Felix Ensemble: Metamorphoses & Resilience

‘Metamorphoses and Resilience’
Strauss Metamorphosen, Septet arr
Shostakovich Piano Quintet

Our Festival launch concert presents two powerful works that explore themes of transformation and resilience—fittingly marking the 50th anniversary of the death of Dmitri Shostakovich, one of the 20th century’s most profound musical voices. Richard Strauss’s Metamorphosen, performed in an intimate septet arrangement, offers a moving reflection on cultural devastation and personal loss. Composed during the final months of World War II, the work is often interpreted as Strauss’s elegy for a destroyed Europe—particularly the artistic and human values he saw being lost in the chaos.

In contrast, Shostakovich’s Piano Quintet, one of his most celebrated chamber works, combines vibrant energy with poignant introspection, blending humour and melancholy in a complex and compelling dialogue between piano and strings. Together, these pieces evoke both the turmoil and the hope that emerge from moments of great personal and societal upheaval, creating a captivating evening of musical depth and expression.

The Felix Ensemble is a dynamic chamber group directed by acclaimed violinist Jane Gordon. Bringing together some of Europe’s most prestigious soloists and chamber musicians, the ensemble boasts players of exceptional calibre—regularly heard on BBC Radio 3 and performing in the world’s finest concert halls, including Wigmore Hall, Berlin Philharmonie, Vienna Konzerthaus, Carnegie Hall, and Glyndebourne Opera. The musicians perform on moderna and period instruments. They hold principal positions in renowned orchestras such as the London Mozart Players, Aurora Orchestra, United Strings of Europe and Riot Ensemble, and are in high demand on the international stage, with busy touring and recording schedules across leading festivals and venues.