??Spain has been fortunate for British artist, author and composer Dario Poli, known to his contemporaries as the “Renaissance man.” For it was here that he found the inspiration to originate and produce one of his finest musical achievements “Lady X and The Power of Destiny” in a creative collaboration with Puerto Banus’s living legend Patrick Lloyd Hulme.

The musical drama, originally composed as a celebration of England’s favourite princess, based on the late Diana Princess of Wales. For the composers  it became a long mystical and spiritual journey, an exploration of Diana’s enigmatic character, her emotions, her motivations, and her fascination with the phenomenon of love. Their meticulous research into every facet of her life has resulted in a work, which has great profundity and truth to life, while acknowledging the gaiety and brilliance of a beautiful, if flawed aristocrat.

The project tells of Diana’s rise and fall, her golden yet tragic plight, in a sensitive and heartfelt piece of work that will stand the test of time, much as the light of her life will transcend the generations. Two men started a project, inspired by the muse, a project that tragically turned into a mission for the truth – to capture the innocence of her life and a light that was lost but never to be forgotten.
It was first registered in Marbella with S.G.A.E before her death; a tragedy, which galvanized the composers into re-writing almost the entire work and then re-registering the work in Malaga. The financial backers brought in by Dario, were fascinated by the quality of the music and story line, supported the composers enthusiasm and ideas, and the work was then legally constituted in Holland and Ireland.

With this funding the two men approached one of Britain’s leading musical professionals, the renowned musical director – David Redston – who, after studiously appraising their story, agreed to work with them on the project and conducted the orchestra and directed the numerous superb vocalists on the recording.

The musical drama was recorded by a symphony orchestra, opera singers and  including some singers from Riverdance at the famed Westland Studio Dublin.  These complex recordings and rehearsals, were directed by David Redston  following intensive rehearsals at RTE studios Dublin. It was produced by Richard Pine on the 11 September 2000, with Dario and Patrick in close attendance as advisors overseeing the work. It was engineered by Bob Somerville and was later mixed by David Redston and Bob Sommerville. Richard Pine: http://www.durrell-school-corfu.org/pine.htm

It is a powerful and imaginative, two-act fictional musical drama of a total 2 hrs 45 minutes duration, specifically produced by its creators, to explore the tumultuous life of Lady X, a beautiful aristocrat and her entangled loves. Drawing into focus the esoteric factor X, the irresistible power of destiny and its mysterious design, that inexorably acts throughout her life.

The drama intricately woven around her, expresses a gamut of emotions, containing a haunting sense of tragic premonition, which unfolds, as the complexity of her life and charisma is explored and skilfully brought to life, by the innovative story; the sensitive and incisive power of the music, words and musical arrangements.

The musical effect simply carries the songs from the hearts and minds of Dario Poli and Patrick Lloyd Hulme, into the heart and soul of the listener. The result of the collaboration between Dario and Patrick, David Redston, the orchestra and the vocalists is truly mesmerizing and can confidently be described as ‘touching and very beautiful’

Richard Pine wrote “…. the recording demonstrates…its emotional appeal, the immediate catchiness of its rhythms and lyrics,and the richness of the orchestral texture.” … “The jewel at the heart of the musical remains that what it had been from the outset, …a celebration of her life, beauty and demeanour.”

He continued on the CD cover of Diana  – “ The musical differs from other productions in its truth to life, its deep appreciation of the circumstances which combined to bring the aristocratic girl, Lady Diana Spencer, to the point where she became Diana, Princess of Wales, and beyond it to the divorce court, to disillusion and death. The unique selling proposition of the composers is its powerful combination of singable tunes and a haunting sense of premonition.

Dario wrote; the moral of their story is simply that, “what we say and do to other people effects and shapes their lives, whether for good or bad. Therefore, each individual has his or her own personal responsibility to manage their actions towards others”. This becomes very clear in the final moments of the Opera.

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Originally from France, Richard Méric (aka RIC) is an unconventional self-taught artist and traveler, with an academic background in Philosophy. Before he started painting, he traveled for many years through the European continent, and went twice to India overland.

In 1979, he decides to settle down, and while living in the country side in south of France, he produced numerous oil paintings, such as the astonishing triptych entitled “The gardens of memory” conceived from 1979 to 1983, incontestably his closest homage to H.Bosch, the famous Dutch painter.

The Gardens of Memory by Richard Meric

Among other, he conceives his own Tarot cards, based on his Alchemy studies: he painted the 21 major arcane with oil on canvas. He’s actually completing the his Tarot desk, conceiving the cards on computer.

His original creations, combining Surrealism and Hyper-realism, are mainly inspired by esoteric traditions and symbolism, but, aside from any intellectual approach, he mostly hope to communicate to his human fellows positive feelings, as well as his love for beauty and harmony.

Ric describes his work as a modern painting using a classical technique, inspired by Breuguel, H.Bosch, M.C Escher and Salvador Dalí.

During 8 years, he paints without showing his work, leading a life which allows him to dedicate most of his time to painting. Richard Méric has done very few exhibitions, although most of his paintings have been sold to private collectors.

Most of his paintings has been digitally treated and can be reproduced at any size, as Giclées edition.

This incredible artist is seeking a new agent, so if you are interested in representing him, just contact him through his website .

