Madeleine Mitchell Recital by Schubert, Vaughan Williams, Brahms, Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff, MacMillan, Fra (2023/2023), St John's Smith Square, London, United Kingdom

Violinist Madeleine Mitchell, described by The Times as ‘one of the UK’s liveliest musical forces’ is a favourite at SJSS, from her widely celebrated ‘Century of Music by British Women’ concert on International Womens’ Day and televised appearances in the Americana Festival. She returns with a special Easter programme including the sublime Kiss on Wood Sir James MacMillan wrote her (based on the Easter plainchant and recorded by Mitchell on her In Sunlight album), Vaughan Williams’ evergreen The Lark Ascending in its original version for violin and piano, with Schubert’s prayer Ave Maria (the song arranged by Palaschko, from Madeleine’s popular album Violin Songs), Rachmaninoff Vocalise celebrating his 150th anniversary and Brahms’ lyrical Violin Sonata No. 2, all connecting with the Come and Sing at 2pm at St John’s. Ivan Hewett describes Kiss on Wood as ‘having a rapt inward lyricism, a quality inherent in Mitchell’s playing… beginning with giant resonances on the piano redolent of large sacred spaces’. Joining Madeleine is the excellent pianist Nigel Clayton with whom she has performed for many years, including Wigmore Hall, BBC Radio 3, Singapore Victoria Hall and on her acclaimed album Violin Muse. The programme lasts an hour. Enjoy lunch afterwards in the Crypt.