The Zoffany Ensemble’s Festival at Kew

Marmalade and Masquerades – Storytelling through chamber music, a family concert inspired by the work of Michael Bond (Paddington) and Edgar Allan Poe (Masque of the Red Death).

St Anne’s Church Saturday June 6th 11.00am

Tickets £16.00 adults, £12.50 child, £49 family (2+2)

A magical journey from Paddington Station with London’s favourite bear, to the dark and haunting shadows of Prince Prospero’s abbey and the spectral figure in a blood-red mask. 

This musical programme brings two very different worlds together. Placed side by side, these pieces show children how music tells stories. Some stories feel cosy and bright; others feel strange and a little spooky. Both spark imagination.

On one side, we meet Paddington Bear. His music is warm, playful and full of curiosity. It celebrates kindness, humour and small adventures. On the other, we step into the darker world of André Caplet’s Conte Fantastique, after Edgar Allan Poe’s The Masque of the Red Death. This music feels mysterious and dramatic. It explores shadows, power and big emotions.

Together, they remind us that light and dark belong in storytelling and that music helps us explore both, safely and creatively.

Repertoire:

André Caplet – Conte Fantastique after Edgar Allan Poe’s The Masque of the Red Death for harp and string quartet (1922). Story adapted by Erin Muldoon

Herbert Chappell – Paddington Bear’s First Concert (1984) arr. Roger Montgomery 

Narration by Helena Korner

The Players:

Manon Derome, Violin

Michael Trainor, Violin

Sarah-Jane Bradley, Viola

Anthony Pleeth, Cello

Hugh Webb, Harp

The Zoffany Ensemble is led by Manon Derome who, along with harp player Hugh Webb, recorded the original score for three films in the Paddington franchise.