More magical music at St James’

The “enchanting” early music consort Poeticall Musicke

Stand by for another season of top-class musical performances at St James’ in Prebend Street as the 2013 Islington Proms get under way.

Cantallini perform at this year’s first Prom with the Hermitage Quartet and guest musicians.

The season kicked off in March to great acclaim with the Cantallini Chamber Choir accompanied by the Hermitage Quartet and others, performing Haydn, Elgar and some stirring Russian motets.

By popular demand Cantallini will return on 15 June with organist Rhidian Jones and a programme celebrating Britten and Purcell.

The impressive series continues with Arlington Square’s resident concert pianist Rupert Egerton-Smith once again delighting his many fans on 29 June. Rupert’s international prize-winning concerts include first prize and audience award at the 20th International Concours des Grands Amateurs in Paris.

On 13 July the enchanting Poeticall Musicke return to St James’ with music from the height of the English Baroque including Locke’s Broken Consorts, Lawes’ Harp Consorts and songs by Purcell. The renowned blogger Londonslant described a previous Poeticall Musicke performance at St James’ as “an intimate evening with a group of young musicians whose performance matched their magical name…the evening was enhanced by the good acoustics of St James’ Church.” Read the blog at http://londonslant.com/category/music-2.

These good acoustics will be tested to the max on 11 May when the WTW Big Band comes to the church along with the Martin Klute Trio. Jazz, swing and funk at St James’. Definitely not to be missed.

After the opening Proms concert in March, one audience member was heard to say: “I can’t believe we have such a high-quality concert venue so close to home. And at such good prices. Aren’t we lucky?”

All concerts start at 7.30, and refreshments are usually served. Tickets cost only £10 (concessions £8) and can be bought at the door or in advance from the Vicarage, 1A Arlington Square.

The programme for September, October and November is still being finalised. The autumn concerts will include a Children’s Prom in October and piano recitals by Hurokei Seki in September and Evelina Puzaite in November.