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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Alan Dotchin Blog
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250608T150000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250608T170000
DTSTAMP:20260619T140134
CREATED:20250413T150153Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250413T150153Z
UID:17225-1749394800-1749402000@blog.alandotchin.com
SUMMARY:Mozart’s Symphony No. 40
DESCRIPTION:Love. Loss. Putting a brave face on things.\nWho’s on stage\nGuest conductor Riccardo Minasi is joined by singing royalty Véronique Gens and of course our very own Royal Northern Sinfonia. \nWhat they’re playing\nSchubert’s Overture in the Italian Style No.2\, the tragic\, unsettled world of Berlioz’s Les nuits d’été\, and Mozart’s stormy Symphony No. 40. \nWhat’s happening in the music?\nThe title ‘Summer Nights’ (Les nuits d’été) may suggest the sultriness of a long\, hot summers evening\, but Berlioz’s piece is more subtle than that. Summer here is a setting for a meditation on love\, loss\, heartbreak and hope\, all wrapped up in absolutely sublime music. Mozart’s Symphony is full of his characteristic grace\, but is at the same time one of his most tragic pieces – dark and yearning. You can tell he’s smiling on the outside\, but underlying it is sadness and anger. Your evening starts off with Schubert’s Overture\, starting out wistfully\, ending triumphantly. \nWhat’s an overture worth?\nAccording to Schubert’s biographer\, the Overture in the Italian Style No.2 only exists because of a musical bet. Watching a performance of the Rossini’s opera Tancredi with friends\, Schubert declared he would have no difficulty in writing overtures of this sort. His friends took the wager and promised a glass of good wine if he succeeded. Challenge accepted\, he set about immediately composing an overture for orchestra and soon followed it with a second. Let’s hope he got two glasses of good wine for his efforts!
URL:https://blog.alandotchin.com/event/mozarts-symphony-no-40/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://blog.alandotchin.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Gens-portrait-2-©Jean-Baptiste-Millot-scaled-web-768x486-1.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250611T193000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250611T213000
DTSTAMP:20260619T140134
CREATED:20250413T134856Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250413T134856Z
UID:17192-1749670200-1749677400@blog.alandotchin.com
SUMMARY:Chris Hadfield: A Journey into the Cosmos
DESCRIPTION:Join Colonel Chris Hadfield – acclaimed astronaut\, test pilot\, spacewalker\, spaceship commander\, and best-selling author – for a captivating journey into the majesty of our planet and the vast universe beyond. In this visually stunning event\, Chris will present never-before-seen space imagery of Earth\, the Moon\, Mars\, and more\, in an awe-inspiring exploration of discovery. \nDrawing from his three spaceflights\, Chris will share gripping personal stories\, moments of joy and great danger\, insights into cutting-edge space technologies\, and his unique perspective on where we are in human history. Along the way\, you’ll have the chance to engage with Chris directly\, ask your own questions\, and even enjoy a live music performance. \nDon’t miss this rare opportunity to be inspired by one of the world’s most remarkable explorers. \nAdd a Meet and Greet Experience\nThe Meet and Greet experience will include: an intimate 30 minute pre-show chat with Chris Hadfield\, a copy of his most recent novel ‘The Defector’ (RRP £9.99)\, a personal dedication in your copy of the book and a selfie with Chris. Exact timings to be communicated the week before the show. \nAdd-on Meet and Greet tickets are available here. Please note\, the Meet & Greet ticket is an add-on only and must be purchased in addition to an event ticket. 
URL:https://blog.alandotchin.com/event/chris-hadfield-a-journey-into-the-cosmos/
CATEGORIES:Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://blog.alandotchin.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CHRIS-H-2024-800x600-TITLES.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250620T193000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250620T213000
DTSTAMP:20260619T140134
CREATED:20250413T145838Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250413T145838Z
UID:17223-1750447800-1750455000@blog.alandotchin.com
SUMMARY:Vivaldi’s Four Seasons
DESCRIPTION:Thursday 19 June – The Fire Station\, Sunderland\nFriday 20 June – Newcastle Cathedral\nSaturday 21 June – Hexham Abbey\nSunday 22 June – Sedbergh Music Festival\nFriday 27 June – Ripon Cathedral\nSaturday 28 June – St George’s Church\, Cullercoats\nSunday 29 June – St Mary’s Church\, Wooler\n\nFresh. Bright. Sounds like summer.