20 December 2004
Dear Friends,
As the year 2004 reaches its "finale" and 2005 heads for the "overture", we would like to extend our best wishes to all the artists, supporters, well-wishers, sponsors and donors who have done so much to ensure that the past year has been such an outstanding period for the Foundation.
We have continued our steady expansion, broadening the scope of our activities both in events and locations, adding to our Friends' membership and artistic roster, and giving us a solid basis for another exciting and creative twelve months ahead.
The year's programme has concluded with three more exceptional events:
In mid-November, the Foundation presented to the Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, a bronze bust of the legendary Hollywood actor James Mason, who was born in the city although lived the last 20 years of his life in Corseaux, above Vevey. He is buried in nearby Corsier. On the occasion of the Lawrence Batley Theatre's tenth anniversary the bust was unveiled by the Hollywood star (also Yorkshire born) Patrick Stewart, in the presence of several members of James Mason's family, many local personalities and members of the Anglo-Suisse Artistic Foundation. The ceremony was followed by a reception at which the new Corseaux "James Mason Vintage" wine, labelled with the actor's self-portrait and produced at the initiative of our Foundation, was used to toast a delightful and convivial "Anglo-Suisse" occasion. The event received national television and press coverage.
Early in December, we returned to the lovely setting of the Villa Principe Leopoldo in Lugano, for our third annual concert there, as guests of Director Maurice Urech. Outstanding performances, by Marie-Stéphanie Janecek, the fine young Lausanne cellist, and the talented German baritone Philipp Sulzberger, were most sensitively accompanied by the Australian pianist, Stephen Delaney. The artists were received with acclaim by the audience and the concert was followed by a convivial champagne reception.
The following week, at the private London dining club of one of our patrons, Anton Mosimann, a sold-out, gala end-of-year dinner was brilliantly entertained by the Tenebrae Chamber Choir, presented by the Foundation.
One planned event for this period has been postponed as a result of our heavy schedule. The ceremony in Corseaux to celebrate the centenary of the birth of the author Graham Greene, who is buried in the Commune, will now be held in the spring of 2005. The date will be announced in the New Year.
We are gratified by the numbers of our Friends who have renewed their memberships for the coming season and by the new members who have joined us. To those of our Friends who have not yet renewed, a gentle reminder to do so, as we would hate to lose the pleasure of your company! We are also always more than pleased to receive recommendations for potential members to our group of kindred spirits.
For richly-illustrated and regularly-updated news of our activities, past and future, please access our website through its new, simpler listing: www.anglosuisse.org
With warmest personal regards, and my best wishes for a happy and harmonious year ahead,
Your sincerely,
Heather de Haes