LINKS:
Richard Méric’s Biography
Paintings | Drawings

“Permanance du Bien et du Mal” (AGLOU IV) tryptique 260 x 130 cm. | 1985/86 | Oil on canvas

For a chance to win tickets supplied by event sponsor Ibex Insurance please go to www.ibexinsure.com/summerconcert-competition – closing date 30th June.

Following the phenomenal success of The Summer Event Concert last year; reviewed as “World Class entertainment delivered direct to our door step”; this Summer there will be two concerts inside the magnificent and intimate setting of El Castillo de la Duquesa on Saturday 24th July & Saturday 21st August, sponsored and supported by Ibex Insurance, Essential Marbella Magazine, Talk Radio Europe, Sur In English & Fischer Car Group among others, and in collaboration with the Ayuntamiento de Manilva.

The concerts will star popular tenor Stephen Lloyd-Morgan with the new and specially formed 16-piece Marbella Concert Orchestra, conducted by renowned Musical Director Ian Green, with a selection of songs from Musical Theatre, Opera and Cross-Over, sung in English, Italian and Spanish.

Special guest artists also bringing an eclectic and contemporary repertoire to the event include Yazz, International Recording Artist; Julie-Anne Hunter, Mezzo Soprano ENO & Royal Festival Hall; María Lourdes Benítez, Soprano El Coro de Ópera de Málaga and Spain´s WOW Factor Winner and Runner-up, Christian Fa & Rebecca Tate, and The Unity Gospel Singers.

Event organiser Nick Holland said, “We are very excited about bringing the Marbella Concert Orchestra to accompany Steve at this year´s concerts in Duquesa. We are also delighted that Yazz, who very rarely performs in Spain, has agreed to join the special guest line-up. The costs incurred by bringing a live orchestra, as well as a more spectacular sound and lighting show, (Nigel Davis – Soto Events) has resulted in an increase in ticket price this year. But we are certain the sweeping improvements we have made since last year to both the content and staging of the concerts will be appreciated by the audiences and we hope this will lead to another very unique and successful event!”

Tickets, €40, will go on sale from 9th June, from Beccy´s, Monte Duquesa; Christina´s Cards, Sabinillas; Glitterati Books, Centro Diana Benavista & Anglo Wines, Sotogrande or call 697 783 942. Ticket numbers are strictly limited at this venue and last year was sold out several weeks before the concert! All tickets must be prepaid, although available for collection on the door.

Doors & Bar Open from 8.00pm – 1.00am
Steve´s first performance with The Marbella Concert Orchestra will be at the prestigious 10th Anniversary Max Clifford Celebrity Butterfly Ball Gala in aid of The Rhys Daniels Trust at the Hotel Puente Romano on 5th June. Later this summer he will record a new album with the Orchestra as well as performing with them in Madrid and Barcelona.

Information: www.slmlive.com/mco & www.slmlive.com/summerevents

Photographs Copyright CJ Hadlow www.cjhadlow.com & Paul Wilcockson LMPA, www.weddingsandportraits.eu

Tras el éxito de El Concierto de Verano  del año pasado,  este verano habrá dos conciertos dentro de la magnífica El Castillo de la Duquesa el sábado 24 de julio y sábado 21 de agosto, patrocinado y apoyado por Ibex Insurance, Essential Marbella Magazine, Talk Radio Europa, Sur in English y Fischer Car Group, y en colaboración con el Ayuntamiento de Manilva.

Los conciertos tenor Stephen Lloyd-Morgan con el nuevo y especialmente formado 16-pieza Orquesta de Conciertos Marbella, dirigida por el Director Musical Ian Green, con una selección de canciones de Teatro Musical, Ópera y Cross Over, cantado en Inglés, Italiano y Español. Los invitados especiales al evento incluyen Yazz, Artista Internacional de grabación; Julie-Anne Hunter, Mezzo Soprano ENO y el Royal Festival Hall, María Lourdes Benítez, Soprano El Coro de Ópera de Málaga y WOW Factor Ganador de España y subcampeón, Christian Fa y Rebecca Tate, y El Evangelio Unidad Cantantes.

Organizador del evento, Nick Holland dijo: “Estamos muy emocionados de traer la Marbella Concierto de la Orquesta para acompañar a Steve en los conciertos de este año en Duquesa. También estamos encantados de que Yazz, que muy rara vez se realiza en España, se ha comprometido a unirse a la invitada especial line-up. Los gastos efectuados por traer una orquesta en vivo, así como un sonido más espectacular y show de iluminación, se ha traducido en un aumento de precio del billete de este año. Pero estamos seguros de las mejoras que hemos realizado desde el año pasado para el contenido y la puesta en escena de los conciertos será apreciado por el público y esperamos que esto nos llevará a otro evento muy exitoso!”

Entradas, 40€, se pondrán a la venta a partir del 09 de junio, a partir de Beccys, Monte Duquesa, Christina en Sabinillas; Libros The Glitterati, Centro Diana Benavista y Anglo Wines, Sotogrande o llame al 697 783 942.

Primera actuación de Steve con la Orquesta de Conciertos Marbella será en el prestigioso 10º Aniversario de Max Clifford famoso Butterfly Ball Gala a beneficio de La Fundación Rhys Daniels en el Hotel Puente Romano, el 5 de junio.

Información: www.slmlive.com/mco y www.slmlive.com/summerevents