editor@thestagsurrey.co.uk ARCHIVE

By Lasika Jayamaha The event was a gala in celebration of Julian Lloyd Webber’s 60^th birthday, the younger brother of well known composer Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber. The concert would bring together the Doyen of British cellists and well loved composer. Having played the William Tell Overture before with an orchestra and supported my cellist friends who formed a recital group of 12 cellos the programme for the gala caught my attention.  The gala featured 24 cellos as well as the William Tell Overture. I went through the programme schedule, the tickets and box plan and the venue again and again, but it was beyond my budget for the month and reluctantly decided that I would forget going to the event.  Two weeks before the gala however, I heard of a competition to win a pair of free tickets.  I didn’t have to answer anything just enter with email via facebook. This was my only hope, although I just entered for the fun of it, not expecting to win. Two days before the concert, I get an email stating that I had won the pair of tickets and I was completely overwhelmed by the news. The day arrived; my cousin and I made our way to the Royal Festival Hall in London and were thrilled to find that our seats were 14 rows from the front, a very good view. It was an elite crowd considering the gala to be for Julian’s family and friends. The programme started with Julian conducting the 24 cellos followed by the William Tell Overture and his personal favourite Elgar’s Cello Concerto. During the interval we were on a side when Lord Andrew and his wife walked past us and left us in a state of excitement. The evening continued with Julian, wife Jiaxin playing ‘All I ask of you’ from phantom of the opera, joined by Andrew for Pie Jesu.  The evening also saw the world premiere for a piece by Eric Whitacre and other well known artists. It was lovely to listen to the Philharmonia Orchestra and view some of the best personalities in British music perform. It was a day to remember!