Samuel Coleridge-Taylor at 150

Coleridge-Taylor Violin Concerto in G minor, Op.80
Ryan Morgan New commission
Tunde Jegede New commission 

Braimah Kanneh-Mason violin
Tunde Jegede kora
Croydon SDA Gospel Choir
Matthew Lynch conductor

Immerse yourself in a powerful musical tribute to Croydon-born composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, 150 years after his birth. 

A pioneer who increasingly drew on his Sierra Leonean heritage in his music, Coleridge-Taylor’s legacy as a trailblazing musician who navigated the complexities of living as a Black artist within a White-dominated society lives on. 

This vibrant event features new music and performances from Tunde Jegede, whose unique approach draws on contemporary musical styles from both Europe and Africa, much like Coleridge-Taylor did. Violinist Braimah Kanneh-Mason brings fresh energy to Coleridge-Taylor’s Violin Concerto – one of the last pieces of music Coleridge-Taylor wrote before he died in 1912 – alongside soul-stirring performances of African Spiritual-inspired songs from the electrifying Croydon SDA Gospel Choir. 

With tickets from just £5, this accessible performance proudly celebrates Black identity and music in Croydon, through the lens of a composer who helped shape Croydon’s cultural personality and remains part of the borough’s DNA today. 

Presented by LMP and Croydon Council. 

St John Passion: LMP

JS Bach St John Passion, BWV 245

Thomas Allery harpsichord/director 

Ah, my soul, where will you go; where will you find comfort? 

Bach’s St John Passion is a powerful exploration of what it means to be human – an emotional retelling of Christ’s final hours that speaks as deeply today as it did 300 years ago.  

Originally written for Good Friday, and filled with hymns familiar to Bach’s congregation, St John Passion connects with our sense of universal humanity through music which is full of heartbreak, beauty and reflection. Listeners can turn to Bach to make sense of suffering and find solace in a world that can be cruel. 

Though the Passion might not have a traditional happy ending, Bach teaches us find peace and understanding through the promise of resurrection, rather than dwelling on the pain Christ endured. 

Fowl Play: Haydn and Mozart with Cédric Tiberghien.

Martines Sinfonia in C Major
Mozart Piano Concerto No.23 in A Major K.488
Interval
Boulogne Symphony No.2 in D Major, Op.11 No.2
Haydn Symphony No.83, ‘La Poule’ 

Cédric Tiberghein piano
Jonathan Bloxham conductor
Simon Blendis leader 

By the time they had mastered their craft, both Mozart and Haydn were ready to have a bit of fun.  

Take Haydn’s Symphony No.89, affectionately nicknamed ‘The Hen’. Though the title wasn’t his own, it’s easy to hear why it stuck. The clucking violins and oboes evoke a whole farmyard of strutting and bobbing poultry. It’s a light-hearted moment from the man often called ‘The Father of the Symphony’. 

Mozart, too, had a mischievous streak. Credited with shaping the piano concerto as we know it today, Mozart had the confidence to defy expectations in his music, like in his Piano Concerto No.23 where the final movement playfully pits piano and orchestra in a cheeky musical chase. 

Also in this concert is music from Haydn and Mozart’s contemporaries; Marianna Martines – the first woman to write a symphony – and Boulogne. 

Four Seasons across the World: Vivaldi and Piazzolla

Piazzolla Four Seasons of Buenos Aires
Vivaldi The Four Seasons

Ruth Rogers director/violin
SDNA lighting design and production

Vivaldi’s Four Seasons is a classical music favourite, vividly capturing nature’s drama from the freshness of spring to the crackle of a summer storm. But how would these seasons sound for a climate on the other side of the world? 

Enter Astor Piazzolla – the revolutionary Argentinian composer who transformed the tango with his blend of classical and jazz influences. His Four Seasons of Buenos Aires, written 200 years after Vivaldi’s original, reflects the city’s urban charm, with sweeping melodies and vibrant bursts of those recognisable tango dance rhythms. 

Piazzolla nods to Vivaldi in his piece, but not exactly where you might expect. Living on different continents, the two composers experienced the seasons in contrast – you might hear some piercing echoes of a Venetian winter seep into the sultry heat of a Buenos Aires summer. 

To heighten your listening experience, specially commissioned, bespoke visuals will spill across the walls of St Martin’s, transporting you across the hemispheres as you’re immersed in the seasonal changes. 

Siren Songs and Serenades: LMP with Ben Goldscheider

Anna Clyne Sirens
Britten Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings, Op.31 

Interval 

Mendelssohn Symphony No.1 in C minor, Op.11 

Ben Goldscheider horn
Laurence Kilsby tenor
Jonathan Bloxham conductor
Simon Blendis leader/director 

Music is born from the world around us – shaped by the people we meet and the stories that stir our imaginations.    

