The Athenaeum Liverpool

The Sweet Scent of Success with Sarah Binns
2019-08-08 17:30 - 19:30 (Europe/London) | The Athenaeum Liverpool, Church Alley, Liverpool, L1 3DD, United Kingdom
The first event that will form part of a series throughout the year and might be of particular
interest to our lady Proprietors – although men should not feel like they are excluded! Guests
will hear a presentation from Sarah Binns of Kenneth Green Associates – one of the leading
distributors of fine fragrances such as Cartier and Bvlgari. Sarah will be discussing the
evolution of fragrance from antiquity to the present day. Discover the origins and symbolism
of raw ingredients and have the opportunity to find your new signature scent! There will be an
opportunity to ask questions and try some of the fragrances with an opportunity to buy.
£15.00 per person, price includes reception drink & canapés

Members Reception
2019-07-25 18:30 - 22:00
The first of our new bi-monthly introductory event giving a platform for members to meet and expand their circles within the Club. During the event, newer Members will have the opportunity to sign their name into Athenaeum history when they sign their share in the 1809 Share Register. If you know anyone who might be interested in joining the Athenaeum, invite them along for what is sure to be an enjoyable evening.
£12.50 per person, including reception drink and canapes

History Group Meeting
2019-07-17 14:00 - 15:30
“From Chiots to Cypriots; The Greeks in Liverpool since 1840”, by Steve Williams.
2:00 pm in the Library.

Meet the President
2019-07-11 18:00 - 22:00
On Thursday 11 June Members and guests are invited to ‘Meet The President’ at a special reception in the Newsroom which will be accompanied by a gourmet buffet! Meet our new President, as well as old friends and perhaps some new ones. We hope to see you (and your guests?) from 6:00 pm to start the year as we mean to go on, with great food, company and of course fun! You can book your tickets now via the Members’ Area or through reception for just £25.00 per person.

Arrival drink served from – 6:00 pm
Fork Buffet served from 6:30 pm
Meeting, greeting, conversing and eating- 6:30pm-10:00pm
Last orders at the bar will be called at 9:45 pm
The building will close at 10:30 pm

Gourmet Fork Buffet Menu
Carved roast English striploin of beef
Side of Gravadlax with Gherkins
Italian marinated seafood cocktail
Selection of Scottish Charcuterie
Egg Mayonnaise with Anchovies and parsley
Beef tomato and Mozzarella, basil and pesto
Olives
Stuffed cherry peppers with Feta
Mixed green salad leaves
Mixed Chopped salad
Selection of Salad dressings
Spanish Pork Albondigas in a chilli and tomato sauce
Stuffed roast tomatoes with Tuna and Rice
Chicken escalope with peppercorn sauce
Sauté Potatoes
Selection of Artisan Breads
Fresh Fruit Salad
Black Forest Gateaux

Literature Group Meeting
2019-07-04 17:30 - 20:00
Southport writer Kate Conlon has written many novels and short stories under the names of Kathleen Conlon and Kate North. Among them are My Father’s House, Face Values,Unfinished Business and The Best of Friends. She has ‘a talent for exposing the quivering tissues and raw nerves of life’ (Sunday Telegraph) and ‘writes warmly as well as convincingly’ (Woman’s Own’).

Music Group- Jazz Concert
2019-07-03 18:00 - 19:00
Jazz at The Athenaeum : The Melvin Peters Trio
£5.00 per person (to be booked in advance)
There will be 2 x 40 Minute Performances with Newsroom services available throughout.
Melvin Peters is a jazz pianist, composer, arranger, educator and church organist. He started classical piano lessons at the age of six and continued throughout high school. Whilst studying towards a Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Natal, he began jazz piano lessons under the tutelage of Darius Brubeck in 1983. After completing a Master of Music degree in Jazz Performance in 1989, he was appointed lecturer in Jazz Studies at the University of Durban-Westville in 1990. He taught here for ten years and during this time was awarded a scholarship to study at Harvard University in 1998. He has performed extensively in Europe, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Melvin Peters has worked with several leading South African jazz musicians. Career highlights include performances with such jazz luminaries as Herb Ellis and Ginger Baker, as well as the opportunity to share the stage with the legendary Dave Brubeck at Harvard University in 1999. He has collaborated with Abdullah Ibrahim in the formation of the Cape Town Jazz Orchestra, for which he was appointed Music Director. Other major performances include collaborations at the Joy of Jazz Festival and the Hilton Festival. He has made several appearances with the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra and also performed in the premiere of Noel Stockton’s
“Invictus” with the Free State Symphony Orchestra. In September 2010, he received the Living Legends Award by the Ethekwini Municipality in acknowledgement of his contribution to the musical landscape of Durban, as well as to South Africa as a whole.

