St Stephen’s Church, Exeter High Street
Lunchtime Concert Series
Thursday 8th August, 1pm

Ruth Molins – flute
Dorothy Raven – piano

Come into this restful city-centre space and enjoy a lunch break with a difference.

Ploughman’s lunches available from 12pm.

 Let your thoughts run free and enjoy the music:
 J. S. Bach, Flute Sonata in G minor 
Gluck, The Dance of the Blessed Spirits 
                                                                             Rabboni, 2 Sonatas
Fitkin, Jim and Pam and Pam and Jim
Hue, Fantaisie

(I'm catching up with myself abit here!) I had a very inspiring night on the 6th July when I worked with the soprano Carmen Lasok - I remember in particular her performance of the Habenera from Carmen, the phrases all just melted into one another and it really did sound like flowing silk. To see such breath control and technique in action was really impressive. Chatting to her, we had young family in common and it is great to talk to a fellow female professional musician and mother about things such as maintaining a practice routine while a child clings to your leg telling you that it is too loud! 
I find it so admirable that Nick Gardiner does such a stirling job organizing and directing the festival every year in Dawlish. What a job and how important it is to keep platforms for the arts alive and kicking in all corners of the land!
http://www.dawlishartsfestival.org.uk/

Such a pleasure to play at the beautiful Corn Barn, near Cullompton. Here we are in the garden: Hilary Boxer, cello; myself, flute; Jane Greenwood, cello and David Cottam, guitar. I loved listening to the two cellos playing together. The sound is so rich, you really can hear more than 2 notes - it sounds like a cello choir! David and I enjoyed playing together, and we will be doing more, with Hilary in Lympstone in the Autumn. Also talk of making a studio recording... I love all the different colours David gets out of his instrument, it's something I'm really considering at the moment... after the concert we stayed on at Yta and Ian's lovely farm and sat outside til after 11pm in thin summery clothes sharing wine, strawberries and cheese. Meeting and sharing music and other things with all sorts of people is just great. This weather definitely makes it easier to be more open and relaxed, too. 

Here is a pic special to my heart! It is me with Jayne Hannah, first flute of ESO. She had to sit through the first piece and then come in cold on the solo at the beginning of Prokofiev's piano concerto no 3 - her beautiful top C sailing over the orchestra on a bed of feathers! :-D ahhh, and I got all the fun Prokofiev piccolo writing! :-D anyyywayyyy...... I am actually end of term report writing at the moment so had better get on with that so I can get back to what it's all about - playing. Thankyou to LUCH, of Phonic FM for taking this photograph, and many more, and writing it all up on his website - www.classicaljourneyphonic.blogspot.co.uk

Next Thursday 18th July I will be performing with Hilary Boxer, cello, Jane Greenwood, cello and David Cottam, guitar at the Corn Barn bear Cullompton. It is a gorgeous, rustic venue, with a cosy yet elegant feel. The last time I played there was with Hilary in the mid-winter. We warmed up our spirits with a 'Festive Flute' programme including Villa-Lobos's 'The Jet Whistle', but it was still really very cold, in reality.... so.... I am looking forward to playing our sunny programme (including works by Piazzolla, Telemann and traditional folk from here and abroad) in SUNNY CLIMES (yes, here in Blighty! Blimey!). I rehearsed with David this morning in the depths of Devon, and couldn't resist taking off on an impromtu walk across the fields afterwards. (Feeling all Thomas Hardy.) A walk, that in my memory took 30mins, actually took me 80mins in the midday, glorious technicolour light, with the mad beauty filled song of the Skylark and the blank blue sky that you can almost hear humming and weighing itself on you....