WHAT OUR AUDIENCE THINK

  “…such a brilliant melding of styles, classical, latin, jazz and the performance is exquisite"

  (Rick Costa being quoted – and agreed with - on BBC Radio 3 request programme)

“Out of the Darkness is unique, completely remarkable in every way.”

(Jack Higgins author)

“Amazing achievement”

(Orlando Gough – composer)

 “Julian Marshall's new cantata "Out of the Darkness" is a reminder that great music is still being made”.

(No'a Winter Lazerus - Composer/Producer)

“At St James's Piccadilly, Julian Marshall's Out of the Darkness, a cantata for voices, two cellos and mezzo soloist Melanie Pappenheim, was given its London premiere, after performances in Brighton and Totnes. This setting of a bleak poem by Gertrud Kolmar, who died in Auschwitz, occupies a middle musical ground: close-harmony splashes with jazz, bossa nova and hints of Górecki or Karl Jenkins. It's honestly done, it's on CD and it's on Classic FM's playlist, no doubt heading into the limelight of the Hall of Fame.” (Fiona Maddox writing in The Observer December 2009)

Emails and messages received following Out of the Darkness Premiere performances

“this concert is an astounding achievement, one of the musical events of my life”.

 “I am so glad to have borne witness to the birth of this beautiful series of pieces delivered with such passion by all the performers and in the exquisite and ancient setting that is Winchester cathedral. What a privilege that my soul was able to hear such music...”

 “…. Just wanted to say how amazing the whole evening was. I was completely blown away by your composition. Really really moved by it. Thank you so much. It was a gift to us all.”

“Your music is still haunting me! A strange, but somehow familiar landscape. Like something I’d always known. In the same way that truth is always there but somehow gets obscured. Beautiful!”

“ We got so drunk last night. Thank you Julian for providing the booz.”

“I really felt that I was bearing witness – listening to the pain and the beauty. Exquisite”

……..”the first performance of Out of the Darkness was a complete joy.

Your love of music, the zest with which the performers sung and played and the timeless acoustic combined to provide a moment in my life which will stay with me and I really do thank you for that. I suspect that the crystal quality of your imagination will leave a mark even on a building which has seen as much history of that cathedral and I can only wish you great luck in sustaining this piece.

The friends who came with me are now planning to come to the Knightsbridge gig (not words you often find together) and I will do my best……”

“I was not one of the people who stood or applauded energetically

last night. I needed to be very quiet. Such a powerful, beautiful, telling

piece. I knew the poem anyway, having met it before we ever talked in

Salisbury, & Howard had told me just a little of the music, but of course,

actually left it to speak for itself. Which it most certainly did - &

remains 'speaking' in my brain & heart this morning. Thank you.”

“Wow! That was amazing. What a triumph. Exquisite and spellbinding”

“How moved I was by your amazing piece last night. Above all the music had a strength and humanity that was communicated so well by the fantastic performers. Melani Pappenheim’s performance was soulful, moving, and technically remarkable and importantly has a quality to it that not only keeps the listener on the edge of the seat, but is beyond categorisation.

I thought your wonderful ensemble writing was both engaging, and beautifully performed by the choir. In addition the cello’s worked wonderfully well as a counterpoint of texture and mood to the other elements.

The piece had a strength of style that owned itself; it was not derivative; it was accessible and paid homage to some of your influences; which gave it a grounding and energy.”

“What a wonderful piece. We so enjoyed the concert. The muscians and singers were all wonderful and the composition was both beautiful and moving.”

“Just a quick note to tell you again how much R and I enjoyed “Out of the Darkness” on Friday evening. It is very thought provoking and moving. The setting was perfect and the performances superb.

It was obvious from the chatter at the drinks reception afterwards how highly everyone thought of it! ”

“I just wanted to say what a fantastic piece you wrote, it was excellent, sublime, exceeded my expectations (of course my expectations were already pretty high!). So great to see such a good turn out and everyone else really appreciating it. I'm sure it won't be the last time the piece is performed. What a great ensemble of musicians too. It must have been amazing working with them (and them working with you!)”