The Film Group
2019-06-19 08:00 - 17:00
Further details TBC
Saboteur

The Liverpool Athenaeum Opera Prize.
2019-06-14 18:30 - 23:00
The President David Roscoe is delighted to announce the inaugural Sir David Maddison Opera Prize presented by the Liverpool Athenaeum, and held in association with The Royal Northern College of Music, and produced by Athenaeum Proprietor David Cox.
Five outstanding Singers from the RNCM have been selected from a shortlist of students who put their names forward to take part in the Prize contest. They will each perform two items from their repertoire before Athenaeum Proprietors and their invited guests, and whilst doing so they will be adjudged by a distinguished panel of Judges, chaired by Athenaeum Proprietor Dr Glyn Williams, on their technical and artistic merit. These opera stars of the future will be competing for the prestigious trophy awarded in his name by kind permission of Sir David Maddison.
A first prize of a cheque to the value of £250 given on behalf of the club, and a trophy donated by the Producer, will be awarded to the Singer judged to be the most outstanding on the night, with a runner up prize of a cheque to the value of £100 also given on behalf of the club. It is hoped that if this evening is well supported by Proprietors, The Sir David Maddison Opera Prize may become an annual event on the Clubs calendar and provide a platform for young outstanding Opera stars of the future to showcase their talents before an appreciative and discerning audience.
The accompanist for the contest performance will be Jason Ellis the very talented, Composer and Concert Pianist, who many of you will by now be familiar with, if you have attended the two Opera at The Athenaeum concerts held during the last year.
The biographies for the artistes can be found below;

Alicia Cadwgan – Soprano
Alicia Cadwgan is a New Zealand soprano currently in her first year of study for a Master of Music at The Royal Northern College of Music under the tutelage of Susan Roper. She holds a Bachelor of Music and Postgraduate Diploma with distinction from the New Zealand School of Music where she studied with Margaret Medlyn and Richard Greager, and is also an alumna of the prestigious New Zealand opera school. Last year, Alicia sang the role of Susanna in the English production of The Marriage of Figaro with Wanderlust opera and performed as a chorus member in New Zealand Opera’s production of The Elixir of love. Since moving to Manchester in September Alicia has become a member of the RNCM songsters and has also had the pleasure of performing with the RNCM Harp Ensemble. She looks forward to exploring many more performance opportunities in the United Kingdom, and wishes to gratefully acknowledge the James and Mary Glass Award which she received towards her study this year.

Molly Barker – Mezzo-Soprano
Molly is a mezzo-soprano from Nottinghamshire, now living in the Peak District. She is in her second year of a two-year masters degree at The Royal Northern College of Music, studying under the tutorage of Hilary Summers. She has been generously supported by Joyce Kennedy as a recipient of The Michael Kennedy Award and a scholarship awarded by the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation. Molly is a newcomer to the professional singing world, having performed in her first opera in summer 2018 in the chorus of Tisbe, performed by La Serenissima at the Buxton Opera House. Since then she has played the role of La Zia Principessa in Suor Angelica (Puccini) and Zita in Gianni Schicchi (Puccini) in the RNCM winter productions. This year she has performed with the Birmingham Opera Company in their production of Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk (Shostakovich) and will be rejoining the Buxton International festival in a new opera called the Orphans of Koombu, a collaborative project involving local schools. Alongside music, Molly maintains a strong interest in agriculture, having taken an undergraduate degree in Countryside Management at the University of Derby Buxton. Alongside her current studies, she still enjoys time spent with the dairy cows, and keeping up to date with all the latest agricultural gossip.

Peter Lidbetter Biography
Peter Lidbetter is a second-year scholarship student at the Royal Northern College of Music, studying for a Master’s degree in vocal performance with Nicholas Powell. His study is generously supported by the Choir association of St John’s College Cambridge and the HR Taylor Charitable Trust. Peter graduated from Jesus College Cambridge in 2015 where he was a music student and choral scholar, winning the Margaret Mair prize for vocal performance in his final year. Subsequently, he worked with the choir of St John’s College Cambridge as a lay clerk.
Peter made his professional Operatic debut in 2018 as Colline (La Boheme) with Flat Pack Opera and has also played Figaro (La Nozze di Figaro) for the same company. He was in the choruses of Mozart’s Idomeneo and Verdi’s Alzira last year with Buxton Festival Opera and returns this year to play the role of Policeman in their upcoming production of Orphans of Koombu. At the RNCM he has performed the roles of Simone (Gianni Schicchi) and Evangelist (Pilgrim’s Progress). Prior to this had sixteen operatic credits with the Cambridge University Opera Society, including Sid (Albert Herring) Tarquinius (The rape of Lucretia) and Zebul (Jephtha) He also premiered the role of the Count in Owain Park’s opera The Snow Child at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Other recent solo performances include both Bach Passions, Haydn’s Creation, Mozart’s Coronation Mass, Schubert’s Mass in B flat, and Magnificat, Handel’s Messiah, Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle with the Nottingham Bach Choir, and Mozart’s Requiem with Christopher Herrick and the Brandenburg Sinfonia.

