Festive Firebird – 24th November 2021
Tait Friends and their guests are invited to join us for our tribute to ballet with music from the great ballets, featuring artwork by Ann Seddon inspired by Stravinsky’s Firebird, and Prokofiev’s Cinderella. The evening also celebrates some of our Patrons and will include a conversation with celebrated Australian portrait painter, June Mendoza AO OBE; Ross Alley will review Leanne Benjamin AM OBE’s new book ‘Built for Ballet’ which follows her sparkling career from her beginnings in Australia to playing principal roles with The Royal Ballet, London.
“Leanne’s extraordinary journey really comes to life in this refreshingly honest account of her career in dance. She was not only a brilliant Principal with The Royal Ballet but has made a significant impact on the artform through her coaching of the next generation of performers. With her consummate artistry, tenacity, warmth and wit, she truly is built for ballet!”
Kevin O’Hare, Director, The Royal Ballet
We are delighted to confirm a special guest appearance by one of Australia’s greatest pianists and Tait Patron, Piers Lane AO. Piers has just returned to the UK from Australia which included acclaimed performances with Musica Viva, his continued stewardship of the Sydney International Piano Competition, and ended with performances at the Australian Festival of Chamber Music in Townsville.
Festive-Firebird-prog-V10-241121June will share her memories about ballet in the UK and Australia, the many famous dancers she has painted, and of her Mother, Dot Mendoza. Dot played for Pavlova, and Borovansky, and for many years was JCW’s company pianist. In the 1960’s she was associated with The Mavis Bramston Show in Australia as scriptwriter, composer and performer, in later life she coached actors in performance and voice production. Among those she taught were Barry Humphries, June Salter, Gordon Chater, John Meillon and Jill Perryman. …a truly fascinating life.
Our Master of Ceremonies will be the inimitable Ross Alley once again ably supported by Chad Vindin (piano) and we also look forward to introducing you to some of our 2021 awardees performing music inspired by ballet and dance.
We also take this opportunity to bid a fond farewell to Linda Apelt, Agent General for Queensland to the United Kingdom. During her tenure as Agent General her support of young Australian artists and our work has been truly outstanding.
In closing this concert would not be possible without the generous support of Leslie MacLeod-Miller. Leslie has kindly offered his beautiful home as the venue for this unique artistic event. We thank him most sincerely. Places are strictly limited…book now.

‘Festive Firebird – A tribute to Ballet’ – November 24th
Tait Concerts
Wednesday 24th November
7 for 7.30pm
Venue: 3c Carlisle Place, London SW1P 1NP
To book:
Tait Friends- £35
General Admission – £40
Sensation in the Salon – 23rd September 2021
Seduction-230921-Programme-FINALSensation pertains to our five senses of sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell – physiological responses to stimuli from the world we live in, yet “sensational” embraces so much more: something extraordinary, startling, even scandalous. “Sensation in the Salon”, past and present Tait Memorial Trust awardees will perform pertinent repertoire to dazzle, titillate and inspire in a stunning musical showcase designed to alleviate lockdown lassitude and provoke an intense response in your own senses.
Ross Alley
Tait Tuesdays at Home concert series 2020/2021
In support of the Tait Emergency Relief Fund for Australian & New Zealand Artists, we shared performances online to you in your home not only to our supporters here in the U.K., but also for our many supporters in Australia and New Zealand.
Tait Awardees and other young musicians from Australia and New Zealand are giving lockdown streaming concert performances from their home to yours in our concert series called TAIT TUESDAYS AT HOME.
Purchase a ticket here on the website and receive a link to the streaming premiere of the concert, or enjoy it any time, as many times as you like, over the following six months from the comfort and safety of your home.
Please select your preferred currency and ensure you are booking for the correct time zone.
Past Concerts

‘Song of Wisdom’ with Miriam Allan – May 25th
Tait Tuesdays at Home
MIRIAM ALLAN, soprano | JAMES ORFORD, organ
Tuesday 25th May
Live stream 12 noon BST UK | 9pm AEST AU | 11pm NZST NZ
Then rebroadcast at 7pm BST UK | 8pm EDT/PDT US
St Paul’s Knightsbridge, London
32 a Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, London SW1X 8SH
To book:
Online tickets – £10/£8
Live performance (limited availability) – £20
In support of the Tait Emergency Relief Fund for Australian & New Zealand Artists