Commissioned by the legendary horn player Dennis Brain, Britten’s Serenade wasn’t just written for his performer – it was written with him. Britten and Brain’s personalities both shine through, showing off how the creative dialogue has been woven in, making it as much of a reflection of the performer as the composer himself.  

The spirit of collaboration continues in the world premiere of Sirens by GRAMMY-nominated composer Anna Clyne. Dedicated to tonight’s horn soloist Ben Goldscheider, the music draws on the myth of the sirens who lured sailors to their doom with their irresistible voices. Working closely together, Anna and Ben pushed the boundaries of the horn to conjure the sirens’ hypotonic sound world; ethereal, beguiling and completely entrancing.   

Adding to the drama of this concert is Mendelssohn’s fiery Symphony No.1, written early in the composer’s life and packed to the brim with energy. 

Piano Explored with Howard Shelley

Howard Shelley piano

Programme to include
Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major, Op.15

Ever wondered what makes a great concerto so powerful? Get up close and personal with the most well-loved piano works at Piano Explored where Howard Shelley provides a unique window into the inner workings of the music.  

These one-hour concerts are ideal for a midday culture fix. Howard acts as your musical tour guide, starting things off by talking you through the music, sharing stories, fun facts and moments to listen out for.  

Next, it’s time to sit back and enjoy the concerto, with Howard’s world-class playing alongside a full orchestra. And with two concertos each concert, it’s a great chance to hear a long-time favourite as well as discovering something new. 

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a classical connoisseur or completely new to the genre – no prior knowledge is needed. Expect electrifying performances, fun-filled storytelling, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere.  

Anyone studying or working at school or university can get an ‘Education ticket’ for £10. Please bring suitable ID with you on the day to show at the door. All tickets can be bought on the door, as well as online. 

Doors will open at 12.30pm for a concert start time of 12:45pm. Please note that you will not be able to enter the church before 12.30pm. As there is very limited space to wait indoors, we would encourage you to arrive as close to 12.30pm as possible. 

Piano Explored with Howard Shelley

Howard Shelley piano

Programme to include
Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat Major, Op.19

Ever wondered what makes a great concerto so powerful? Get up close and personal with the most well-loved piano works at Piano Explored where Howard Shelley provides a unique window into the inner workings of the music.  

These one-hour concerts are ideal for a midday culture fix. Howard acts as your musical tour guide, starting things off by talking you through the music, sharing stories, fun facts and moments to listen out for.  

Next, it’s time to sit back and enjoy the concerto, with Howard’s world-class playing alongside a full orchestra. And with two concertos each concert, it’s a great chance to hear a long-time favourite as well as discovering something new. 

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a classical connoisseur or completely new to the genre – no prior knowledge is needed. Expect electrifying performances, fun-filled storytelling, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere.  

Anyone studying or working at school or university can get an ‘Education ticket’ for £10. Please bring suitable ID with you on the day to show at the door. All tickets can be bought on the door, as well as online. 

Doors will open at 12.30pm for a concert start time of 12:45pm. Please note that you will not be able to enter the church before 12.30pm. As there is very limited space to wait indoors, we would encourage you to arrive as close to 12.30pm as possible. 

Piano Explored with Howard Shelley

Howard Shelley piano

Programme to include
Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major, Op.37

Ever wondered what makes a great concerto so powerful? Get up close and personal with the most well-loved piano works at Piano Explored where Howard Shelley provides a unique window into the inner workings of the music.  

These one-hour concerts are ideal for a midday culture fix. Howard acts as your musical tour guide, starting things off by talking you through the music, sharing stories, fun facts and moments to listen out for.  

Next, it’s time to sit back and enjoy the concerto, with Howard’s world-class playing alongside a full orchestra. And with two concertos each concert, it’s a great chance to hear a long-time favourite as well as discovering something new. 

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a classical connoisseur or completely new to the genre – no prior knowledge is needed. Expect electrifying performances, fun-filled storytelling, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere.  

 

Anyone studying or working at school or university can get an ‘Education ticket’ for £10. Please bring suitable ID with you on the day to show at the door. All tickets can be bought on the door, as well as online. 

Doors will open at 12.30pm for a concert start time of 12:45pm. Please note that you will not be able to enter the church before 12.30pm. As there is very limited space to wait indoors, we would encourage you to arrive as close to 12.30pm as possible. 

Piano Explored with Howard Shelley

Howard Shelley piano

Programme to include
Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op.58

Ever wondered what makes a great concerto so powerful? Get up close and personal with the most well-loved piano works at Piano Explored where Howard Shelley provides a unique window into the inner workings of the music.  

