GABRIELLE BYAM-GROUNDS

     DIRECTOR, ENGLISH SERENATA 

Famous presenters love working with English Serenata and its entertaining combinations of words and music. The ensemble’s programmes are extremely lively and well presented, but do not compromise on quality of musical content. 

A Night in Old Vienna contains as much Mozart as Strauss!

English Serenata’s secret is twofold: the musicians are all soloists in their own right, but each  enjoys other skills, such as the occasional excursion into choral or solo singing, the arranging of music and creation of the scripts. Their individual skills may turn to jazz or contemporary music, but they are all drawn together by the classical chamber music repertoire and mellifluous French impressionists.

Apart from concerts in traditional venues, such as the Queen Elizabeth Hall, their performances have ranged from St. James’ Palace, where Prince Charles interrupted his schedule to talk to “the musicians”, to a packed shopping centre festival, followed by fireworks and enthusiastic encores. Czech TV presented Sweet Swan of Avon on prime time Saturday night television.

 Dunkirk to VE Day has been packing houses to celebrate the magnificent style of the Forties, with much-loved guest artist Rosemary Squires