On Wednesday, May 6 Margaret Vaux presented a programme called A Musical Journey from Italy to England. It opened with the Adagio for Strings and Organ by Tomaso Albinoni played by the Baroque Chamber Orchestra conducted by Ettore Stratta.

On Wednesday, May 6 Margaret Vaux presented a programme called A Musical Journey from Italy to England. It opened with the Adagio for Strings and Organ by Tomaso Albinoni played by the Baroque Chamber Orchestra conducted by Ettore Stratta. Then an excerpt from Verdi's Aida where Radames sings of his love for the Ethiopian princess Celeste Aida performed by Placido Domingo with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Eric Leinsdorf. The romantic and dramatic Italian theme concluded with the Intermezzo from Madame Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini played by the Orchestra of Rome conducted by Sir John Barbirolli. The journey took a stop-over in Germany with the Piano Concerto No 4 by Ludwig van Beethoven. It was impeccably played by the famous Russian pianist Emil Gilels accompanied by the Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra of Leningrad conductor Kurt Sanderling. Arrival in England brought the London Suite by Eric Coates with its portrait of Covent Garden, Westminster and Knightsbridge. It was followed by that quintessentially English work inspired by a tune from the 16th century, the Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis by Ralph Vaughan Williams. This enjoyable journey arrived home with the Simple Symphony by the Lowestoft born Benjamin Britten played by the English Chamber Orchestra with the composer conducting. On Wednesday, May 20 the society holds its annual meeting followed by a programme of vintage recordings in the upper room of the United Reformed Church at 7.30pm. Website www.thefrms.co.uk/lowesft.htm.