Ralph Thomas Williams – Countertenor
Ralph Thomas Williams is a British Countertenor reading Masters at The Royal Northern College of Music under the esteemed tutorage of Nicholas Powell after obtaining BMus Hons at The Royal Holloway University of London. This academic year, Ralph has enjoyed performing in RNCM’s production of Vaughan Williams The Pilgrims Progress as The Woodcutters boy, and in Flight by Jonathan Dove as the title role Refugee for RNCM’s Spring term opera scenes. Before Masters, he was a student at City Lit Opera School at Convent Garden performing opera scenes from Handel’s Jeptha as Hamor, Britten’s Midsummer Night’s Dream as Oberon, and Handel’s Giulio Cesare as Tolomeo, and premiered three operas with Manchester Contemporary Youth opera. A versatile performer, this current academic year Ralph has performed concerts as soloist with Manchester Baroque at Manchester Art gallery, Alexey Pudinov and Kimi Makino at Cross street chapel, Mozart Vespers with Wigan Choral Society, and as a member of Canzonetta Choir at Bridgewater Hall and Birmingham Symphony Hall. Additionally, he has won two competitions at this time: the Bessie Cronshaw and Frost Brownson Song Cycle competition with Rodger Steptoes cycle “Chinese Lyrics Set Two” and the Rosamond Prize with Composer/Pianist Aaron Breeze and Librettist Lauren Garland with the premiere performance of ” Bed Scenes with Mammoth” Ralph’s upcoming performances include Summer term opera scenes at RNCM as Fox in Dove’s Adventures of Pinocchio, Prince Orlofsky in Leeds Youth opera’s 1920 production of Strauss ‘DieFledermaus and an Early Music lunchtime recital with lutenist Sara Sallom at Blackburn Cathedral.

Julia Smith – Soprano
Hailing from North East England, Julia grew up with a background in the musical theatre as a part of Chester-le-Street Theatre group from 1999-2011. During this time she also became proficient in the piano and flute while at school and has won various awards, including the James Etherington Music Award, and the Jack Smith Memorial Prize. Julia went on to study music at the Liverpool Hope university studying with Vanessa Williamson, where she graduated with first class honours. She went on to complete an MA by Creative Practice as part of the vocal consort ‘ Voices of Hope’ at the same institution. Voices of Hope have toured around the country for various engagements, including the House of Lords on two occasions, and have also toured three times to the south of France to raise money for the charity ‘The Sangaman Project’ directed by John Bates. She has taken part in masterclasses with I Fagiolini director Robert Hollingworth, and musicologist John Milsom. Julia was also awarded The Sue Willis Memorial Prize for outstanding contribution to the life of the university through music.
Julia is currently studying under the tutelage of Deborah Rees at the Royal Northern College of Music for a Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Musical performance. She is generously supported by the Richard Newitt fund, Liverpool University, the Rushworth Trust, Split Infinitive Trust, and the Mario Lanza Educational Foundation. At the RNCM she is a member of the RNCM Songsters and the ‘Quintata’ Consort. She has played the role of ‘Tina’ in Flight by Jonathan Dove for Opera scenes, performed as a soloist for the RNCM Chamber music festival, and has performed for a chamber recital at St Ann’s church in Manchester city centre. At the RNCM she has taken part in Masterclasses with many professionals including Sir John Tomlinson, Janice Watson, and Alister Hume. She is also a member of the Manchester Chamber Choir, and Manchester Canzonetta choir with performances including the world premiere of the BBC’s ‘One Planet, Seven Worlds’ by Hans Zimmer, and Karl Jenkins birthday celebrations at Birmingham Symphony Hall. Julia looks forward to touring with the Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company as ‘Gianetta’ in The Gondoliers and ‘Kate’ in The Yeoman of the Guard from July to September 2019.

Jason Ellis
Jason was born in Yorkshire and is a graduate of Leeds college of Music, and Liverpool University where he trained in classical and romantic piano performance, composition, orchestration, and arranging.
Jason has been involved with choral music since accompanying the Liverpool University singers during his studies, and in 2013 Jason founded the Mersey wave choir. He works with several choral groups across Merseyside including the Magull based Georgian singers, and Wirral based Cappriccio singers. Since 2010 he has been accompanist to the Froneysyllte Male voice choir. Since 2014 Jason can be regularly found at the piano in the Liverpool Empire theatre and was recently accompanist for the Rainhill Music festival.
Jason performs regularly on the concert platform as a soloist and accompanist, composes and creates musical arrangements and transcriptions on a freelance basis. Jason is a session musician at Industrial Music studios and has an active piano/theory music tutor practice. He is also a member of the Music and staging committee for the Llangollen International Eisteddfod.

Schedule
Arrivals 6.30pm.
Opera contest concert 7pm.
Supper 8.15pm.
9.45pm Prize giving and Winners reprise performance.
10.10pm Opera prize concludes.

