Events

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6th March, 1980

in the presence of HRH The Prince of Wales
Lorin Maazel, Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus
Heiligenstadt Testament read by Sir Peter Ustinov
Soloists: Annabelle Bernard, soprano Elizabeth Connell,contralto
Kenneth Riegel,Tenor and Marius Rintzler, bass
Chorus Master: Norbert Balatsch
Missa Solemnis Beethoven

Ann shows Prince Charles the Exhibition of drawings of “A Concert” by deaf children

Ann with Sir Robert Meyer, 100 years old, founder of the Youth and Music concerts

Prince Charles meets Lorin Maazel

Lorin Maazel meets the deaf musicians from the Mary Hare Grammar School

24 August, 1981

Gala Première “Children of a Lesser God”
Mermaid Theatre starring Trevor Eve and deaf actress Elizabeth Quinn
Attended by Jacqueline du Pré, Joanna David, Julia McKenzie, Alfred Marks amongst other actors and musicans.

Ann welcomes Barbara Kelly

Ann welcomes Jacqueline du Pre, brought by Joanna David

Premiere of “Children of a Lesser God” with deaf actress Elizabeth Quinn

29 June, 1982

in the presence of TRH Prince and Princess Michael of Kent
in the Royal Festival Hall – compèred by Bernard Braden
Nancy Wilson and her Trio and the National Youth Jazz Orchestra

Watching Evelyn Glennie perform at the reception

Princess Michael congratulates Evelyn

Poster of Nancy Wilson and her Trio

Ezra shows his exhibition of deaf children making music to the Kents

Ezra and Ann congratulate Evelyn

Prince and Princess Michael with Evelyn

Evelyn with Nancy Wilson and her Trio

Ann with HRH Princess Michael of Kent

Princess Michael meets Nancy Wilson

10 November, 1983

in the presence of HRH The Duchess of Gloucester
Sir Georg Solti and the London Phlharmonic Orchestra
Soloist: Mitsuko Uchida
Overture Leonora 3 – Beethoven
Piano Concerto No 4 Beethoven
Symphony No 5 Beethoven

Sir Georg and Lady Solti, with Ezra and HRH The Duchess of Gloucester

Paul Whittaker, Ann, HRH The Duchess of Gloucester, Ezra and Evelyn Glennie

Iain Kerr, HRH The Duchess of Gloucester with Sir Georg Solti and Mitsuke Uchida

26 October 1985

Claudio Abbado and The London Symphony Orchestra
Soloist: Rudolf Serkin
Overture Leonora 3 – Beethoven
Piano Concerto 24 in C min. Mozart
Symphony No 5 Beethoven

Two conductors in conversation –  Ezra Rachlin and Claudio Abbado

3 June 1986

in the presence of HRH The Duchess of Kent
10th Anniversary Celebration in the Ballroom of Moët et Chandon in Mayfair
Melos Quartet – all Beethoven programme

24 June, 1987

Andre Prévin and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Soloist: Anne-Sophie Mutter
Heiligenstadt Testament read by Sir Alec Guinness
Overture Prometheus Op 48 Beethoven
Violin Concerto Beethoven
Symphony No 6 “Pastoral” Beethoven

Sir Alec Guinness and John Wilson, deaf actor

Evelyn with Andre Previn

Ann and Andre Previn

Iain Kerr, Evelyn Glennie, André Previn, Ann Rachlin, deaf actor, Sir Alec Guinness, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Paul Whittaker and Ezra Rachlin

Andre Previn, Ann Rachlin, sir Alec Guinness, Ezra Rachlin

6th July to 30th August 1987

The May Fair Intercontinental Hotel’s Diamond Jubilee Celebrations were dedicated to The Beethoven Fund.

Artists taking part included Bernard Braden. Michael Bentine, Timothy West and the Medici Quartet, Julie RogersLionel Bart, Lynseynde Paul and Marty Wilde

Programme May Fair Jubilee Cabarets

Brochure Mayfair Jubilee

May Fair artists

Evelyn with Ernie Wise

Ann with Dame Edna and the May Fair hotel’s cheque for £20,000

Iain Kerr and Ann Rachlin with Beethoven Cake

23 December, 1987

Christmas Concert with”Peter and the Wolf” narrated by HRH The Prince Edward

Ezra Rachlin and the London Symphony Orchestra
Narrator: HRH the Prince Edward

Prince Edward and Ezra Rachlin in rehearsal with the LSO at the Barbican

Deaf children making music for Prince Edward

HRH The Prince Edward rehearses Peter And The Wolf at the Rachlins’ home

Press cuttings re Prince Edward

Prince Edward, Ann Rachlin and Evelyn Glennie

4 December, 1988

Lorin Maazel conducting all Beethoven Symphonies in one day.

Brochure income donated to The Beethoven Fund (£20,000)

1 February, 1991

The BBC Welsh Orchestra in Cardiff

Concert in aid of The Beethoven Fund for Deaf Children
supported by Diana, Princess of Wales

An Evening Of Dvorak – programme

Letter from Princess Diana

1 December, 1993

“Happy Hookers” (golfers) at the May Fair Hotel
£12,000 presented by Dennis Norden

21 January, 1996

20th Anniversary of The Beethoven Fund

Concert in Celebration of the life of
EZRA RACHLIN
5th December 1915 – 21st January 1995

generously sponsored by
Alastair Salvesen of Dawnfresh Seafoods Limited

in the presence of

Her Majesty Queen Anne-Marie of Greece
presented the life of pianist/conductor/photographer Ezra Rachlin,
Vice Chairman of The Beethoven Fund.

Artists included
Edward Fox
Joanna David
Evelyn Glennie
Patricia Rosario
Cristina Ortiz
and the Cellists of The London Symphony Orchestra
conducted by Richard Markson
presented by Ann Rachlin

At the end of the concert the audience was surprised to see Michael Aspel and TV cameras approaching the stage to say “THIS IS YOUR LIFE, ANN RACHLIN”. The audience was invited to go to the bar for free drinks and then return to their seats where the show would be recorded for television. Those taking place in THIS IS YOUR LIFE included Lord Yehudi Menuhin, Sir Georg Solti and Lord Robert Runcie, Archbishop of Canterbury.

See video tributes from André Previn, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Lord Runcie, Lord Menuhin Sir Georg Solti and HRH Princess Michael of Kent

The Beethoven Fund website is dedicated to the memory of Henry Dyson.

Please click to expand this memorial plaque.