“…..that was a special evening.

The quality of those sounds are still resonating. The pieces in the first half were so poignant and your piece was amazing, all those different textures.”

“….wow - what an evening! Amazing piece of music and wonderful signers and musicians. I was particularly taken by the sound of the very deep voices at the beginning and the "hem of my dress"... ”

“…..But to last night - what an extraordinary experience. Firstly I loved the first half, the juxtaposition of the Byrd with the Ligeti. I am not one for 'modern' music normally but found placing it amongst the Byrd made the sounds have more sense and especially in the context of the concert's 'story' which as I am deep into the Romanovs, the brutality of the Bolsheviks and particularly the Cheka, made the sounds extraordinarily relevant and a perfect prelude to your 'Out of the Darkness'.

“The gig was beautiful. I loved it. It was very moving and really demonstrated the exceptional musician that you are!

In the first half I was so happy to hear that first piece for the piano and cello. It is one of my favourite pieces of music. I don't even know who its by?? when I was at dartington i heard it and was so moved by it that I had to get a copy. I then used the piece in many of the workshops that I led and sometimes went to sleep with it. So it was so gorgeous to be sitting in the church and for it to suddenly commence. Brought back many emotive memories.” (Referring to ‘Spiegel im Spiegel’ by Arvo Part)

“I just wanted to let you know that I thought Out of the Darkness was so so beautiful. I don't really know how to say this, because it's the most obvious point, but I just thought it was so musical – and by that I mean really big, and stand alone, and almost filmic – I found myself thinking it had such a story – if you know what I mean. It's very hard to put all this into words (clearly), but I just wanted to thank you. I was blown away.

”

“We were fortunate to be at the premiere of Out Of The Darkness in Winchester Cathedral on 19 March.

We found the programme to be most imaginatively created, and the performance to be inspired. Please thank and congratulate both the composer and the marvelous singers and cellists, and of course the conductor.

We hope all the other performances will be as successful and satisfying to those who listen.

With best wishes to all “

“Just want to say how thrilling it was for me to see and to listen to this wonderful music. The balance of the 4 male, 4 women, the "woman who comes in ...out of the darkness...to stand in front of them", and the cellos- very impressive, simple and clear in the message. The stage picture remained with me for quite a while, the beautiful people and the strange mixing of voices!!

 My favourite was the first piece "out of the darkness I come...a woman”….

 So much more in there for me then the holocaust. Its the emergence of the feminine through all dark ages that I feel in your music as I feel it in our world changing so rapidly, structures and systems crumbling that don’t integrate the feminine, as she is coming out of the darkness. And she is coming.

 When the concert was finished I would have liked to hear it all over again...so much in there, can't take it all in in one go, so I look forward to when there is a CD.

 It was very special for me and for us to be there on that first night of performance.....not too far at all, worth it in every way.”

“I loved "Out of the Darkness" at St Gabriel's. It was a splendid performance in a grand venue.”

“We thoroughly enjoyed the concert last week and were spellbound by your piece - It was well worth the trip to London. If we happen to be in Brighton when it's on there - we'll see it a second time.“

“Just wanted to let you know what a wonderful evening we had at St. Gabriels. Your piece was magical- bits of it are still with me now. I'd love to know when the CD comes out- please keep me posted”.

“I should have written before. I thought your piece was fantastically good. It really made me sit up and listen, it is sooo stunning. I am very proud of you. I will be buying the CD when its out and will get one for S too. The whole concert was wonderful and we were in Winchester Cathedral last week, where I tried to imagine it being performed and wished I could hear it again!”

 

“Wonderful. Special evening. Thank you. Loved every word of that poem and my ears musically, meditatively transported”.

“Congratulations on an incredible breathtaking work. I am honoured to have been part of the experience”.