Stabat Mater and Martyr Ogilvie provide moving Lentfest productions

Lentfest continues with exciting music and drama.

Don’t miss the only performance of the hauntingly beautiful Stabat Mater by Pergolesi in Glasgow this year. It will be sung on FRIDAY 16 March at 7.30pm, by two soloists from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland who are giving their last performance in the city before going to London to join London Opera companies. Both alumni of the Conservatoire and having graduated with distinction, Soprano Maria Kozlova and Mezzo soprano Beth Baxter will be with the St Patrick’s Ensemble in the glorious acoustic of St Mungo’s Church in Townhead.

This will be the premier of a new Stabat Mater setting by young Scottish composer George Tongchai Duthie and was commissioned by St Patrick’s Ensemble for Lentfest this year. In 2009, the group made its sold-out debut in Edinburgh’s Greyfriars’ Kirk. They were subsequently invited to perform the Vivaldi Four Seasons at the Usher Hall in May 2010. In November 2011, the ensemble returned there to perform works by Vivaldi, Dvořák and Hans Gál.

Tickets £8 (£5 concessions) available from 0141 554 1333 or lentfest@agap.org.uk

The interest in Lentfest events this year has been an exhilarating experience for the organisers. Said Stephen Callaghan, Lentfest Director: ‘The growth and demand has been almost overwhelming. There has been response from almost every dioceses in Scotland and interest from Venezuela, Russia and Italy. For some people the event they attend this Lentfest may be their only experience of Church for a year. I believe the Holy Spirit is at work.’

Among the drama events is the absorbing production of the Martyrdom of St John Ogilvie. Written and produced by Lentfest director Stephen Callaghan

himself, it is based on the dramatic events that surrounded the death of Scotland’s martyr, John Ogilvie, who died at Glasgow Cross in 1615. Because the actor rehearsing to play the part of Ogilvie, had to move to another part of the country at the last minute – the understudy Stephen Callaghan – had to step in by default. Performed by AGAP Community Theatre which includes many people who are acting for the first time, the touring production can be found on the following dates and locations among others: Saturday 17 March at 7.30pm St Gregory’s, Wyndford; Sunday 18 March at 2.00pm (Matinee) St Martin’s, Renton; Friday 23 March at 7.30pm St Helen’s, Langside; Saturday 24 March at 7.30pm St Lucy’s, Abronhill. For full details and for the entire programme for Lentfest check the website: www.agap.org.uk/lentfest

 

Russian choir honours Arctic convoys

The Glasgow based choir that sings in Russian style – Russkaya Cappella – enjoyed a recent trip to Russia. The benefit of that visit will be heard at their St Andrew’s Day concert on Wednesday 30 November in St Aloysius Church, Rose Street in Garnethill G3 6RE.

Said Svetlana Zvereva who with Stuart Campbell, runs the choir: ‘St Andrew is honoured by all the Christian churches and is patron saint of Scotland and Russia. There he is the protector, in particular, of the Russian navy. The concert programme will provide sacred music as well as some of Russia’s classic composers – Tchaikovsky and Taneyev – and Russian folk songs.’
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the start of the Arctic convoys which delivered vital supplies to the USSR and allied countries during the Second World War. Between 1941 and 1945 sailors of the British, Canadian, Soviet and United States navies ran the gauntlet of extreme weather, dangerous seas and enemy action on journeys between Iceland, Scotland and Murmansk and Archangel. Thousands of sailors perished on these most dangerous voyages. British veterans wear a white beret and tell tales of cups of cocoa freezing as they walk across the deck.
In tribute to them, the choir will sing ‘Eternal Memory’ during the concert.
Tickets are £5 at the door. Further information from the website: www.russkayacappella.yolasite.com

GB Women’s Deaflympics football team sets goals for 2013

The Great Britain Women’s Deaf Football Team came within an ace of medal placings at the 2009 Deaflympics in Taipei, Taiwan, this summer, only to be beaten into fourth by a controversial Russian goal.

Undeterred, the team’s coach/manager George McGowan told LOCAL NEWS columnist, Colin Mackie, about the highlights and calls on the Government to get behind our country’s deaf athletes in time for the 2013 Deaflympics in Greece.

 

How was your team’s trip to Taipei ?

‘The Deaflympics will be something I will never forget. The team and I really enjoyed the experience. I thought it went really well, and the set-up was like … wow!.

‘The girls’ football team did me proud. We came fourth, but I must remind people that this team is a young team that bonded well, and the America women – the gold medallists – said we were the hardest team they played.’  

 

What was it like on your arrival ?

‘There was a massive welcome when we landed, and many photos were taken as if we were famous – everyone felt strange as we did not expect that. Travelling was tiring, but I would travel the world twice to get to the Deaflympics. It was my first and will not be my last.’

 

Did signing with different nationalities cause any problems?

‘The language was good for me as I got to see what other signs there were, but we managed to communicate well. You would not get that in the hearing world.’

 

What was the atmosphere like ?

‘It was great and, if you take a look at the Deaflympics website or the many clips on YouTube and SignTube, you’ll see an unforgettable sporting event. I just wish we got a lot of funding by the government to develop deaf sports in UK.

It was well organised by Taiwan, and was run by hearing people with advice from the Deaf community. The biggest disappointment was that all the hearing volunteers could not sign, but there were 10,000 of them!’

 

Knowing the GB team had to raise funds themselves to get there, did other countries have problems with funding for the Deaflympics?

‘The impression I got was that some countries got funding and others got paid for winning medals. For example, Russian teams winning a gold medal would be paid something like 100,000 euros. It saddens me that our government didn’t even fund us to get over there. That’s a shame really.’

 

How was the closing ceremony ?

‘I did not want it to end. It was good to see the British fans. They’d made a long trip  to support us. They will not be forgotten by me or the rest of the GB squad.

‘At the closing ceremony, we were swapping kits with our competitors and there was Taiwanese food  - a 13-course meal. I’m not too sure having the fans watching us eat was a good idea but I’m sure they loved the fireworks and waving the true blue, red-and-white Union flag.’

 

What plans have you for the 2013 games in Athens?

‘Good question. We will have a meeting to discuss the best way forward.’

 

Are there any closing comments you would like to add ?

‘I`d love to pass on a big thank you to all those people who helped with funding; the sponsors of all sports represented in the GB Squad. Without their support, we would not have got to Taipei. Also most of the fans could not get tickets for the opening and closing ceremony. They gave so much of their time – going all the way there to support all the athletes, pulling money out of their own pockets that they deserve a very special thank you, too.’

 

Says Colin: ‘Any possible sponsors interested in helping Britain’s deaf athletes get to the 2013 Deaflympics in Athens can contact me on:  colin@glasgowbsl.co.uk

I will pass details to George.’

 

Futher information on: www.deaflympics.com