recital at St Martin’s, free, 01306 742629 rco.org.uk
Two bands are appearing at the Dorking Halls. The Grimethorpe Colliery Band is known as one of the finest brass bands in the country, celebrated for their recordings, their concerts, and also their appearance in the film Brassed Off. Chris Barber is one of the foremost jazz bandleaders, and his 10-piece band will play a selection of favourite jazz and blues music.
10th at 7.30, Grimethorpe Colliery Band at Dorking Halls, £19-21, 01306 881717
31st at 7.30, Chris Barber band at Dorking Halls, £22, 01306 881717
The Surrey Philharmonic Orchestra is visiting Dorking this month, with a concert of music by Mozart, Rossini and Saint-Saëns at St Martins. They begin with Rossini’s sparkling overture The Italian Girl in Algiers and follow this with a selection of arias from Mozart’s operas, sung by soprano soloist Joo Cho. After the interval the orchestra will play Saint-Saëns’ second symphony.
24th at 7.30, Surrey Philharmonic Orchestra at St Martin’s, £13, 01372 276949 surreyphil.org.uk