Wine Tasting Evening
2019-06-12 18:00 - 21:30
In the hope that summer will have arrived, the event on 12 June will focus on rosé wine. In line with some of our earlier popular events, this will be an interactive affair, as we put well-known French rosés up against rosés from elsewhere – one of the pairings will be sparkling. Rosé wine has improved tremendously of late in many areas. It will be interesting to see if the French still come out on top. A range of snacks will be available to accompany the wines. Again, this will be an informal event in the Newsroom starting at 6pm and the wines will be available at a special discount rate. The event costs £16 per head
Schedule
Arrivals from 18.00 to 18.15
Brief Intro by Jon Atkinson 18.15
Wine & Charcuterie from 18.15 to 20.00
Newsroom Bar Open from 20.00 to 21.30
Last Orders from 21.15 to 21.30
Club Closes at 22.00
Building Locked from 22.00 to 22.30
Menu
Premiere Wheel of Brie Du Meaux Donge Served with grapes, figs, strawberries, celery and biscuits.
There is limited availability for this event which will take place in the Newsroom

The Film Group
2019-06-12 14:00 - 16:00
12th June, 2019 Lady in the Van (2015) We finish our season with Alan Bennett’s comedy-drama about an elderly lady, (Mary Shepherd) who lived in a van which she parked on Bennett’s driveway, for 15 years. Directed by Nicholas Hytner, Mary is played by Maggie Smith and Bennett by Alex Jennings. Maggie Smith was nominated for both a Golden Globe and BAFTA for her performance.
(Running time104 mins)

Theatre Group
2019-06-08 14:00 - 17:00
Saturday 8 June—COOPED
2:00pm at the Playhouse
£17.00 per person
To celebrate their 20th anniversary, Spymonkey (A Christmas Carol) is offering Liverpool audiences an unmissable opportunity to catch this deliciously demented take on the pulp gothic romance – think Hitchcock’s Rebecca meets The Pink PantherTickets to be collected from the Athenaeum
£17.00 per person—booking deadline Thursday 23 May
*Following the final booking date tickets will not be refundable, although it may be possible for you to transfer your ticket to a member who had not yet booked. Bookings may be able to be made following the booking date, however, this is not guaranteed and if successful you may not be sat with the rest of the group.

Saturday Opening
2019-06-08 11:00 - 17:00
Saturday 8 June 2019, Newsroom Service between 11:00am & 5:00pm
No Dress code will be in operation for the Saturday opening.
The Club will be open on Saturday 8 June for Members to use. Full Newsroom service will be available throughout the day from 11:00am, with last orders for food and beverage 4:00pm an 4:30pm respectively. The Club will close at 5:00pm that day. Please see page 12 for details on the Theatre Group’s visit to the Playhouse taking place that day.

D-Day 75th Anniversary Lunch
2019-06-06 12:00 - 16:00
Thursday 6 June 2019, Guests will be gathering from 12:00pm —£35.00pp
Ticket includes three course lunch, wine and charitable donation
On Thursday 6 June, we commemorate the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings with a special lunch in conjunction with the Alexandrians of Merseyside, who’s President, Dame Lorna E.F Muirhead DCVO DBE CStJ DL will be in attendance. A short talk on the history of the D-Day Landings will be given by Brian Gillbanks, and we will be joined by Principal Guest, Vice-Lord-Lieutenant of Merseyside, Mr Robert Owen JP DL, Military Guest, Col Steve Boardman MBE DL, and President of the Alexandrians. A contribution of the ticket cost will be donated to SSAFA. Full size medals may be worn if appropriate.
Menu
Starter
Chefs Soup of the Day served with warm bread rolls (v)
Main Course
Roast breast of chicken, Asparagus spears, tarragon sauce, parmesan
Served with tender stem broccoli, Parisienne potatoes
Tomato and basil Risotto (v)
Dessert
Strawberry pavlova

Literature Group
2019-06-05 14:00 - 15:30
Bring Your Own Poem !
Following the success of November’s Bring Your Own session on war poetry, we are having another meeting to which people are encouraged to bring their own favorite poems (or short pieces of prose). I am proposing that the subject this time should be memories – so either a piece about memories or one that brings back a special memory for you. The format is that those who have brought poems etc. with them will read them and briefly explain their choice (perhaps stimulating some discussion). Of course, if you don’t want to read, someone else can read for you and if you don’t want to bring a poem you’re more than welcome to sit and listen.

