Potton Hall: James Gilchrist and Anna Tilbrook

As Helen and Jeremy Hayes presented the first of a series of concerts on Monday night at Potton Hall it became increasingly clear that this was not only the beginning of a new season of concerts at a charming new Suffolk venue, but also the unveiling of some important dates on the East Anglian and national classical music calendar. The owners, who took over the lovingly restored barn from the widow of organ enthusiast Alan Foster, are not only passionate about music, but they are knowledgeable too. For many years Helen worked for the Cheltenham International Music Festival, and Jeremy as a Senior Producer on BBC Radio 3. Crucially they have tapped into the public’s appetite for something different. The area attracts a well informed, culturally sophisticated audience who demand excellence, and if this first concert was anything to go by, they’ve hit the spot!

The tenor James Gilchrist and pianist Anna Tilbrook presented an evening in two parts; to begin, Beethoven’s An die Ferne Geliebte, generally acknowledged as the first true song cycle, followed by Schubert’s Schwanengesang or ‘Swan Song‘. James Gilchrist began the proceedings with a fascinating insight into the history of the song cycle, the sentiments behind its poetry, and Beethoven’s great admiration of Schubert’s work – astonishing since there is no record of them ever meeting despite living in Vienna during the same period. James and Anna’s presentation was sharp, and brought out the nuances of some frequently dark, but often funny material.

Many positive things came out of this first concert, which is followed by a series of concerts The acoustics are undeniably world class (Potton Hall is already a well established recording studio) and the setting in the rolling rural landscape of north Suffolk inspires a sense of peace and tranquility. It would be great to see Potton Hall take full advantage of the momentum of public support behind them (let’s see a friends/donor scheme in place!), and for them to look at developing an all encompassing experience that includes events, talks, and food and drink. Although these are early days, clearly many see Potton Hall giving Snape Maltings a run for its money by providing a more intimate atmosphere, and an inclusive and accessible programme that offers something for everyone.