Lisa Timbs will be at Forest Arts in New Milton for Jane Austen 250: A Celebration in Music and Words
MARKING the 250th birthday of Jane Austen, pianist Lisa Timbs and soprano Verity Joy will host a celebration of her life in words and music.
Featuring snippets of information about the musical thread running through Austen’s life and works, the unique show will be on stage at Forest Arts next month.
Pianist and historical interpreter Timbs, received funding from Arts Council England to research early music collections, including that owned by Austen and her female relatives. After privileged access to the original books, she will share her findings with audiences by recreating the music using her 1826 Broadwood square piano and authentic replica clothing.
Accompanied by soprano Joy, the duo will take audiences to visit Austen at home and find her using music to amuse, as an emotional outlet and as a plot device in her novels. Audiences will discover how, in a subtle way, Austen left clues about her characters with music, revealing the rogues and gently poking fun at the lovelorn.
After completing her degree in music at Southampton University, Timbs returned to take up a post as piano tutor, where she remained for 11 years. She has had successful partnerships with both singers and instrumentalists, and been principal accompanist for a number of award-winning choirs, performing in the UK and abroad.
In 2012 Timbs purchased a rare 1826 Broadwood square piano and began her research into domestic music making, which is now her main focus. She recently added a second fully restored square piano to her collection, an 1822 model made by Tomkison, which she primarily uses for recording.
In order to share her work, Timbs founded the Square Pianist, a project which combines period instruments and authentic costume in historical settings, to bring the past and the music to life.
Jane Austen 250: A Celebration in Music and Words with Lisa Timbs is at Forest Arts on Thursday 19th June. Tickets are £12 in advance or £15 on the door. To find out more visit forest-arts.co.uk or phone 01425 612393.
