Toad Lane Concerts, Rochdale
7th May 2026

Midweek Musical Delight at St Mary in the Baum!

Every Wednesday at 12:30pm, enjoy the Queen’s Award-winning Toad Lane Concerts at the stunning Grade I listed St Mary in the Baum church, Toad Lane, Rochdale, OL16 1DZ.

Admission is just £6. As a “not for profit” initiative, your entry fee and donations directly support talented musicians, the historic venue, and music resources.

For details, contact Dr. Joe Dawson: 01706 648872.

Note: There have been 1,184 concerts since taking over the council’s Music at Lunchtime in 2001. Justifying continuity in Rochdale’s year as the Greater Manchester Town of Culture.

Doors open 12noon, concert starts 12.30pm – 1.30pm.

Wednesday 13th May 2026 – Students from Chetham’s School of Music

Here are the next events to whet your appetite.

- May 20 – Eccles Community Choir – Director Angela Rowley (soprano and adjudicator) – Piano John Stott
- May 27 – Eliot Gresty clarinets (Chetham’s & RCM) Elliot is the winner of The Musicians’ Company Prince’s Prize 2019 – Kanako Mizuno piano (Toho Gakuen Japan, RNCM, RAM)
- June 03 – Richard Haslam classical guitar (Hull University & RNCM)

Previous Performance Reviews.

Wednesday 6th May 2026 -Madeleine Brown piano (RNCM)

Described as having “the potential to become a major voice in the classical music world” (Peter Donohoe CBE), Madeleine Brown is establishing herself as an exciting young pianist. After graduating in music from Cambridge, she is now studying with Kathryn Stott at the RNCM.

In 2025 she won the RNCM’s prestigious Gold Medal and was recently awarded the Silver Medal by the Worshipful Company of Musicians, adding her to the acclaimed Young Artist Programme. All this added to her many impressive credentials such as 1st prize in both the RNCM and Cambridge University Concerto Competitions. In 2026, Madeleine makes her debut at the Ryedale Festival as a Waverley Young Artist, alongside performances for Leeds Lunchtime Concerts and the Sunday Piano Series at Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham. Madeleine has received masterclass tuition from several renowned pianists.

Today’s concert at St Mary in the Baum in Rochdale was sandwiched between her performances at the mecca for concerts, Wigmore Hall in London the preceding week and the following – a rare distinction.

Madeleine has an engaging manner and her stamina, powerful interpretation and virtuoso playing are impressive; the audience was mesmerised, not least as he played the whole recital from memory. With only a few minutes to familiarise herself with the 1935 Challen 8’ Grand Piano, she managed to dig deeper into its sonorities than other players. She certainly made the most of it and immediately stamped her authority with a dramatic Polonaise-Fantaisie, Op.61 by Chopin.

The choice of excerpts from Rameau ‘s Suite in G major was unusual because of the typical Baroque dominance of Bach and Handel etc. but proved delightful and refreshing. They are charming early examples of programme music as each movement has a descriptive title.

In contrast the atmospheric contemporary piano piece Black Earth, by Turkish pianist-composer Fazil Say was inspired by an ancient Turkish ballad. To achieve maximum effect the player reaches into the strings and touches and mutes them along with conventional virtuoso keyboard playing to achieve a symbolic empty space, the unearthly harmonics helping Madeleine to create a twilight zone.

The piece de resistance was Prokofiev’s Sonata No.7, the second of his three ‘War’ sonatas of 1942. Through Madeleine’s mastery and incisive interpretation, we fully appreciated its rhythmic complexity, striking discords and emotional depths … sensational! We should agree with Peter Donahoe’s prediction.

With thanks to Dr. Joe Dawson for permission to publish his article.