These one-hour concerts are ideal for a midday culture fix. Howard acts as your musical tour guide, starting things off by talking you through the music, sharing stories, fun facts and moments to listen out for.  

Next, it’s time to sit back and enjoy the concerto, with Howard’s world-class playing alongside a full orchestra. And with two concertos each concert, it’s a great chance to hear a long-time favourite as well as discovering something new. 

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a classical connoisseur or completely new to the genre – no prior knowledge is needed. Expect electrifying performances, fun-filled storytelling, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere.  

 

Anyone studying or working at school or university can get an ‘Education ticket’ for £10. Please bring suitable ID with you on the day to show at the door. All tickets can be bought on the door, as well as online. 

Doors will open at 12.30pm for a concert start time of 12:45pm. Please note that you will not be able to enter the church before 12.30pm. As there is very limited space to wait indoors, we would encourage you to arrive as close to 12.30pm as possible. 

Piano Explored with Howard Shelley

Howard Shelley piano

Programme to include
Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat Major, Op.73 ‘Emperor’

Ever wondered what makes a great concerto so powerful? Get up close and personal with the most well-loved piano works at Piano Explored where Howard Shelley provides a unique window into the inner workings of the music.  

These one-hour concerts are ideal for a midday culture fix. Howard acts as your musical tour guide, starting things off by talking you through the music, sharing stories, fun facts and moments to listen out for.  

Next, it’s time to sit back and enjoy the concerto, with Howard’s world-class playing alongside a full orchestra. And with two concertos each concert, it’s a great chance to hear a long-time favourite as well as discovering something new. 

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a classical connoisseur or completely new to the genre – no prior knowledge is needed. Expect electrifying performances, fun-filled storytelling, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere.  

Anyone studying or working at school or university can get an ‘Education ticket’ for £10. Please bring suitable ID with you on the day to show at the door. All tickets can be bought on the door, as well as online. 

Doors will open at 12.30pm for a concert start time of 12:45pm. Please note that you will not be able to enter the church before 12.30pm. As there is very limited space to wait indoors, we would encourage you to arrive as close to 12.30pm as possible. 

Christmas Brass with London Mozart Players

LMP brass Ensemble

Your favourite holiday tunes get a bold, brassy twist in this feel-good Christmas concert in Upper Norwood. Featuring top-tier performances from some of the UK’s finest brass musicians and choirs, this dazzling show is guaranteed to kick off your festive season in style. 

From timeless carols to Mariah Carey anthems, this extravaganza won’t just knock your socks off; it’ll take your shoes and trousers with it too.  

And this isn’t a sit-back-and-watch kind of event; you’ll be part of the action as you belt out your favourite carols and descants alongside the choirs in the beautiful setting of St John’s, Upper Norwood.  

This unforgettable holiday experience will leave the whole family humming all the way home – and craving more of those irresistibly cheeky trombone slides.

The Duck with No Luck

Paul Rissmann The Duck with No Luck
Polly Ives narrator 

What’s a fed-up duck who feels all out of luck supposed to do? Go and ask a wise owl for help, of course!  The Duck with No Luck is a funny, uplifting and reassuring tale about how to tackle the ups and downs of life, take a more positive look at things and appreciate what you have around you. 

 This children’s story for ages 3+ is brought to life with live music and narration, all while introducing your children to the magic of music.

Christmas Brass Spectacular

Alan Thomas trumpet/director 
Croydon SDA Gospel Choir
Tiffin Choirs 

Your favourite holiday tunes get a bold, brassy twist in this feel-good Christmas spectacular. Featuring top-tier performances from some of the UK’s finest brass musicians and choirs, this dazzling show is guaranteed to kick off your festive season in style. 

From timeless carols to Mariah Carey anthems and goosebump-worthy gospel, this extravaganza won’t just knock your socks off; it’ll take your shoes and trousers with it too. Don’t be surprised if the performance spills off the stage – a roaming brass player might just appear by your side as the chorography brings the music right into the audience… 

And this isn’t a sit-back-and-watch kind of event. With the mighty Smith Square Hall organ and a dedicated chorus to back you up, you’ll be part of the action as you belt out your favourite carols and descants outside of a church setting.  

Add some immersive lighting and a feast of festive visuals and you’ve got an unforgettable holiday experience that’ll leave you humming all the way home – and craving more of those irresistibly cheeky trombone slides.  

 

Tasting Notes: Summer Wines

Simon Blendis violin/speaker
Alasdair Lawson-Dick wine expert/speaker

Tasting Notes redefines the classic wine tasting experience. Enjoy the fusion of wine and music as you’re served a selection of canapés and 5 quality wines which have been thoughtfully paired with string quartets. Whether you’re a connoisseur or a newcomer, you’ll be made to feel welcome as our wine and music experts guide you through the evening with friendly and informative spoken introductions to enhance your tasting experience. 

