We made a last-minute decision to visit Chichester and, in particular, the Cathedral for the Tuesday lunchtime concert, yesterday's being a piano recital by Angela Zanders.
I had taken my camera + portrait lens with me in the hope of finding a stranger during the day for my portraits project. However, before the concert started I decided not to ask the pianist afterwards as it could feel a little intrusive in that situation with other members of the audience wishing to speak with the soloist.
It was an enjoyable concert, all the more so as Angela introduced each piece with a little commentary of interesting information. She played a piece by her father, the New Zealand composer and pianist, Douglas Zanders, who died in 2012, aged 93. She remembered discovering the extent of his musical composition only after his death, during his life knowing and understanding more about his very patient and good teaching of his many, many piano pupils each week, including herself. She dedicated the concert to her father 'with love and affection'.
As the concert drew to a close, I decided that I would, after all, approach Angela for a portrait and made my way to her. After I had explained my project, she was very happy to agree and keen to know if she would see the photos. I assured her she would and waited while she spent time with a group of ladies from the audience who came to have a chat with her. Then we found a suitable background of an interior stone wall and I took a few photos. We exchanged cards and I promised to send photos.
Angela has broadcast for BBC Radio 3; given performances in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, both as a soloist and accompanist; in 1992 she formed the Solarek Piano Trio. She is specially interested in promoting the accessibility of classical music and has been a lecturer at the University of Chichester since 2010.
Thanks to Angela: I hope she will like her photos and also appreciate my selection of just a modicum of information about her illustrious career.
see more associated photos here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/150442566@N07/41713572975/in/dateposted-public/
