This is the 44th season of chamber music concerts promoted by Bromsgrove Concerts.
All concerts are at 8pm and are in Artrix.
Friday 6 October 2006 at 8pm
Anne Queffélec piano
| Scarlatti | Sonatas in E Kk531, B minor Kk87 and D Kk96 |
| Mozart | Sonata in B flat, K333 |
| Mozart | Sonata in A minor, K310 |
| Debussy | Reflets dans l'Eau; La Cathédrale Engloutie; Ondine |
| Satie | 2 Gymnopédies; Le Piccadilly; 2 Gnossiennes |
| Ravel | Noctuelles; Oiseaux Tristes; Une Barque sur l'Océan |
Anne Queffélec's reputation rests equally on her clear but emotion-filled playing of Mozart and on her interpretation of the rich romantic world of the later French repertoire. She has endeared herself to British audiences, playing at the Proms, the Cheltenham Festival and many other locations. We are delighted that she is opening the 2006-2007 season for us in Bromsgrove.
“The absolute naturalness of her playing holds the listener spellbound with its acuteness of perception” Le Monde
£13/£12/£4.50
Friday 27 October 2006 at 8pm
Royal Quartet of Warsaw
Izabella Szalaj-Zimak violin · Elwira Przybylowska violin · Marek Czech viola · Michal Pepol cello
| Mozart | Quartet No. 17 in B flat, The Hunt, K458 |
| Shostakovich | Quartet No. 7 in F sharp minor, op. 108 |
| Brahms | Quartet No. 1 in C minor, op. 51 no. 1 |
The Royal Quartet came together in 1998 at the Chopin Music Academy in Warsaw and are now very well-known in this country. They were nominated as BBC New Generation artists in 2004 and Wigmore Hall Resident Quartet in 2006. With frequent appearances on BBC Radio 3, they also enjoy an international reputation.
“One to watch? The Royal Quartet ... There's the most extraordinary risk-taking in their playing; they're amazingly vulnerable and musical musicians.” Paul Kildea (Wigmore Hall artistic director)
£13/£12/£4.50
Friday 17 November 2006 at 8pm
Leopold String Trio
Marianne Thorsen violin · Lawrence Power viola · Kate Gould cello
| Krása | Passacaglia and Fugue |
| Schubert | String Trio in B flat, D581 |
| Krása | Tanec (Dances) |
| Mozart | Divertimento in E flat, K563 |
Established in 1991, the Leopold String Trio is now one of the world's major string trios. Their programme for us includes two works by Krása, one of the leading Czech composers of the interwar years. He was one of the artists interned at the Terezin camp, where his works were played to great acclaim before he was sent on to Auschwitz and his death.
“[D581] was a joy. This is music that really should be heard more often, and who better to play it? The players found in it naivety, classical elegance (of course), but also in places a teasing, questioning quality. They played as an organic whole: there was no simple separation of melody and accompaniment here, but a communal shaping, eloquent and sublime.” The Strad
£13/£12/£4.50
Friday 24 November 2006 at 8pm
Florian Kitt cello and Rita Medjimorec piano
| Toru Takemitsu | Orion |
| Gerd Kühr | Portraits |
| Ross Edwards | Cellomaninyas |
| Nigel Osborne | Roma Diary |
| Benjamin Britten | Sonata in C, op. 65 |
Following his 1964 debut at the Konzerthaus, Vienna, Austrian cellist Florian Kitt has appeared as soloist with many leading orchestras, given cello recitals and made numerous recordings. He is renowned for his interpretations of contemporary music, including concertos by György Ligeti, Luciano Berio and Nigel Osborne.
Rita Medjimorec graduated from the Hochschule Mozarteum, Salzburg, receiving the highest distinctions for both her teaching and soloist diplomas. She now concentrates on performing chamber music with Florian Kitt, on her piano-duo partnership with her husband, and on accompanying singers in lieder recitals.
“The disc ends with a thoughtful, gritty reading of Britten's Sonata in C. The restrained beauty of the Elegie is especially memorable and [they] bring a vibrant intensity to the frantic Moto perpetuo, ... proving themselves capable of great sensitivity and the most searching interpretations.” The Strad
£11/£10/£3.50
Friday 8 December 2006 at 8pm
Dufay Collective
Goday Sire Cristemas
| Music from the 13th to the 16th centuries from France and England by, amongst others, Adam de la Hale, Claude Gervaise and Henry VIII. |
A group specialising in music of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, the Dufay Collective play on authentic instruments of the period, improvising on traditional music in the styles of the times. Their programme brings us music that would have been heard at Christmas-time in an age when piety was combined with festivity.
“Never before have I seen an audience in Hong Kong respond so enthusiastically... What is more, the audience's enthusiasm is not in any way misplaced; the Dufay Collective were simply outstanding.” The Daily News, Hong Kong
£13/£12/£4.50
Friday 12 January 2007 at 8pm
Montpellier String Trio
Marcus Barcham-Stevens violin · Colin Twigg viola · David Powell cello
| Elizabeth Maconchy | Piccola Musica |
| Gerald Finzi | Prelude and Fugue for String Trio |
| John Joubert | String Trio |
| Lennox Berkeley | String Trio |
| Robert Simpson | String Trio |
Formed in 1995 by CBSO players and taking its name from the area of Cheltenham where its inaugural concert was given, the Montpellier Trio has since performed in a variety of venues throughout the Midlands and the Cotswolds, including the Leamington and Worcester Festivals. Their repertoire ranges from Bach to the present day and they have recently recorded the trio by their violist, composer Colin Twigg. This concert continues our investigation of 20th century English chamber music which was begun so successfully by the Maggini Quartet in 2004.