After the tasting – and included in the price of your ticket – you continue your evening down in the Crypt where there’s live jazz music until late.   

We all know that Rosé reigns supreme in the summer – but who says it’s the only option? A chilled red or a crisp white can be just as refreshing for those long, laid-back evenings outdoors. Expand your Summer wine repertoire with this seasonal-themed Tasting Notes, where you could well discover your new holiday tipple.  

You will be sat on tables of 10 guests. We encourage you to book all tickets at the same time in one booking if you’d like to sit together. To book a group or full table, please ring LMP direct on 020 8686 1996 to secure your space. 

Please email [email protected] after you’ve placed your order if you have any additional seating requests.

Please note that you must be over 18 to attend this event. 

 

Tasting Notes: Burgundy

Simon Blendis violin/speaker
Alasdair Lawson-Dick wine expert/speaker
Richard Madely auctioneer 

Tasting Notes redefines the classic wine tasting experience. Enjoy the fusion of wine and music as you’re served a selection of canapés and 5 quality wines which have been thoughtfully paired with string quartets. Whether you’re a connoisseur or a newcomer, you’ll be made to feel welcome as our wine and music experts guide you through the evening with friendly and informative spoken introductions to enhance your tasting experience. 

After the tasting – and included in the price of your ticket – you can participate in a high-paced auction to win enviable prizes before continuing your evening down in the Crypt where there’s live jazz music until late. 

This Tasting Notes is centred around the Eastern French region of Burgundy. Small in land but big in character, the Burgundy region holds up to the theory that size really doesn’t matter. Home of the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Burgundy’s famously high-quality wines give the region a particularly strong influence in the wine world.

You will be sat on tables of 10 guests. We encourage you to book all tickets at the same time in one booking if you’d like to sit together. To book a group or full table, please ring LMP direct on 020 8686 1996 to secure your space. 

Please email [email protected] after you’ve placed your order if you have any additional seating requests. 

Please note that you must be over 18 to attend this event. 

Tasting Notes: Wines for Valentines

Simon Blendis violin/speaker
Alasdair Lawson-Dick wine expert/speaker

Do something different for Valentine’s this year and treat your loved ones to a special evening of wine and music, set in the luscious and intimate surroundings of Smith Square Hall.

Enjoy the fusion of wine and music as you’re served a selection of canapés and 5 quality wines which have been thoughtfully paired with string quartets. Whether you’re a connoisseur or a newcomer, you’ll be made to feel welcome as our wine and music experts guide you through the evening with friendly and informative spoken introductions to enhance your tasting experience.

After the tastings, your night will get even sweeter as you head down to the Crypt for live jazz music, all included in the price of your ticket. 

You will be sat on tables of 10 guests. We encourage you to book all tickets at the same time in one booking if you’d like to sit together. To book a group or full table, please ring LMP direct on 020 8686 1996 to secure your space. 

Please email [email protected] after you’ve placed your order if you have any additional seating requests.

Please note that you must be over 18 to attend this event. Please note that you must be over 18 to attend this event. 

Tasting Notes: Best of the Barrels

Simon Blendis violin/speaker
Alasdair Lawson-Dick wine expert/speaker 

Tasting Notes redefines the classic wine tasting experience. Enjoy the fusion of wine and music as you’re served a selection of canapés and 5 quality wines which have been thoughtfully paired with string quartets. Whether you’re a connoisseur or a newcomer, you’ll be made to feel welcome as our wine and music experts guide you through the evening with friendly and informative spoken introductions to enhance your tasting experience. 

After the tasting – and included in the price of your ticket – you continue your evening down in the Crypt where there’s live jazz music until late.  

In this special edition 10th edition of Tasting Notes, we revisit your favourite wines and music from across the series. Expect to see some audience-favourites back in action as we celebrate Tasting Notes in (even more) style.

You will be sat on tables of 10 guests. We encourage you to book all tickets at the same time in one booking if you’d like to sit together.

To book a group or full table, please ring LMP direct on 020 8686 1996 to secure your space.   

Please email [email protected] after you’ve placed your order if you have any additional seating requests.   

Please note that you must be over 18 to attend this event. 

LMP on the Move: East Croydon Station

Mozart Divertimento in D major, K. 136
Mozart Divertimento in Bb major, K. 137
Mozart Divertimento in F, K. 138
JS Bach Concerto for Two Violins in D minor, BWV 1043
Bartok Romanian Folk Dances
Elgar Serenade for Strings in E minor, Op. 20
Britten Simple Symphony, Op. 4

Simon Blendis leader