London Mozart Players premiere cross-genre event at Fairfield Halls

On Saturday 15 February, London Mozart Players (LMP), Resident Orchestra at Fairfield Halls, will present a new cross-genre performance at their home venue.

Changing Seasons is a multi-genre spectacular from LMP that reimagines Vivaldi’s Four Seasons for today’s changing world. This unique production blends Vivaldi’s classic with new works from four local arts groups – Queer Croydon, Club Soda, Subrang Arts, and Croydon Music & Arts – in collaboration with composers Fiona Brice and Sarah Freestone. Inspired by Vivaldi’s seasonal themes, these performances reflect on the climate emergency through a vibrant mix of genres and art forms.

The event will also feature specially commissioned poetry by Croydon’s Jeremiah Brown and introductory videos which illuminate the create process behind each community commission.

LMP Leaders Simon Blendis and Ruth Rogers step out as soloists for Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and LMP Conductor in Residence Jonathan Bloxham leads the orchestra through the entire performance.

Before the main show, a free afternoon showcase will take place in the public spaces of Fairfield Halls. A host of amateur dance and music groups including Croydon Steel Orchestra, Gospel Rising and Beeja dance will perform on various stages from 2-7pm.

Flynn Le Brocq, LMP Chief Executive, commented:

“Over the last two years during Croydon’s term as the Mayor of London’s London Borough of Culture, our work at Fairfield Halls (Oratorio of Hope April 2023, A Very Croydon Christmas December 2023, 100 Faces of Croydon February 2024) has focused on bringing Croydon’s talent together through large-scale performances to demonstrate the accessibility and vibrancy of classical music. We’re committed to continuing working this way at Fairfield I’m looking forward to welcoming everyone to the building in February.”

 Steve Turner, Director of Venues for BH Live, which manages Fairfield Halls, said:

“We are delighted to work with LMP, Fairfield Halls’ resident orchestra, to deliver another exciting project that spotlights classical music, showcases local Croydon talent, and raises awareness of climate issues. We hope visitors are inspired by this culturally enriching performance.”

 Queer Croydon x Stanley Arts, who aim to amplify queerness in Croydon and South London, present an evocative piece featuring performance artist Kars. Through experimental dance and disruptive staging, this work boldly challenges traditional boundaries between audience and performer. Claudia Golder-Coelho, Chair of Queer Croydon, commented:

“Queer Croydon is so excited to collaborate with Stanley Arts and London Mozart Players on this extraordinary project. Kars was the perfect artist to bring this vision to life, and we can’t wait to share our bold, queer interpretation of the theme.”

Producer and composer Luminous Starchild from Club Soda—a charity empowering people with learning disabilities to engage with music—brings an otherworldly electronic vibe to the stage with his distinct ‘cute-core’ sound.

Local school students representing Croydon Music & Arts (Croydon’s Music Education Hub) join forces with LMP’s professional players to perform alongside them on stage to showcase their collaborative composition

Social media sensation Praveen, known as The Flute Guy on TikTok and Instagram, delivers an atmospheric Indian flute solo blending structure with improvisation. Praveen represents Subrang Arts, a charity dedicated to promoting Asian music and dance.

Lata Desai from Subrang Arts, a long-standing artistic partner with LMP, commented:

“This collaboration with LMP is a celebration of the positive contribution of diversity to a creative process. We were able to create new work, build sustainable networks and partnerships between artists from different backgrounds and strengthened cultural relations based on exchange of ideas, knowledge, work and artistic practice.”

Tickets for Changing Seasons are on sale from £5 via Fairfield.co.uk

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-ENDS-

For more information and press tickets, please contact: Anna Bennett, Senior Marketing and PR Manager | anna@lmp.org

LISTINGS

Changing Seasons

VENUE: Fairfield Halls, Park Lane, Croydon, CR9 1DG DATE: Saturday 15 February 2025

TIME: Evening show: 7.30pm Afternoon showcase: 2-7pm

TICKETS: https://www.fairfield.co.uk/events/lmp-2025


London Mozart Players

London Mozart Players are the oldest, freshest and most adventurous chamber orchestra in the UK.

Set up over 75 years ago by Harry Blech to perform the works of Mozart and Haydn, LMP’s mission has evolved into creating bold, ambitious and accessible musical experiences for all. LMP are proud to be at the forefront of embedding arts and culture into the life of communities across the UK and beyond, performing both new works and music that stays true to their roots.

LMP work with schools and music hubs around the UK and beyond to inspire the next generation of musicians and music lovers. They’re continuing their long tradition of promoting young talent: Nicola Benedetti, Jacqueline du Pré and Jan Pascal Tortelier are just three of many young musical virtuosi championed early in their careers by them.

In April 2023, LMP launched Croydon’s year as London Borough of Culture with Oratorio of Hope; a multi-genre spectacular which was shortlisted for the 2024 Royal Philharmonic Society Series and Events Award. LMP are based at Fairfield Halls in Croydon and have residencies at St John’s, Upper Norwood, Thaxted Festival and Grayshott Concerts. Collaborating with many of the world’s greatest soloists and conductors, LMP’s work is made in Croydon and celebrated across the globe.