• Megan Humphries harp Wednesday September 27^th Wyvern Theatre, 1.05pm

Swindon Recital Series' opening concert of the 2023/24 season at the Arts Centre introduces us to a broad base of styles and periods in French music, ranging from the Baroque (sonatas by Leclair), through Romantic (Méditation from Thaïsby Massenet and sonatas by César Franck) and Impressionist (sonatas by Debussy), to the Twentieth Century with Lili Boulanger. Moods range from crystal clarity and formality, through ethereal sounds and humour, to full-blown drama.

Megan Humphries appears at the Wyvern Theatre on Wednesday September 27^th at 1.05pm. Standard tickets are £7 plus administration fee of £1. Student tickets are £3; accompanied children aged 14 and under are admitted without charge.

Megan Humphries has performed across the United Kingdom in venues such as The Royal Albert Hall, Festival Hall, and The Barbican. An impassioned orchestral player, Megan has played under the batons of celebrated conductors, including Sir Mark Elder, John Wilson, and Kirill Karabits. She regularly works alongside The London Phoenix Orchestra and The Campanella Orchestra. Megan is a current scholar of the Royal Academy of Music for her postgraduate degree, studying with Suzy Willison-Kawalec, principal harpist for the RPO.

• Joy Farrell clarinet and Paul Turner piano Wednesday November 1st 1.05pm, Wyvern Theatre

Joy Farrell clarinet, who is one of Britain's most successful and highly respected wind soloists, is making a welcome return to the Swindon stage for this third recital in the French Impressions series. Together with Paul Turner piano she will present three sonatas and two miniatures. The sonatas are Debussy's stunning Première Rhapsody, full of heavenly harmonies, Poulenc's Sonata with its haunting melodic lines and drama and Saint-Saen's Sonata with its elegant melody and furious passion.

The programme is completed by compositions from two female composers - Fernande Decruck's beautiful Cantilene and Germaine Tailleferre's serenely melodious Arabesque.

Joy Farrell and Paul Turner appear at the Wyvern Theatre on Wednesday November 1st at 1.05pm. Adult tickets are £7 plus administration fee of £1. Student tickets are £3; accompanied children aged 14 and under are admitted without charge.

Joy Farrell has a diverse and fascinatingly eclectic career currently holding the position of Principal Clarinet with the Britten Sinfonia. She has freelanced with most of the UKs major orchestras and chamber orchestras and as an enthusiastic chamber musician she has appeared at music societies and festivals all over Britain, Europe, America and Australia. Joy is a founder member of the Haffner Wind Ensemble with whom she has broadcast, recorded and toured widely.

About Swindon Recital Series

Swindon Recital Series was founded 27 years ago by Paul Turner. The Recital Series is committed to providing world-class chamber music in the Swindon area by presenting regular concerts of chamber music given by professional musicians. The Series takes place between September and April each year at various venues in and around Swindon, including the Wyvern Theatre and the Arts Centre.

For more information contact either Artistic Director Paul Turner at turner.paul@virgin.net, recitals@hotmail.co.uk or on 01793 531316 or 07989 397372 or SRS Secretary Julia Singleton at juliaesingleton@gmail.com or on 01793 644660 or 07718185518

Information about the recital series can be found at www.swindonrecitalseries.org