TIL Dec 2017

10
CHRISTMAS CONCERT WITH
HELEN JANE LONG
Top 10 Billboard and award winning
artist Helen Jane Long has established
herself as the most popular female
composer and pianist of all time.
She has written extensively for film
and television and without knowing, you
would have most definitely heard her
music hundreds of times and in
unexpected places. ‘Earlier in the year, I
was walking through Philadelphia airport
and I could hear familiar music playing
from a shop. As I stepped closer I
realised it was a piece from one of my
albums. The shop assistant asked if she
could help me and I smiled and said I
recognised the music. She then asked if
I would like to buy a copy of the album.
I thanked her and said, It’s ok, I think I’ve
already got a copy!’ It was a funny
moment.
Born and raised in South East
England, Helen was playing piano by ear
aged four. Her ability to recreate the
sound she heard quickly became one of
the cornerstones of her composing
career, as she taught herself to play
many instruments in quick succession.
In 2006 Helen was discovered and
signed a contract with Warner music,
who released her first album Porcelain.
‘When I was offered the record deal I
remember trying to convince the label to
let me just write and get someone else to
perform because I felt more comfortable
in a studio than on stage, obviously they
didn’t agree!’
Porcelain went on to critical acclaim on
major radio stations worldwide and
countless requests for live shows was the
catalyst for bringing Helen out of hiding
and kick starting her international touring
career... ‘now I wonder why I avoided it for
so long, it’s the one thing that connects
me to my audience and I love it!’
In 2008, Helen set up her own record
deal, publishing company and destiny.
With a worldwide following of millions,
in 2018 she is set to embark on her fifth
USA tour performing music from her six
piano albums.
All her piano albums have climbed
the charts in rapid succession including
her latest single ‘Outside’ with its catchy
melody, which cannot fail to put a smile
on your face. The latest album,
Perspective (due for release in January
2018), is an exciting new direction in
Helen Jane Long’s compositions and yet
still stays true to her original and much
loved style.
On Saturday 23 December (19.30),
set in the beautiful location of St James’s
Church Piccadilly, Helen Jane Long will
be performing music from her piano
albums including ‘The Aviators’ from
the British Airways advert, her newest
album Perspective (and some Christmas
tunes).
Tickets are available to purchase
online at www.helenjanelong.com or on
the door £15.
AFASIC CHRISTMAS CONCERT AT
WREN’S CHURCH OF ST ANDREW
The biennial Afasic Christmas
Concert will take place on Thursday
7 December at the Sir Christopher Wren
designed Church of St Andrew. Sir
Derek Jacobi will give a reading, Robert
Meadmore, Elaine Delmar and Jamie
Safir have agreed to perform, and the
Concordia Chamber Choir will be
providing music throughout the evening.
The concert will be extra special this
year as it will kick off the Afasic 50th
Anniversary celebrations.
AUSTENTATIOUS HITS WEST END
Austentatious is an entirely
improvised comedy play, starring a cast
of the country’s sharpest comic
performers, who conjure up a ‘lost’ Jane
Austen novel based on nothing more
than a title suggested by the audience.
Whether you’ve read all of Austen’s
works or none of them, this hilarious
show will be a totally new experience.
Performed in full Regency costume
with live musical accompaniment, no
two shows are ever the same. Previous
’lost‘ masterpieces include The Sixth
Sense and Sensibility, Mansfield Shark
and Double 0 Darcy. Expect witty
heroines, dashing gents and
preposterous plots. Swooning
guaranteed. Performances take place at
the Piccadilly Theatre on 5 December,
23 January and 13 February. Telephone
Bookings on 0844 871 7630.
Austentatious.
Photo: Robert Viglasky.
t h i s i s l o n d o n m a g a z i n e • t h i s i s l o n d o n o n l i n e