Restaurant Dining Evening
2019-05-24 18:30 - 23:30
Optional Wine Flight available for £20.00pp
Starter
Slow Cooked Wood Pigeon with Alsace Ham, Pear, Pinenut and Frisée Salad, Beetroot 3 Ways
Intermediate
Parsley Soup, Scallop, Avruga, Lemon Pearls
Main Course
Ballotine of Rabbit, Chicken and Boudin Blanc Mousse
Bramley Apple Puree, Garlic Snails
Dessert
Mango Delice, Poached English Rhubarb, Ginger Crumb

Dress Code – Smart Casual – no requirement for Jacket and tie

The Music of Rodgers and Hammerstein
2019-05-22 18:30 - 22:30
An evening of the music of Rodgers and Hammerstein with their fascinating story narrated by the President David Roscoe and some of their most special songs sung by local artist Sarah Chidlow. The evening will continue with a two course dinner.
Main Course
Salmon and Spinach En Croute, Tomato & red onion salad, lemon and tarragon dressing, buttered new potatoes
Dessert
Strawberries and Cream

History Group Meeting
2019-05-22 14:00 - 15:30
Rose Tyler – “Discovering Prescots Elizabethan Playhouse”

The Film Group
2019-05-15 14:00 - 16:00
15th May, 2019 In the Heat of the Night (1967) A mystery drama directed by Norman Jewison, it tells the story of Virgil Tibbs (Sidney Poitier), a black policeman from Philadelphia, who becomes involved in the investigation of a murder in a small town in Mississippi. The chief of Police is played by Rod Steiger.
The film won five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Rod Steiger.
(Running time 109 mins)

New Members Informal Dining
2019-05-10 18:30 - 23:00
Details TBC

Literature Group and Meeting
2019-05-09 17:30 - 20:00
Thursday 9th May 5.30 pm
Local writer Deborah Morgan published her first novel Disappearing Home, set in inner-city Liverpool, in 2012. It was described by Alan Bleasdale as ‘a remarkable first novel – both heartbreaking and wonderfully lacking in any sentimentality’ and by Jimmy Mc Govern as ‘wonderful, authentic, compelling’. Debbie is currently working on further novels and a play.

Opera At The Athenaeum
2019-05-03 18:30 - 23:30
Friday 3 May, 6.30pm for 7.00pm £38.50 per person
Tickets include Champagne Reception & Three Course Dinner During Interval
The unprecedented success of last Septembers opera concert staged at the Athenaeum, and the very positive feedback from the Proprietors and Guests in attendance has persuaded our club President to commission David Cox to produce a further Opera concert which will be performed on Friday, May 3rd. The evening’s performance will once again feature some of the best-loved and most memorable arias from the world of Opera, performed by Internationally acclaimed artistes headlined by the captivating Mezzo Soprano Alexandra Tiffin, with a return performance from the ex-Royal Opera House and local Liverpool Tenor Nick Hardy. Featuring the rising star of Opera who recently performed at the Downing Street Christmas concert, baritone Peter Edge who is travelling up from London especially to perform for us on the night. These fantastic artistes will be accompanied on the Athenaeum Kemble piano by the renowned Composer and concert pianist Jason Ellis. So for another evening to long remember, please join us once again for an evening of OPERA AT THE ATHENAEUM on Friday, May 3rd 2019.
Book your place now via the Members’ Area or through reception. Further details, including the menu, Schedule and biographies of the artistes can be found below;
Menu
Starter – Carmen
Carrot, Coriander and Ginger Soup (v)

Main Course – Tournedos Rossini
Fillet of Beef, Spinach, Duck Liver Parfait
Served with Buttered New Potatoes and Roasted Glazed Parsnips

Spinach, Mushroom Rossini En Croute (v)

Dessert – Turandot Tiramisu
Coffee Liquor Soaked Sponge, Mascarpone and Vanilla

Schedule
Rehearsal for Artistes at 16.30
Reception from 18.30 to 19.00
Performance Part 1 from 19.00 to 19.45
Dinner from 19.45 to 21.15
Performance Part 2 from 21.15 to 22.00
Newsroom Service from 22.00 to 23.30
Last Orders from 23.15 to 23.30

ATHENAEUM OPERA EVENING ARTISTES BIOGRAPHIES

Alexandra Tiffin
Alexandra was born in Liverpool and grew up in Crosby. She gained a B.Mus.Hons from The Royal Northern College of Music in 2002, and then a Distinction in her postgraduate diploma (singing) from The Royal Academy of Music in 2007. Alexandra’s professional career as a Mezzo Soprano has included singing roles and chorus for Opera companies, including English National Opera, Welsh National Opera, Scottish Opera, and Opera North, Grange Park Opera, Opera Holland Park, and Buxton Festival opera. Recently Alexandra has sung in the extra chorus for ‘War and Peace’ and ‘Un Ballo in Maschera’ for Welsh National Opera. She is also singing in the extra chorus in ‘Aida’ at Opera North, along with tenor soloist Nick Hardy. Alexandra also regularly performs with pianist Mark Millington at concerts and corporate events around the northwest.

