Helen explains 'Beyond the Clouds'

In this, my second CD of ‘Songs Without Words’, I would like to take you on a voyage through both time and space. My hope is that you the listener, will allow yourself to let go of the world that you are in, that of time and doings, and join me on a timeless journey, wherever your imagination takes you.

We travel to that place of timelessness wherein lies the past, present and future.  You are free to travel through stars and clouds, visiting mountains and forests telling their tales of Ancient Times and Yesterdays Dreams. We hear the song of a Dartmoor Stream and its Sunlit Waterfall.  
We are told the plaintive story of Baggy Point, a beautiful headland that proudly stretches out, flanked by the North Devon sea. We are embraced by the emotional state of love, that spirit which is there for all of us if we open our hearts and invite it to be our friend.

We watch the red flames of the beautiful Setting Sun and feel the mystery of its passing Into the Quiet of the Night.

The Performers

Helen Habershon (Clarinet}
Katalin Kertesz (Violin)
Alexander Baillie (Cello)
John Lenehan (Piano)

Katalin Kertész was born in Budapest, Hungary, and now lives in Somerset, England. After completing her school years at the Béla Bartók Conservatory she studied in Germany with Eckhard Fischer and Annette-Barbara Vogel. Additional studies with musicians Andre Gertler, Tibor Varga and Nelly Soregi-Wunderlich also provided important musical influences for Katalin. She has performed on both period and modern violin in a multitude of chamber groups and ensembles, in England and abroad, including City of London Sinfonia, The London Handel Orchestra, The Brook Street Band, and The Hanover Band.

Katalin leads the Kertész String Quartet, a period instrument Classical quartet. In addition to her performance work, she is researching the healing potential of music, and is the creator of Music Essences, a series of powerful vibrational essences based upon the music of J.S.Bach. Katalin plays on an 18th Century Mittenwald violin.

Alexander Baillie is internationally recognised as one of the finest cellists of his generation. He began playing the cello at the comparatively late age of twelve having been directly inspired by the late Jacqueline du Pré. He went on to study at London's Royal College of Music and with André Navarra in Vienna. He has appeared regularly as cello soloist in concertos, recitals and festivals throughout the world. Performed with many British orchestras and has worked with Sir Simon Rattle, Sir John Eliot Gardiner. He has given notable first performances of works by Penderecki, Hans Werner Henze, Takemitsu, Colin Matthew and H.K.Gruber. Recordings include the Tippett Triple Concerto with the composer conducting and the Shostakovich First Concerto with Benjamin Zander and the Boston Philharmonic. His version of the Britten Cello Suites achieved the highest acclaim in the New York press. He features in the film "Dvorak...who?" about the motivation for young people falling in love with classical music. Together with pianist partner James Lisney he has been promoting the Beethoven Project in England and Germany

John Lenehan has been praised by the New York Times (“great flair and virtuosity”) and the London Times (“a masterly recital”), and his performances and recordings have been acclaimed throughout the world. As a soloist he has regularly appeared with leading British Orchestras and his innovative recital programmes often include film projection and jazz repertoire. In a performing career spanning more than 25 years. John Lenehan has also collaborated with many of today’s leading instrumentalists and is recognised as one of the leading accompanists and chamber musicians of today. During the past few years he has appeared in major concert halls in Amsterdam, Vienna, Salzburg, New York, Washington, Toronto, Seoul, Shanghai and Tokyo. John Lenehan has made more than sixty CDs - most recently three discs for Sony of minimalist piano works and John Ireland’s piano music (the third volume of a complete edition on Naxos). Other solo recordings include a disc of Erik Satie and a Gramophone award-winning recording for Naxos (with the Ulster Orchestra) of Michael Nyman’s Piano Concerto. John Lenehan is also active as a composer and has written and arranged for Angelika Kirchschlager, Nigel Kennedy, Julian Lloyd Webber, Tasmin Little, Emma Johnson and the King of Thailand.