\nWho’s on stage\nRoyal Northern Sinfonia\, directed by Artistic Partner Maria Włoszczowska\, in beautiful venues across the North of England. \nWhat they’re playing\nVivaldi’s timeless The Four Seasons sits at the heart of this concert. Energetic\, whirling dances from Greece and Transylvania and Grieg’s Holberg Suite are also on the set list. \nWhat you’ll hear\nSándor Veress Four Transylvanian Dances (15’)\nEdvard Grieg Holberg Suite (21’)\nNikos Skalkottas Five Greek Dances (9‘)\nInterval\nAntonio Vivaldi The Four Seasons (37’) \nWho’s playing it\nMaria Włoszczowska director\nRoyal Northern Sinfonia \nWhat’s happening in the music\nThree centuries after they were composed\, Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons sounds as fresh and tuneful as ever – and there’s still nothing to beat the sensation of hearing these four brilliant concertos performed live in concert. Experience the birdsong of Spring\, the downpours of Summer\, the celebrations of Autumn\, and the icy shiver of Winter. Never mind four seasons in one day\, it’s four seasons in half an hour. \nGrieg’s Holberg Suite – sometimes also known as ‘From Holberg’s Time – Suite in olden style’ – was written to celebrate the 200th birthday of playwright Ludvig Holberg. It takes five dance styles from the 1700s and gives them a 1884 twist\, with some energetic\, some more contemplative. \nThe dances continue with Veress’ Four Transylvanian Dances and Skalkottas’ Five Greek Dances\, which both take traditional folk dances and turn them into delightful\, dizzying whirlwinds for orchestra. \nGet a feel for the music\nHere’s one of the pieces you’ll hear on this concert tour – Grieg’s Holberg Suite. It’s a real favourite of Maria and the orchestra\, this was recorded in Hexham Abbey in December 2023. Expect the same energy and enthusiasm this time too. \n \nEdvard Grieg’s Holberg Suite – Praeludium (Allegro vivace) | Royal Northern Sinfonia in Hexham Abbey
URL:https://blog.alandotchin.com/event/vivaldis-four-seasons/
CATEGORIES:Classical,Concerts
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://blog.alandotchin.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Maria-RNS-900-x-570-768x512-1.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250627T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250627T193000
DTSTAMP:20260619T140134
CREATED:20250413T151907Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250502T212444Z
UID:17236-1751047200-1751052600@blog.alandotchin.com
SUMMARY:Evening Castle Tours
DESCRIPTION:Join us to explore the Castle Keep after the doors have closed for the night!\nDuration\n1 hour and 30 minutes \nAbout\nExplore the halls and passages inhabited in the days of old. Your guide will reveal the secrets of this amazing building\, tell curious tales from its past\, and will help to bring the building to life. Enjoy the stunning views of the city from the Castle Keep Roof. \nSuitability\nThis is a walking tour of a Grade 1 listed historical monument\, so please wear suitable footwear. Unfortunately the Castle Keep is not a fully accessible building\, so you will need to be able to manage a significant number of stairs during the event. The Castle Keep will be cold\, so please dress appropriately! \nStart Time\n18:00 \nArrive From\n17:45 \nMeeting Point\nOutside Castle Keep entrance\, opposite The Bridge Hotel.
URL:https://blog.alandotchin.com/event/evening-castle-tours/
CATEGORIES:Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://blog.alandotchin.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/290b9086dd3423b1a4bb3d1e75aecdbc-scaled-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250628T193000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250628T213000
DTSTAMP:20260619T140134
CREATED:20250621T162207Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250621T162236Z
UID:19234-1751139000-1751146200@blog.alandotchin.com
SUMMARY:Vivaldi's Four Seasons
DESCRIPTION:Thursday 19 June – The Fire Station\, Sunderland\nFriday 20 June – Newcastle Cathedral\nSaturday 21 June – Hexham Abbey\nSunday 22 June – Sedbergh Music Festival\nFriday 27 June – Ripon Cathedral\nSaturday 28 June – St George’s Church\, Cullercoats\nSunday 29 June – St Mary’s Church\, Wooler \nFresh. Bright. Sounds like summer.\nWho’s on stage\nRoyal Northern Sinfonia\, directed by Artistic Partner Maria Włoszczowska\, in beautiful venues across the North of England. \nWhat they’re playing\nOne of the most popular pieces of classical music in the world – Vivaldi’s timeless The Four Seasons. 300 years old and it hasn’t aged a day. It’s fresh\, bright\, unbounded joy. Energetic\, whirling dances from Greece and Transylvania and Grieg’s Holberg Suite are also on the set list. \n\n\n\nWhat you’ll hear\n\nSándor Veress Four Transylvanian Dances (15’)\nEdvard Grieg Holberg Suite (21’)\nNikos Skalkottas Five Greek Dances (9‘)\nAntonio Vivaldi The Four Seasons (37’) \n\n\nWho’s playing it\n\nMaria Włoszczowska director\nRoyal Northern Sinfonia \n\n\n\n\n\n\nWhat’s happening in the music\n\nThree centuries after they were composed\, Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons sounds as fresh and tuneful as ever – and there’s still nothing to beat the sensation of hearing these four brilliant concertos performed live in concert. Experience the birdsong of Spring\, the downpours of Summer\, the celebrations of Autumn\, and the icy shiver of Winter. Never mind four seasons in one day\, it’s four seasons in half an hour. \nGrieg’s Holberg Suite – sometimes also known as ‘From Holberg’s Time – Suite in olden style’ – was written to celebrate the 200th birthday of playwright Ludvig Holberg. It takes five dance styles from the 1700s and gives them a 1884 twist\, with some energetic\, some more contemplative. \nThe dances continue with Veress’ Four Transylvanian Dances and Skalkottas’ Five Greek Dances\, which both take traditional folk dances and turn them into delightful\, dizzying whirlwinds for orchestra. \n\nHere’s one of the pieces you’ll hear on this concert tour – Grieg’s Holberg Suite. It’s a real favourite of Maria and the orchestra\, this was recorded in Hexham Abbey in December 2023. Expect the same energy and enthusiasm this time too.
URL:https://blog.alandotchin.com/event/vivaldis-four-seasons-2/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://blog.alandotchin.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Maria-RNS-900-x-570-768x512-1.jpg
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