Music Matters “Gala Night Viennese Style” Tuesday 18 November 2014 at 7.30p.m.  Generously hosted by Whitgift House in the beautiful Chapel that stands just to the left of the main house through the gate to the garden. Mozart wrote his sublime Quintet for Clarinet and Strings towards the end of September 1789. He had first encountered clarinets as a young man on a visit to Mannheim and he wrote to his father in great excitement to tell him how wonderful the orchestra sounded with clarinets in it. Later he was to be inspired by his friendship with clarinettist and fellow freemason Anton Stadler to write a series of great masterpieces for the clarinet, and his Quintet K.581 was referred to by Mozart himself as “Stadler’s Quintet”. On Tuesday 18 November you can explore Mozart’s inspirational work in the company of string players Nicoline Kraamwinkel and Martin Smith (violins) Chian Lim (viola) and Julia Desbruslais (‘cello) with Margaret Archibald (clarinet). The evening will begin with a movement of Mozart’s Quartet in C major K465, the so-called “Dissonance” completed in 1785 and the last of a set inspired by Haydn. Mozart enjoyed playing quartets with other musician friends and colleagues who were resident in Vienna at that time; after hearing the line-up of Haydn, Wanhal, Dittersdorf and Mozart playing quartets together, one mutual friend commented afterwards that “there was no little science among them!” Wanhal, who played ‘cello in Mozart’s quartet of friends, was himself a composer who wrote a number of charming pieces for the clarinet, including a Quartet for clarinet, violin, viola and ‘cello of which the Finale will be performed this evening. The inner workings of a musical score can be fascinating and apparently mysterious, but we hope to draw out the strands that make up the texture of Mozart’s Quintet K. 581 to show how magically he weaves his musical fabric. Mozart wrote lots of music for social occasions, dances and parties, and he would surely have applauded our desire to discover some fine Viennese wines alongside his wonderful music. Our Gala night features two wines grown and made in Vienna and especially chosen for us by the Wine Society whose tasting notes seem irresistible: Schloss Maissau Weinviertel Grüner Veltliner 2013: from the Weinviertel DAC this grüner has a mineral, white-pepper, spice and quince aroma.There is a little spritz adding to the fresh crisp mouthfeel, lime and more white pepper on the palate and finish. Hans Igler Zweigelt Classic 2011: generous, rounded blackberry and spice-fruited Austrian red with typical hint of pepper on the palate. Cakesby Rita, made in Bromley using traditional Viennese recipes, will complement the wine, and juice and sparkling water will also be available. Whitgift House, 76, Brighton Road, South Croydon CR2 6AB in The Chapel, 7 for 7.30 – 9.30p.m. Entry £20 – Cash, or cheque payable to “Everyone Matters”, in advance or on the door. Enquiries to Margaret Archibald on 020 8464 1645; 07970 123105; margaret@everyone-matters.co.uk All proceeds from ticket sales and from refreshments will go towards Everyone Matters for its informal concerts in nursing homes, day centres and community venues for older and disabled people, for its workshops bringing participation in live music-making to children with learning difficulties in special schools, for its intergenerational projects where young musicians share their music-making alongside professionals for audiences of older people, and to develop the current series of Music Matters lecture-recitals of which this evening forms a part. Finding Whitgift House Chapel Whitgift House stands in the grounds of Whitgift  School, but with its own gate on Brighton Road. Do not go up the hill to the school. If you are standing on the drive facing the house, you will see to the left of the house a large wrought iron gate leading through into part of the garden. The chapel is accessed by going into the garden through this gate, and then going through the very first door on your left. Everyone Matters: a company limited by guarantee no. 07450130; registered charity no. 1143445