This is the 45th season of chamber music concerts promoted by Bromsgrove Concerts.
All concerts are at 8pm and are in Artrix.
(Click on any photograph to see a larger version of it)
Friday 5 October 2007 at 8pmSacconi Quartet
Ben Hancox violin · Hannah Dawson violin
Robin Ashwell viola · Cara Berridge cello
| Haydn | Quartet in B flat, op. 50 no. 1 |
| Beethoven | Quartet in C minor, op. 18 no. 4 |
| Brahms | Quartet in A minor, op. 51 no. 2 |
The dazzling Sacconi Quartet starts our season with three great works from the 18th and 19th centuries. Established 6 years ago, this young group has rapidly become one of the leading string quartets on the international scene, winning prizes at Trondheim, Bordeaux and the 2005 London International String Quartet competition.
“That’s what I call live performance!” The Observer
“The festival sensation, the young Sacconi Quartet completely bowled over a packed audience. The chemistry between these four young players is tangible and magical.” The Scotsman
£14/£13/£5
Friday 26 October 2007 at 8pmAndrew Kennedy tenor
Simon Crawford-Phillips piano
Sacconi Quartet
Ben Hancox violin · Hannah Dawson violin
Robin Ashwell viola · Cara Berridge cello
| Ivor Gurney | Ludlow and Teme |
| Mozart | Quartet No. 19 in C, Dissonance, K465 |
| Ian Venables | Songs of Eternity and Sorrow |
| Vaughan Williams | On Wenlock Edge |
Promoted jointly with the Housman Society, this concert features settings of A.E. Housman’s poetry by Ivor Gurney, Ralph Vaughan Williams and Worcester-based composer Ian Venables. Winner of the Cardiff Singer of the World Recital Prize in 2005, Andrew Kennedy is one of the leading tenors of our day.
“Andrew Kennedy: a singer of wide, lustrous tone and striking dramatic prowess.” The Times
£14/£13/£5
Friday 23 November 2007 at 8pmAvison Ensemble
Directed by Pavlo Beznosiuk violin
| D. Scarlatti/Avison | Concerto No. 11 in G |
| Stephani Scarlatti | Symphonia No. 2 in C minor |
| Leonardo Leo | Concerto for violoncello and strings in F minor |
| D. Scarlatti/Avison | Concerto No. 5 in D minor |
| D. Scarlatti/Avison | Concerto No. 8 in E minor |
| Antonio Vivaldi | Concerto for 4 violins, |
| viola and continuo in B flat, RV553 | |
| D. Scarlatti/Avison | Concerto No. 12 in D |
The Avison Ensemble are a chamber orchestra, playing on period instruments, who feature the music of Charles Avison, the 18th century composer who led the cultural scene in the Newcastle upon Tyne of his day. Many of Avison's works are arrangements of keyboard works by Domenico Scarlatti, but the evening also includes one of the première performances in modern times of a recently rediscovered work by ‘Stephani Scarlatti’, who is probably really Domenico’s uncle Francesco.
“This excellent ensemble” The Guardian
£14/£13/£5
Friday 14 December 2007 at 8pm
Nash Ensemble
Gareth Hulse oboeRichard Hosford clarinet
Richard Watkins horn
Ursula Leveaux bassoon
Ian Brown piano
| Beethoven | Piano Quintet in E flat |
| Poulenc | Trio for oboe, bassoon and piano |
| Ibert | Trio for oboe, clarinet and bassoon |
| Mozart | Piano Quintet in E flat, K452 |
The Nash Ensemble are well-known as one of Britain’s finest chamber music groups. The programme includes French trios featuring oboe, bassoon and clarinet, framed by the two great masterpieces for piano and wind quartet by Beethoven and Mozart, the twin peaks of the repertoire.
“These Nash musicians live gold. They play gold. They just don't earn it. Time and again we heard the group trademarks: warm colouring, perfect balance, a miraculous ensemble sense, exquisite but never bloodless taste” Geoff Brown - The Times
“The Nash Ensemble showed why they are among today's most outstanding and enterprising groups.” Paul Conway - The Independent
£14/£13/£5
Friday 25 January 2008 at 8pmEvelina Puzaite piano
Philip & Dorothy Green Young Concert Artist
| Schubert | Moments Musicaux Nos. 1, 2 & 3, D780 |
| Schumann | Kinderszenen |
| Prokofiev | Sonata No. 3 |
| Debussy | Images Book 2 |
| Falla | Fantasia Bética |
Featured in a full-page ‘One to Watch’ article in the June 2007 Gramophone magazine, Evelina Puzaite is a rising star from Lithuania, winner of the Landor Records competition and of the 2006 Making Music Philip & Dorothy Green Award for Young Concert Artists. Her appearance in Bromsgrove is thanks to this scheme. Her programme ranges from Schubert and Debussy to brilliant works by Medtner, Prokofiev and Falla, whose Fantasia Bética features the colourful music and rhythms of Andalusia.
