10 November 2008

LONDON BRIDGE ENSEMBLE

BENJAMIN NABARRO violin, TOM DUNN viola, KATE GOULD cello, GRAHAM MITCHELL double bass, DANIEL TONG  piano
 

Since making its Wigmore Hall debut in 2005, the London Bridge Ensemble has rapidly established itself as one of Britain’s most exciting and brilliant chamber groups. The Ensemble’s engagements since then have included St John’s Smith Square, the City of London Festival, Wye Valley Chamber Music Festival, St George’s Bristol, Leicester International Music Festival’s lunchtime series, St David’s Hall Cardiff, Sheffield Music in the Round, the Kerry Chamber Music Festival, and a return visit to the Wigmore Hall.  This spring, the Ensemble presents a brand new festival in Winchester, the home town of its cellist, Kate Gould,  and future engagements include Bridgewater Hall for the Manchester Mid-day Concerts Society . A CD of works by Frank Bridge, was released in spring 2008 as part of the Epoch series for the Dutton label. The name of the group reflects an admiration for this great English composer, whose music has from the outset formed an important part of its repertoire. The name is also an affectionate homage to the bridge and station in London!

Programme

Frank Bridge  Phantasy Piano Quartet

Vaughan Williams Piano Quintet

Schubert  Quintet in A major Trout

The Bridge piece is an early work dating from 1910 and, like many English works of the period, followed on old ‘fantasy’ form of the 17th century. It is an impassioned and delightful work for of luscious melodies. The Vaughan Williams Quintet is a rarity indeed and lovers of English music should take the opportunity of catching a live performance of this intriguing work. Composed in 1903 when RVW was starting to make a name for himself, it remained unpublished until quite recently. Schubert’s Trout Quintet is, of course, one the glories of chamber music and without a doubt one of the most popular works in the classical repertoire.

Reviews

“The ensemble performed with a supreme sympathy for each other, which the audience by now had become accustomed to. There was a sense of unity and common purpose in their performance, which is the ideal of chamber music realised at its best. It was a divine evening of music making.”     Music & Vision 2007

“There was often a fierce intensity about the music making, but also the simple joy that chamber music engenders. This was indeed the music of friends.”    Musical Opinion 2007

“ . . . sounds of unfailing beauty and warmth.”    The Strad, 2005

This concert is supported by The Frank Bridge Bequest

For more information visit www.lbe.org.uk