News
 

"Songs of Triumphant Love is an enthralling novel: I couldn't stop reading. I got deeper and deeper into the very real world Jessica Duchen has created and just had to find out how it would unravel. Jessica writes with an unpredictable and original voice and a dazzling perceptiveness, and I was hooked from the first page. A sensational achievement."
JOANNA LUMLEY
 
Forthcoming Events
 
Welcome to my website! Here is a diary of my forthcoming events and I’ll add news updates from time to time. More concert and talk dates are on the way, so do check back regularly for the latest developments! Please explore the Books and Stage Works pages for more info about the programmes. You’ll find a selection of my journalism in the Archive.
 
 
WORDS & MUSIC, PLAYS AND PRE-CONCERT TALKS, 2013-14
 
2013
6 June
Ulverston Festival, Cumbria, Coronation Hall, 6.30pm
Pre-concert talk with cellist Steven Isserlis
 
8 June
Ulverston Festival, Cumbria, Coronation Hall, 11am
HUNGARIAN DANCES: THE CONCERT OF THE NOVEL.
David Le Page (violin), Anthony Hewitt (piano), Jessica Duchen (narrator)

11 June
St James Theatre Studio, London SW1, 7.30pm
HUNGARIAN DANCES: THE CONCERT OF THE NOVEL.
David Le Page (violin), Anthony Hewitt (piano), Jessica Duchen (narrator)
 
David Le Page
Anthony Hewitt
23 August
Chetham’s Summer School for Pianists, Manchester
A WALK THROUGH THE END OF TIME
Dame Harriet Walter (‘She’) and Guy Paul (‘He’).
(Actors subject to availability)

Complete performance of
Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time
featuring Kathryn Page (piano) and musicians tbc.

Pre-event talk by Jessica Duchen at 5pm. Play at 7pm.
Messiaen at 8.30pm.
 
 
8 September
The Musical Museum, Brentford, 3pm
HUNGARIAN DANCES: THE CONCERT OF THE NOVEL.
David Le Page (violin), Viv McLean (piano), Jessica Duchen (narrator)
 
19 October
Birmingham Town Hall, 1.45pm (concert at 3pm)
Pre-concert talk for the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra’s Mendelssohn series.

Edward Gardner conducts Mendelssohn’s Symphonies Nos 4 & 5
and Valeriy Sokolov is the soloist in the Violin Concerto.
Valeriy Sokolov
Edward Gardner
Valeriy Sokolov
Edward Gardner
 
 
Edward Gardner
24 October
Birmingham Town Hall, 1pm (concert at 2.15pm)
Pre-concert talk for the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra’s Mendelssohn series.

Edward Gardner conducts Mendelssohn’s Symphonies Nos 1 & 3 and Martin Helmchen is the soloist in the Piano Concerto No.2.
Martin Helmchen
 
 
9 November
The Musical Museum, Brentford, 7.30pm
ALICIA’S GIFT: THE CONCERT OF THE NOVEL
Viv McLean (piano), Jessica Duchen (narrator)
Alicia's Gift on Amazon website
Jessica's website
Viv McLean
12 November
Music at 22 Mansfield Street, London W1, 7.30pm
ALICIA’S GIFT: THE CONCERT OF THE NOVEL
Viv McLean (piano), Jessica Duchen (narrator)

13 November
Leighton House Museum, London W14, 7.30pm
ALICIA’S GIFT: THE CONCERT OF THE NOVEL
Viv McLean (piano), Jessica Duchen (narrator)
 
 
November (TBC)
International Wimbledon Music Festival
SINS OF THE FATHERS – Wagner, Liszt, Cosima

New version, world premiere. Please check back for further details.
 
 
 
27 November
Vernon Ellis Foundation, 49 Queens Gate Terrace,
London SW7, 7.30pm

ALICIA’S GIFT: THE CONCERT OF THE NOVEL
Viv McLean (piano), Jessica Duchen (narrator)
 
 
8 December
St.Mary’s Church, Perivale, 3pm

ALICIA’S GIFT: THE CONCERT OF THE NOVEL
Viv McLean (piano), Jessica Duchen (narrator)
St. Mary's Perivale
 
 
15 December
Burgh House & Hampstead Museum, London NW3

ALICIA’S GIFT: THE CONCERT OF THE NOVEL
Viv McLean (piano), Jessica Duchen (narrator)
 
 
2014
 
Alicia's Gift on Amazon website
18 January
Soirées at Breinton, Woking, Surrey GU22 0RD

ALICIA’S GIFT: THE CONCERT OF THE NOVEL
Viv McLean (piano), Jessica Duchen (narrator)
 
 
Edward Gardner
13 February
Symphony Hall, Birmingham 6.15pm (concert at 7.30pm)
Pre-concert talk for the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra’s Mendelssohn series.

Edward Gardner conducts Mendelssohn’s Lobgesang, Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage and Two Motets.
 
 
Recent Events
 
 
VoR's Alice Lagnado discusses the composer Sergei Rachmaninov and his music, with Jessica Duchen and with pianist Rustem Hayroudinoff who regularly performs Rachmaninov's work.
 
 
A WALK triumphs in Richmond and Wimbledon
A Walk through the End of Time was presented on 18 November as part of the International Wimbledon Music Festival, starring Henry Goodman and Dame Harriet Walter.

The Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond, was sold out six weeks in advance and the festival agreed to a second performance later the same afternoon, which sold out too. Huge thanks to director Anthony Wilkinson, Sam Walters and the Orange Tree Theatre, and the fabulous actors for all their hard work in bringing Messiaen’s story to life in such a compelling way, and to Anita Lasker Wallfisch for her extremely moving talk.

Here are some reviews and some photographs.
Reviews:
Photos:
 

 
BBC TV'S 'SACRED MUSIC'
In these extracts from the recent acclaimed BBC TV series, Jessica talks about
Faure's Requiem and the impact on the composer of the Franco-Prussian War.
 
 
 

 
 
 
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PHILIPPE GRAFFIN biography CLAIRE DESERT information in French The Voice of Russia, English edition Download