Jason Ellis
Jason was born in Yorkshire and is a graduate of Leeds College of Music, and Liverpool University where he trained in classical and romantic piano performance, composition, orchestration, and arranging.
Jason has been involved with choral music since accompanying the Liverpool University singers during his studies, and in 2013 Jason founded the Mersey wave choir. He works with several choral groups across Merseyside including the Magull based Georgian singers, and Wirral based Cappriccio singers. Since 2010 he has been an accompanist to the Froneysyllte Male voice choir. Since 2014 Jason can be regularly found at the piano in the Liverpool Empire theatre and was recently accompanist for the Rainhill Music festival.
Jason performs regularly on the concert platform as a soloist and accompanist, composes and creates musical arrangements and transcriptions on a freelance basis. Jason is a session musician at Industrial Music studios and has an active piano/theory music tutor practice. He is also a member of the Music and staging committee for the Llangollen International Eisteddfod.

Nick Hardy
Nick Hardy (tenor) made his Royal Opera House Covent Garden debut, in September 2017 as a member of the Borghese in Richard Jones new setting of La Boheme with Sir Antonio Pappano conducting, a production which was screened live in cinemas throughout Europe and shown later worldwide. As a freelance singer, he has appeared with the choruses of English National Opera, Welsh National Opera, Opera North, and Wexford Festival Opera. For Scottish Opera and Buxton Festival Opera he has performed chorus roles and covered major roles. For London Festival Opera he has appeared as a principal in opera galas in Italy, Germany, and Spain.
His roles in oratorio have taken him throughout the UK and to France. With small local companies, he has performed more than twenty major opera roles including, Rodolfo, Canio, Turridu, Don Jose, Nadir, Manrico, Cavaradossi, Renato, Duke of Mantua, and Radames. His principal teachers after studying at the Royal Academy of Music were Joan Carlyle and Colin Iveson. He lives in Liverpool and is the founder and director of Liverpool Italian opera Co.

Peter Edge
British Baritone Peter Edge, is in his second year of Masters at The Royal College of Music London, where he is tutored by Peter Savidge. Competition successes include the International medal at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod, the Chris Treglown Memorial Award, and RNCM Freckleton Prize. Peter also achieved Highly Commended in the Kathleen Ferrier Bursary Competition, Brooks van Der Pump English Song Competition, and the RCM Lieder Competition.
Opera roles include Alfio Cavalleria Rusticana (Blackburn Cathedral) Antonio La Nozze di Figaro (RCM, directed by Sir Thomas Allen) Don Alfonso Cosi Fan Tutte (Opera at The Athenaeum Pall Mall) Dulcamara L’elisir d’amore (New Sussex Opera) Guglielmo Cosi Fan Tutte (Felici Opera) Littore Lincoronazione di Poppea (Loughborough Festival Opera) Masetto Don Giovanni (Opera Loki and Felici Opera) Papageno Die Zaberflote (City of Manchester Opera) Theseus A Midsummer Night’s Dream (RNCM and RCM) and Zaretsky Eugene Onegin (RCM)
Peter has been a Young Artist of Loughborough Festival Opera for the last two years. As an oratorio soloist Peter has recently performed the solos in Bach’s St John Passion and Handel’s Messiah (St Martin in the Fields) and Verdi’s Requiem (Elgar Concert Hall Birmingham)
Peter made his TV debut on S4C at Llangollen, and also appeared in the BBC film Florence Foster Jenkins. Peter regularly sings on live BBC Radio 4 LW and BBC Shropshire and has performed live on BBC Radio 3’s drivetime show: In Tune with presenter Sean Rafferty.

Artist Talks, with the Bluecoat Display Centre
2019-04-30 13:00 - 16:00
Textile Artist & Illustrator — Rachael Howard.
Tuesday 30 April, 1:00 for 1:30pm, £15.00 per person
Textile artist & illustrator Rachael Howard will speak about her artistic career. Rachael first spoke at the Athenaeum in 2014 about her practice, she now returns to show how her career has developed. In particular Rachael has worked as artist in residence at Royal Liverpool University Hospital as part of Bluecoat Display Centre’s outreach programme, teaching drawing to those living with dementia. This had a significant effect on the patients as they learned a new skill, grew in confidence and became more relaxed. This was also a valuable experience for Rachael, as this was her first time working in the hospital environment.
Rachael is one of the most respected practitioners of narrative textiles. She has pioneered a lively mix of embroidery and screen-printing techniques, using image, text and object to tell stories of the everyday.
Followed by Afternoon Tea in the Newsroom.
Schedule
Arrivals from 13.00 to 13.30
Talk starts in the library from 13.30 to 15.00
Afternoon Tea served in Newsroom from 15.00 to 16.00
Building closes at 16.00

Younger Members Quarterly Dinner
2019-04-26 18:30 - 23:30
Following the huge success of the Inaugural Younger Members Dinner last year – our signature dinner returns, offering fantastic value, where we can meet, dine and introduce new people to the Athenaeum in style.
– Delicious Three Course Black Tie Dinner
– Served with Champagne
– Welcome bubbly on arrival
– Bar and Disco
– Plus-ones encouraged
Menu
Starter
Crème Du Barry Soup with Poached Smoked Haddock and Baby Leeks