“The playing was intense and left one longing for more...This recital was proof that a full orchestra is not necessary to produce music of stunning impact.” Gloucestershire Echo
Please note that the Judith Weir piece originally advertised will not be performed.
£11/£10/£3.50
Friday 19 January 2007 at 8pm
Oboeworks
Imogen Triner oboe · Roger Huckle violin · Moira Alabaster viola · Richard May cello
| Vanhal | Quartette Concertante for oboe and string trio, op 7 no. 6 in C |
| Britten | Phantasy for oboe and string trio, op. 2 |
| McGarr | Vanishing Games |
| Mozart | Oboe Quartet in F, K 370 |
| Bach | Suite No. 1 in G for solo cello |
| Françaix | Cor Anglais Quartet |
Led by Imogen Triner, Oboeworks perform a wide range of music for the melodious combination of oboe and strings. Their repertoire extends from the 18th century to the present day and their programme features instruments in various combinations, with a cor anglais replacing the oboe for the last work.
“Excellently performed ... Elegance and control together with a dashing and brilliant vitality.”
La Stampa RAI Turin
£13/£12/£4.50
Friday 23 February 2007 at 8pm
Philip Moore and Simon Crawford-Phillips pianos
| Schubert | Fantasy in F minor, D940 |
| Mozart | Sonata in D, K448 |
| Lutoslawski | Variations on a Theme of Paganini |
| Stravinsky | The Rite of Spring (trans. Stravinsky) |
A first for Bromsgrove Concerts: the piano duo of Philip Moore and Simon Crawford-Phillips, starting with four hands at one piano before moving across for a two-piano extravaganza. They have performed at festivals across Britain and the rest of the world. The arrangement of The Rite of Spring which they are playing is Stravinksy's own.
“This was the first performance that I've heard recapture the near-perfect style of the Brendel-Klein recording ... they're clearly destined for great things as the finest duo in the market right now, and in a highly competitive field.” Croydon Advertiser
£13/£12/£4.50
Friday 2 March 2007 at 8pm
decibel
Steve Halfyard voice · Roman Mints violin · Neil McGovern saxophones
Damien Harron percussion · Fumiko Miyachi keyboards/piano · Evelyn Chang piano
Ed Bennett electronics/director
| Programme to include: | |
| Diana Burrell | Piece No. 80 |
| Ed Bennett | New work |
| Joe Cutler | Urban Myths |
| Fumiko Miyachi | Midalegami |
| Simon Hall | Pair Helene |
Formed in 2002 as a collective of performers and composers, decibel perform experimental and unusual work which generally exists between, or miles outside, the usual unhelpful categories used today. They usually perform pieces which combine live instrumental ensemble music with electronics and in some cases live video mixing. Included in the line-up is soprano Steve Halfyard, whose unique voice adds an extra dimension to the possibilities of the ensemble. Composers who have written for the group, in addition to Ed Bennett himself, include Paul Whitty, Nye Parry, Joe Duddell, Fumiko Miyachi, Jeremy Woodruff, Diana Burrell and Michael Finnissy. They recorded their debut CD in 2005.
£11/£10/£3.50
Friday 23 March 2007 at 8pm
Craig Ogden guitar and Brodsky Quartet
Andrew Haveron violin · Ian Belton violin · Paul Cassidy viola · Jacqueline Thomas cello
| Fernando Sor | Introduction, Theme & Variations on a theme from The Magic Flute |
| Javier Alvarez | Metro Chabacano |
| Mario Lavista | Reflejos de la Noche |
| Boccherini | Guitar Quintet in D, Fandango, G448 |
| Samuel Barber | Quartet op. 11 |
| Leo Brouwer | Guitar Quintet |
| Aaron Jay Kernis | 100 Great Dance Hits |
Another first for Bromsgrove Concerts: the guitar quintet, bringing together Australian-born guitarist Craig Ogden, and the Brodsky Quartet who have played in Bromsgrove on many occasions. The programme offers music with a Spanish flavour alongside American, Cuban and Mexican items.
“Brilliant and persuasive” The Guardian (about Craig Ogden)
“There's something that sets the Brodsky Quartet apart from other groups ... The intensity of concentration and communication between the players is palpable and reaches out from the stage right into the audience.” St. George's Bristol, BBC Celebrity series
£13/£12/£4.50
Friday 13 April 2007 at 8pm
Fidelio Piano Trio
Darragh Morgan violin · Mary Dullea piano · Robin Michael cello
| Ed Bennett | New work (Bromsgrove Concerts commission) |
| Donnacha Dennehy | Bulb |
| Deirdre Gribbin | How to Make the Water Sound |
| Salvatore Sciarrino | Trio No. 1 |
| Edison Denisov | Trio |
| Elena Firsova | Mad Vision |
The Fidelio Trio was formed in 1994 by three students from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and the Royal College of Music. In November 1996 they made their South Bank debut giving the UK première of Toru Takemitsu's Between Tides. Since then they have performed in Hong Kong, France, throughout Ireland and the British Isles and have recorded for the BBC and RTHK Radio 4. They have commissioned many new works, including How to Make the Water Sound, and UK premières have included Edison Denisov's Trio, and works by Chick Corea and Toshio Hosokawa.
“A tight-knit and highly musical bunch” The Strad
£11/£10/£3.50
Bromsgrove Concerts reserves the right to alter dates, programmes or artists without notice