SOLO RECITALS

Alison gives many solo recitals. The recitals usually feature three different instruments: a 1933 Luigi Embergher Mandolin, 2008 Martin Bowers copy of her 1764 Vincentius Vinaccia Mandolin and a 1985 Pasquale Pecoraro Octave Mandolin. Alison uses the pieces and instruments to chart the history and development of the instrument. This is a very informative format and showcases many of the most beautiful pieces for solo mandolin from the 1700's to the present day. It is particularly suited to smaller venues (capacity of up to c.500) and is very suitable for lunchtime and full length evening recitals. Alison has given solo recitals across the UK, Hong Kong, Germany and Saudi Arabia and is also very experienced at doing schools/junior recitals/workshops. Recent seasons have seen her give solo recitals at many Universities including Durham (twice), Reading, Warwick, Hull, Brunel and Bradford as well as performances for the Warwick, Binham Priory (3rd solo visit) and Bury St Edmunds Festivals, at the Newbury Corn Exchange, Lincoln Drill Hall,and Hertford, Celyn, Crwth and Ripley Music Clubs as well as Bromley Music and Literary Society (3rd solo visit, 8th visit in total) amongst many others.See Diary Page for details of this and all forthcoming recitals and concerts).
"....with such an easygoing manner, and witty mix of anecdote and fact, she is always guaranteed to keep her listeners spellbound throughout... with the sheer virtuosity and wide dynamic range, to the breathtaking use of instrumental colour." Philip R Buttall, Plymouth Evening Herald
“…her many fine performances and recordings have established her as Britain’s leading classical mandolinist, and her latest CD “Con Espressione” eloquently proves just what a fine solo player she has become…….performing them with a light and enviably effortless touch……require a fine technique to make them sound as light and graceful as they do here…….completes this fine recording, which demonstrates that, with the right combination of composer and performer, the mandolin’s potential as an unaccompanied instrument can rival even that of the violin.” Paul Sparks, Mandolin Quarterly (USA)
"Stephens is great to watch. Evidently in love with her two mandolins she talks of them as close friends. She plays them brilliantly, achieving the almost impossible." Martin Parker, The Scotsman
PROGRAMME SUGGESTIONS Below are outlines of the four programmes currently available. They are all available in either full length evening or hour long format. 1) Mandolin Journey – an exploration into music for the mandolin from, and inspired by, different countries around the world. Ali also explains some of the mandolin’s many relatives from around the world including instruments such as the balalaika and bouzouki and brings two examples of some of these instruments (a Baglama from Greece and a Bandurria from Spain). In addition, the programme will look at the historical journey the instrument has made from its early popularity in the first part of the 18th century through to the present day. The programme includes music from, or influenced by, Greece, Germany, Japan, Spain, Italy and France. 2) Magical Mandolin – a light-hearted look at the mandolin’s more captivating and charming traits and repertoire. Very suited to younger or mixed audiences. 3) The Warrior Mandolin – the mandolin is more commonly connected to peacefulness, warmth and passion but has most famously been linked to war by the best-selling book Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. Using this popular book as a starting point Ali investigates just how wide-spread the habit of taking the mandolin into war really was and explores the instrument’s uncanny knack of getting caught up in various conflicts right across its 300 year history. 4) The Italian Job – The mandolin is inescapably Italian both in sound and sentiment. This programme looks at what exactly makes it sound so Italian. Ali will also take the audience to different countries at various periods in history to study the effect of the Italian immigrant on the mandolin’s development and popularity across the world.