Main Course
Roast Breast of Chicken with Smoked Bacon and Pearl Onions, White Wine and Tarragon Cream
Tender Stem Broccoli with Almonds, Parmentier Potatoes

Dessert
Vanilla Pannacotta, Berry Compote

Athenaeum Quiz Night
2019-04-24 18:30 - 22:00
Wednesday 24 April, 6.30pm for 7.00pm £12.50 per person
The Athenaeum quiz returns for its second year! Organisations from across the city have been invited to enter a team for the quiz, and there will of course be a team from the Athenaeum. These teams will compete between themselves for a trophy. However, the event is open to all members of the Athenaeum, so please do attend and take part. You can organise your own team of four if you like (guests will as always be very welcome) but otherwise just turn up and we will make up teams of four on the night. The Athenaeum members will get the same questions as the institutional teams, but will compete amongst themselves for a separate trophy. The questions will not be too hard, and the aim is basically to have some fun and to provide an opportunity for members of the invited institutions and the Athenaeum to get to know each other. The dress code for this event will be smart casual, so men will not be obliged to wear jacket and ties. A one course supper will be served at 7:00pm before the quiz.
Schedule
Arrivals – Cash bar from 18.30 to 19.00
1 course supper from 19.00 to 20.00
Quiz from 20.00 to 21.30
Last Orders from 22.15 to 22.30
Club Closes at 23.00

Far East Prisoners of War
2019-04-18 18:30 - 23:30
Have you booked your place at next Thursday’s Presidential Supper ‘Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and the Far East Prisoners of War connections’?

LSTM’s longest running collaboration is with ex-Far East prisoners of war (FEPOW). Now in its seventh decade, this unique relationship has led to world-class research into tropical medicine and the effects of captivity which continues to inform modern treatment and the way in which military personnel care for today during some modern deployments.

LSTM’s Far Eastern Prisoners Of War (FEPOW) project was featured in an edition of Wellcome Trust’s life science publication Mosaic. This audio programme is available here (from December 2015)

The ongoing work of LSTM’s honorary fellows Geoff Gill and Meg Parkes has culminated in the release of the books Captive Memories (2015), now in its 2nd edition and Burma Railway Medicine (2017), with quotes from all interviewees providing a fascinating history underpinned with eyewitness accounts and personal perspectives. These two books chart the history of this enduring relationship from the experiences that led to initial clinical consultations to the impact the research has had upon modern medical science.

Along with the books, the pair co-chaired international FEPOW history research conferences in Liverpool, Far East Explored: 70 years on(link is external) in 2015 and Legacies of Captivity (link is external)in June 2017. Meg Parkes remains involved in an ongoing Education programme, working within schools to ensure that the voices of those involved are not forgotten.

Geoff and Meg are currently working on an exhibition to bring unknown and unpublished contemporaneous documentary FEPOW art to public attention. This will take place at the University of Liverpool’s Victoria Gallery and Museum from October 2019 to April 2020.

Book your place now via the website or through reception, full details can be found below;

‘Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and the Far East Prisoners of War connections’
With Professor Geoff Gill and Meg Parkes.
Thursday 18 April 2019 – 6:30 for 7:00pm
£25.00 per person, including a reception drink, two-course supper and a donation to the speaker’s foundation.
In conjunction with the Alexandrians of Merseyside.

Menu

Main Course
Baked Salmon and Shellfish Crepe with Parmesan, Tarragon Sauce
Asparagus, Pomme Noisettes
~~
Baked Wild Mushroom and Spinach Crepe (v)

Dessert
Fruit Trifle

Schedule –
Reception Drink – 6:30-7:00pm
Presentation – 7:00-7:45pm
Supper – 7:45-9:00pm
The Newsroom will be open following supper.

Wine Tasting Evening
2019-04-17 18:00 - 22:30
I am delighted to announce a trio of wine tasting events taking place this spring and summer. In the hope of providing something for as many members as possible, each event will take a different format.
We start on 17 April with an Italian evening. After a glass of Prosecco on arrival, we will be tasting – under the expert guidance of Jon Atkinson – half a dozen wines reflecting the diversity of styles across Italy. Russell and his team will be providing an enticing spread of antipasti to accompany the wines. This will be an informal event in the Newsroom starting at 6pm. There will be an opportunity for those present to rank the wines in order of preference (just an indicative vote, of course) as well as being able to order any of the wines at a special discount rate. The event costs £20 per head
Menu
Italian Antipasti – Olives & Charcuterie

Library and Archives Group
2019-04-11 17:30 - 20:00
Thursday 11 April: 5:30pm in the Library
6:30pm informal supper (reservation required )
Speaker -Nancy Rudd ; A Gladstone Journal

