RACHMANINOFF SOCIETY NEWS AND EVENTS

Upcoming events

We return to Pendrell Hall, a country house expanded into an adult education college and supplemented with a comfortable modern accommodation block with en suite facilities. It is located near Wolverhampton in Staffordshire, and many successful Society weekends were staged there in the past. We hope to welcome both old friends and new to this relaxed, informal venue.

The programme consists of a mixture of:

performances - including a recital by young pianist and composer Carson Becke, who counts among his awards the 1st prize at the 2006 S.V. Rachmaninov International Piano Competition in Novgorod, Russia.

informative, insightful and entertaining talks - the Symphonic Dance No.3 and the Preludes Op.23 will be the focus of two lectures, with piano illustrations;

discussions about the Society's future activities - based around our business plan for 2008-2010;

... and socialising.

Society members will greet delegates at Pendrell Hall in the afternoon of Friday 12 September. The Members' Weekend will formally start at 18:30 with dinner. The Annual General Meeting is scheduled to take place in the evening.

On Saturday, we are pleased that after his highly informative, insightful and entertaining talks at our recent conferences, Ian Flint will turn his gaze to Symphonic Dance No.3. We also welcome back to Pendrell Hall long-standing member Bryan Cresswell, who will give a talk on the Preludes Op.23, with piano illustrations.
Dinner will be followed by a recital by young pianist and composer Carson Becke, will play Scriabin's Sonata No.3, as well as a selection of Etudes-tableaux and Préludes from the Op.32 by Rachmaninoff.

The programme on Sunday will include a discussion of Rachmaninoff rarities on CD, and performances of piano pieces and songs, including the haunting Vocalise. The weekend will end at 15:00 with afternoon tea.

Places are limited, and at the time of writing there are only 5 en-suite rooms and 3 rooms with shared facilities left. One of the remaining en suite rooms is suitable for the disabled (please advise if required when booking). Four rooms have shared rather than en suite facilities and come at a slightly reduced rate (ask when booking if interested).  Inclusive prices for the weekend are –

One person in an en suite room  £159

Two persons sharing an en suite room  £145 each

Prices are per person and include:

* Accommodation throughout (arrival from 3.00pm on Friday 12 September).  Rooms must be vacated by 9.30am on Sunday 14 September.

* Dinners (Friday and Saturday), breakfasts, morning and afternoon refreshments, and lunches (Saturday and Sunday).  A cash bar will be open on Friday and Saturday evenings and drinks with meals may be taken and paid for on departure on an honesty system.

* A contribution towards the cost to the Society of hiring and tuning a second grand piano.

Booking information is available on the members-only section of the website.

The event is open to fully-paid members ONLY. Membership starts at £15/$25/€22, and a special 3-year rate is also available. To join, or for more information about payment options and membership rates, please click here.

Past events

Find out about our immensely successful 2007 Conference in New York City.

Read about our “Rachmaninoff Recreated” April 2007 Retreat in NYC.

Updated 18 August 2008