Friends of the Belarusian Children's Hospice

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

Alexander Ardakov, the renowned international pianist, captivated his audience with an exquisitely played programme of Russian music by Tchaikovsky, Scriabin and Mussorgsky.   The recital was in aid of Friends of BCH and took place on 6^th March at Dr Challoner’s High School, Little Chalfont.

 

The recital began with a dozen piano pieces by Tchaikovsky composed over a period of 25 years.  Each of these encapsulated a feeling or a time of year and was a small jewel beautifully presented.

 

The second half started with three etudes by Scriabin which were followed by Mussorgsky’s masterpiece Pictures at an Exhibition.  Alexander caught the mood of each ‘picture’ perfectly and we progressed around the exhibition with the familiar theme of the promenade which made us feel as though we were accompanied on our exploration by a much loved and respected friend.  Finally, we arrived at the Great Gate of Kiev full of strength and majesty.  I enjoyed this performance more than any other I have heard previously.  As one of the audience remarked to me, Alexander was completely at one with the piano when he played and was a joy to listen to.  He has a rare talent.

 

The recital raised over £2000.  Thank you to Alexander and all those who supported this wonderful evening.

Russian Business Club members (lunch organiser Irina Ford in centre) ‘making spectacles of themselves’ at the annual Russian Christmas lunch in aid of Friends of the Belarusian Children’s Hospice

 

The theme this year was outrageous spectacles (the sort that you wear on your nose), the venue was Pasha’s in Wapping High Street.  Fifty members of this most welcoming and friendly group of people working in the City for companies or on projects that have partners in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and other former Soviet countries, gathered together for an extended lunch time’s celebration of Russian Christmas on 8^th January.

Never far from Club members’ minds during the festive season are less fortunate children in the region where they do business.  Again this year the Club chose to support Friends of the Belarusian Children’s Hospice (UK) through its Christmas auction and the spontaneous giving of its members.

Friends of BCH would like to thank the Club very much for the wonderful total of £1,167.50 raised at the Christmas lunch.

It just goes to show, it is sometimes worth making a spectacle of oneself…

 

Christmas lunch organiser John Metcalfe sporting guitar spectacles with Club member John Romano looking like a member of the Secret Services

 

Newsletter December 2009