The Film Group
2019-04-10 14:00 - 16:00
10th April, 2019 The Death of Stalin (2017) A political satire, written and directed by Armando Iannucci, this modern film is based on a French graphic novel “La Mort de Staline”. The actors include Simon Russell Beale as Beria, Steve Buscemi as Kruschev, Michael Palin as Molotov and Jeffry Tambor as Malenkov. One of the funniest characters is Marshal Zhukov, played by Jason Isaacs. While enjoying the comedy, remember that much of this actually happened. On its release, Iannucci said, “Hitler is poison. Hitler is toxic. You wouldn’t get any pictures of Hitler in Germany, but the hotel we were staying at in Moscow had a portrait up. He’s gotten away with it, really.* We’ve quietly drawn a veil over him and not really concerned ourselves too much about him.”
[ *About 26 million of his fellow citizens are thought to have been murdered by Stalin]
Needless to say, the film was banned in Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
(Running time 107 mins)

The Athenaeum Film Nights - The Musical - Showboat
2019-04-04 18:15 - 22:00
The Musical – Showboat (1926)
Show Boat is a musical in two acts, with music by Jerome Kern and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, based on Edna Ferber’s best-selling novel of the same name
We begin about 6.45pm with a one course supper and go into the ‘cinema’ by about quarter to eight. All our films have a suitable intermission and we empty out no later than ten o’clock.
1 Course Supper Menu TBC
Tea, coffee & mints
Sweeties During Film

The Wondering Fiddlers
2019-04-03 18:30 - 22:00
The ‘wandering musician’ is a traditional subject of art and literature. Christian Dietrich’s painting of 1745 characteristically shows a fiddler and a bagpipe player busking in front of an inn. This way not only is the connection between travelling and making a living readily established but also attributed to the musicians no less than their occasional audience.
The Wondering Fiddlers is only indirectly about ‘wandering’ spelt with an ‘a’ and more specifically about ‘wondering’ spelt with an ‘o’. Can modern fiddlers reflect critically on the music they cherish and practice day after day, hour after hour? And can modern listeners think and talk about music which is often perceived as elitist as they would do about the music they consume casually while commuting or shopping?
Of all fields, chamber music is the most problematic. Although many professional string players would rather spend their time performing small-scale, one-to-a-part compositions than large-scale orchestral works, the contemporary notion of chamber music inherited from the nineteenth century puts non-specialist listeners off and decreases the demand for that type of concert. In principle, any ticket holder can have access to the concert hall; in reality, the aura surrounding it, which makes it a kind of secular replacement for sacred venues, instils in the audience doubts on its ability to understand what is actually going on – a problem enhanced by the complexity of chamber repertoires.
The Wondering Fiddlers attempts to revert back to the seventeenth- and eighteenth-century concept of music for the chamber: compositions intended for an intimate setting where conversations between the musicians and the guests can take place. True, we will set the scene by selecting some great pieces of music from the past and by suggesting some themes for conversation. At the same time, we will remove the barrier between the players and the listeners and engage in a dialogue on the meaning of the music we present. This way, we will be able to play and re-play, listen and re-listen, question and re-question.
One final point: can ‘wondering fiddlers’ use seventeenth- and eighteenth-century music as a tool for cultural, social and economic development? As both present-day wandering fiddlers (with an ‘a’ this time) and the tutors of the Liverpool-based charity Early Music as Education (EMAE), we think we can: it is our duty to find and nurture musical talent wherever it may be – not only in London, Paris and New York but also in Nairobi, Havana and New Delhi – and to reach out to new listeners across the world.
Alberto Sanna, violin
I am an Italian violinist and musicologist from Sardinia. I live in London but work mostly in Liverpool. I specialise in seventeenth- and eighteenth-century music: I study it, perform it, teach it and write about it, pretty much all day every day across the globe. The rest of the time I am with my wife and three daughters, my extended family and friends or watching football – too much perhaps!
Marino Capulli, violin
I am an Italian-Bulgarian violinist from Abruzzo. I live in L’Aquila, a city surrounded by the mountains of Central Italy. With the city’s main chamber orchestra, I perform all across Europe a repertoire that ranges from seventeenth-century to contemporary music. I spend my free time with my friends in the mountains, on the beach, at the lake or playing five-a-side and following the football team, I am crazy about, Juventus.
Elizabeth Elliott, violoncello
I am a cellist from The Wirral studying for a Master’s degree at the Royal Academy of Music in London. I enjoy playing a wide range of music from Corelli to Shostakovich as well as newly commissioned pieces; I also love learning and exploring ideas about early music and its role in our lives as musicians in the contemporary world. When I am not practising or playing music with my friends, you can find me reading Harry Potter (again!) and spending time with my wonderful family!
Main Course
Chicken Forrestier with Smoked Bacon
Served with seasonal vegetables and potatoes

Dessert
Strawberry pavlova
