The Cosman Keller Trust launches a pioneering residency series at Hampstead's Burgh House on Oct 21 with a free public masterclass by Trio Musae, followed by a formal concert on Oct 22. The initiative honours the legacy of Hans Keller and Milein Cosman, whose artistic partnership shaped British musical life for decades.
A Legacy of Musical Intellect and Art
Hans Keller, the formidable writer and broadcaster, was a familiar sight at Hampstead station, often mistaken for a vagrant despite his towering reputation. He and his wife, artist Milein Cosman, hosted the great and good of music, from Benjamin Britten downwards, at their homes in Willow Road and later Frognal Gardens. Milein's sketches of musicians now grace Wigmore Hall's public areas.
The couple's work survives through the Cosman Keller Trust, which now sponsors residencies at Burgh House. The first, featuring Trio Musae, includes an exhibition of Milein's pictures running alongside the performances. The spirit of Hans, with his dishevelled look but dazzling mind, will preside over the events. Details are at cosmankellertrust.org.
Keats House Season and Premieres
In a parallel Hampstead initiative, the Keats Foundation presents a season at Keats House curated by Lucasta Miller, the poet's biographer. Two concerts on Oct 18 include the premiere of a song cycle by Scott Stroman based on Keats texts, performed by tenor Adrian Thompson with the chamber choir Eclectic Voices. Details: eclecticvoices.org.uk.
Meanwhile, Ian Bostridge—Lucasta Miller's husband—gives an all-Schumann recital with pianist Vadym Kholodenko at Wigmore Hall on Oct 22. The day before, the Choir of King's Cambridge appears at Wigmore in a programme of Purcell and Poulenc, marking promoter Raymond Gubbay's 80th birthday. Gubbay had a long, if unlikely, relationship with King's, organising its tours. wigmore-hall.org.uk.
Ora Singers Mark a Decade with 100th Commission
The Ora Singers, known for commissioning new works, reach their 100th commission—a piece by Brett Dean—premiering at Wigmore Hall on Oct 24. The lunchtime concert celebrates the choir's first decade under founder-conductor Suzi Digby. A fitting tribute to a decade of musical innovation.
Elsewhere, the Bloomsbury Festival offers a democratic twist: a words-and-music recital, What If?, at Holborn's City Lit on Oct 18. It tells a First World War love story but lets the audience vote on the ending. Kieran Rayner sings and Gamal Khamis plays; the outcome is anyone's guess.
Szpilman's Story Comes to the Stage
Finally, the pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman, who survived the Warsaw ghetto and inspired Roman Polanski's film The Pianist, lives on in a stage adaptation featuring his own music. Running at the Park Theatre N4 from Oct 18 to Nov 28, the production brings his remarkable story to a new audience. parktheatre.co.uk.