The Golden Age of Musical Theatre – March 23rd
Tait Tuesdays at Home
Tuesday March 23rd – 9pm AEDT | 8pm NZDT | 7pm GMT | 8pm USA EDT | 8pm USA PDT
In support of the Tait Emergency Relief Fund for Australian & New Zealand Artists

Leslie Howard and Friends – March 16th
Tait Tuesdays at Home
Tuesday March 16th – 9pm AEDT | 8pm NZDT | 7pm GMT | 8pm USA EDT | 8pm USA PDT
In support of the Tait Emergency Relief Fund for Australian & New Zealand Artists

Stars of Covent Garden in Recital – March 9th
Tait Tuesdays at Home
Tuesday March 9th – 9pm AEDT | 8pm NZDT | 7pm GMT | 8pm USA EST | 8pm USA PST
In support of the Tait Emergency Relief Fund for Australian & New Zealand Artists

Joseph Tawadros AM – The Art of the Oud – March 2nd
Tait Tuesdays at Home
Tuesday March 2nd – 9pm AEDT | 8pm NZDT | 7pm GMT | 8pm USA EST | 8pm USA PST
In support of the Tait Emergency Relief Fund for Australian & New Zealand Artists

Ein schöner Abend with Annabelle Traves – April 27th
Tait Tuesdays at Home
ANNABELLE TRAVES – violin | JULIA SCHULLER – violin | NINO GUREVICH – piano
Tuesday April 27th
In support of the Tait Emergency Relief Fund for Australian & New Zealand Artists
-
Stars of Covent Garden in Recital – March 9th£8.00 – £10.00
-
Leslie Howard and Friends – March 16th£8.00 – £10.00
-
The Golden Age of Musical Theatre – March 23rd£8.00 – £10.00
-
Joseph Tawadros AM – The Art of the Oud – March 2nd£8.00 – £10.00
-
Ein schöner Abend with Annabelle Traves – April 27th£8.00 – £10.00
Concert Series Subscription
Or receive the subscription discount on your own selection of 5 or 10 past and upcoming concerts, by simply selecting your chosen concerts from this page – the discount will be applied at checkout.
It’s not too late to buy tickets to previous concerts in the series. Enjoy the filmed concert at your leisure for up to six months.

Frank and Viola Tait Concert Series Subscriptions
Book online now for the Viola Tait subscription of the next 5 concerts, or the Frank Tait subscription of tne next 10 concerts in the series at a discounted rate. Once payment is confirmed you will be sent a web page ready to go.
All Events 2021
2021
2nd March
Joseph Tawadros – REPEAT
9th March
Stars of Covent Garden – REPEAT
16th March
Quintet – REPEAT
23rd March
Golden Age JCW – REPEAT
27th April
Ein Schoener Abend with Annabelle Traves
Sponsored by Voyage Control
Annabelle Traves in recital from Munich
Annabelle Traves, violin
Julia Schuller, violin
Nino Gurevich, piano
Music by Kreisler, Paganini, Beethoven, Gershwin, Bach, Hubay
23rd September
Chelsea Theatre, 7 World’s End Place London SW10 0DR
Presented by Ross Alley Artistic Director: Chad Vindin
Rebecca Allen, Bassoon
Brad Cooper, Tenor
Phillip Costovski, Tenor
Corinne Cowling, Soprano
Annabelle Traves, Violin
Rosie Noble-Booth, Soloist from Rambert School
Music by: Bernstein, Bizet, Duparc, Fauré, McFerrin, Handel, Léhar, Schumann, Sondheim and Tosti
We are also very excited that a ballet student from Rambert School will be performing a piece called Mañana
by Bobby McFerrin, choreographed by Arielle Smith.
24th November
3c Carlisle Place, London SW1P 1NP
Festive Firebird
June Mendoza AO OBE in conversation with Ross Alley
Pavlova & The Dying Swan (performed by Lavinnia Rae, cello)
Ross Alley – A brief look at ballet in Australia
Ann Seddon ballet artwork – a spotlight by Ross Alley
Coppélia pas de deux viola solo (recording)
Lisa Bucknell, viola & Chad Vindin, piano
We look at Leanne Benjamin AM OBE’s book – Built for Ballet
Katherine Allen, soprano & Chad Vindin, piano
1. Pie Jesu – Faure
2. Waltz of my heart – Novello
Sarah Prestwidge, soprano & Chad Vindin, piano
1. Les filles de Cadiz – Delibes
2. I could have danced all night – Lerner & Loewe
Piers Lane AO, piano
Trois Mouvements de Pétrouchka
1. Danse Russe
2. Chez Pétrouchka
3. La Semaine Grasse