Britten Pears Recital

Published on isbi School News dated Wednesday 5th of June 2013

On 31st May, Gresham's recreated an evening of music first performed by Peter Pears and Benjamin Britten over 64 years ago. An audience of approximately 100 people came to watch the recreation on the same stage where it was first performed at Big School.

Playing the part of Peter Pears was the tenor Thomas Hobbs. A recipient of the Peter Pears Scholarship at the Royal College of Music, Thomas Hobbs has performed and recorded with many leading ensembles including The Cardinall's Musick, The Tallis Scholars, I Fagiolini, Consortium. He was accompanied on the new Steinway model B grand piano by Gresham's Director of Music (Senior School), Mark Jones also a graduate of the Royal College of Music.

Many old boys returned to School to watch what was a truly memorable performance. Gresham's was also delighted to welcome back to School, John Arkell former Headmaster of Gresham (1991-2002).