Posted on 11 January 2011
As the new year commences we'd like to wish everyone a happy and prosperous 2011, and tell you about an exciting event we have planned to launch the Musicians Benevolent Fund's 90th year celebrations.
On a frosty February night in 1921, a meeting took place at 29 Oxford Square, London. Eight people gathered together to set up a Fund in the name of Gervase Elwes. Elwes, a tenor, had been crushed by a train in the USA in January that year. In only an hour a new kind of musicians' fund was born.
Gervase Elwes was loved by Elgar, Vaughan Williams, Quilter and many others. He had been a great talent and a kind and generous man to his fellow musicians.
90 years later, on the 8 February 2011, we will launch our birthday year with an extraordinary, once in a lifetime fundraising concert for the Fund at the Swiss Church in Covent Garden.
Some of today's finest artists, including John Mark Ainsley (tenor), Simon Lepper (piano) and Badke Quartet, will perform On Wenlock Edge by Vaughan Williams. Guests will also hear Elwes' interpretation of the same song cycle recorded in 1917 and reproduced on a 1928 EMG handmade gramophone.
Radio 3's In Tune presenter Sean Rafferty will host the evening and discuss with the artists how Elwes approached both the song cycle and the early recording process.
There are a limited number of seats available for this unique event, which also includes drinks and canapes. Tickets are £100 each or £180 for a pair and can be ordered via our online shop or by calling 020 7239 9114.