“…stage-presence and engagement with the audience. Evelina Puzaite possessed this in spades.” Classical Source
£14/£13/£5
Friday 1 February 2008 at 8pmChroma
Stuart King clarinet · Ian Watson accordion
Roderick Chadwick piano · Elena Hull double bass
| Elena Firsova | Invocation |
| Peter Maxwell Davies | Lux in Tenebris |
| Dai Fujikura | Broken Shackle |
| Gabriel Erkoreka | Soinua |
| Toshio Hosokawa | In die Tiefe der Zeit |
| Elisabeth Lutyens | Soli |
| Rebecca Saunders | Quartet |
Chroma, Ensemble-in-Residence at Royal Holloway University, London, celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2007. It is a dynamic, critically acclaimed chamber ensemble featuring some of Britain's most outstanding musicians, known for the passion it brings to contemporary works, its vivid renderings of classic pieces and its diverse programme of education work. Their concert explores the fantastic soundworld created by having an accordion in a chamber scenario. Such a rich and versatile instrument, its tone colours are endlessly fascinating.
“the top-notch chamber ensemble Chroma” The Guardian
£11/£10/£3.50
Friday 15 February 2008 at 8pm
Jerusalem Quartet
Alexander Pavlovsky violinSergei Bresler violin
Amihai Grosz viola
Kyril Zlotnikov cello
| Haydn | Quartet in C, op. 33 no. 3, The Bird |
| Bartok | Quartet No. 4 |
| Brahms | Quartet in B flat, op. 67 |
The Jerusalem Quartet are acknowledged to be one of the world’s great string quartets. Founded by four student players in Jerusalem in 1994, they continue to be in great demand all over the world, from Amsterdam to Adelaide. Their programme for us features three great works by Haydn, Bartok and Brahms.
“What variety of colour the Jerusalem Quartet brought, characterfully underplaying the music.” The Independent
“one of the most exciting young chamber ensembles today … a performance guaranteed to lift you out of your seat.” BBC Music Magazine on their recording of Shostakovich’s 9th
£14/£13/£5
Friday 14 March 2008 at 8pm
Stephen Gutman piano
| John Cage | The Seasons |
| Howard Skempton | Campanella I-IV |
| Luke Stoneham | Mercury In Retrograde |
| Morgan Hayes | Puppet Theatre; Strides Book I |
| Michael Finnissy | 5 Tangos; Gershwin Arrangement |
| Paul Whitty | Take This Personally |
Stephen Gutman
is recognised as one of Britain’s most brilliant and creative interpreters of modern music.
He has given the UK premières of works by Birtwistle, Ligeti and Schnittke, among
others, and has also commissioned many new works - from Julian Anderson, Michael Finnissy, Simon Holt and Luke Stoneham, for
example.
(Please note that due to lack of Arts Council funding we have had to cancel the new work by Morgan Hayes which we had planned to commission.)
“Stephen Gutman’s pyrotechnical virtuosity gave the best possible first performance … elegantly explosive in Gutman’s performances.” The Guardian
“One of the best younger exponents of modern repertoire” The Sunday Times
£11/£10/£3.50
Friday 28 March 2008 at 8pmLondon Sinfonietta
| Tōru Takemitsu | And Then I Knew 'Twas Wind |
| Emily Hall | Join |
| Benjamin Britten | Lachrymae |
| Harrison Birtwistle | Crowd |
| Olivier Messiaen | Le Merle Noir |
| Claude Debussy | Sonata for flute, viola and harp |
London Sinfonietta's reputation goes before them. As part of a national tour, members of the Sinfonietta bring to Bromsgrove a programme which will explore the repertoire for flute, viola and harp including Debussy's well-loved sonata, written during the last years of his life.
“The world's finest contemporary music ensemble” BBC Music Magazine
“With the virtuoso players of the London Sinfonietta … fashioning a miraculous web of sound.” The Evening Standard
£11/£10/£3.50
Friday 4 April 2008 at 8pm
Vienna Mozart Trio
Daniel Auner violinDiethard Auner cello
Irina Auner piano
| Rachmaninov | Piano Trio in G minor |
| Shostakovich | Piano Trio No. 1 in C, op. 8 |
| Schubert | Piano Trio No. 2 in E flat, D929 |
The Vienna Mozart Trio are well-known to British audiences, having performed at many venues and regularly broadcast on Radio 3. The Trio was formed in 1991 and has developed a large international following. They play early Rachmaninov and Shostakovich as well as Schubert’s wonderful late second piano trio.
“It is easy to appreciate the sophisticated playing of this fine ensemble, with their meaningful phrasing and expressive control of rhythmic inflection.” The Daily Telegraph
£14/£13/£5
Friday 25 April 2008 at 8pm
Tippett Quartet
John Mills violinJeremy Isaac violin
Maxine Moore viola
Bozidar Vukotic cello
| Stephen Dodgson | Quartet No. 1 |
| Elizabeth Maconchy | Quartet No. 5 |
| Nicola LeFanu | Quartet No. 2 |
| Michael Tippett | Quartet No. 2 |
The Tippett Quartet was formed in 1998 and has become one of Britain's most exciting young chamber groups. Since their debut in 1999 at the Purcell Room they have performed regularly at the South Bank and at venues and festivals throughout the UK and abroad, gaining a reputation for authoritative performances and creative programming. They have premièred works by composers such as Stephen Dodgson, Cecilia Ore and Simon Holt. They are recording all of Stephen Dodgson's Quartets for the Dutton Epoch label and all of the Tippett Quartets for Naxos.
“The Tippett Quartet's performance had enormous cogency and power.” Tim Ashley - The Guardian
“...the playing has such a seething variety of expression and such a bristling sense of character. The Tippetts got right beneath the music's skin. The conviction of playing was compelling.” Geoffrey Norris - Daily Telegraph
£11/£10/£3.50
Bromsgrove Concerts reserves the right to alter dates, programmes or artists without notice