programme 2024
The Felix Ensemble
Jane Gordon (violin)
Hannah Dawson (violin)
Francesca Gilbert (viola)
Lorena Cantó (viola)
Victoria Simonsen (cello)
Lousie McMonagle (cello)
tchaikovsky by candlelight
7pm Thursday Sept 19th, Christ Church
The Felix Ensemble
Brahms Sextet in B flat Op.18
(Interval – complimentary refreshments)
Tchaikovsky ‘Souvenir de Florence’
Followed by ‘Meet the musicians after the concert “
Tickets £20/18/15
Programme
We launch this year’s festival with the highly virtuosic Tchaikovsky ‘Souvenir de Florence’. One of the most popular works in the chamber music repertoire, it is a rich and exuberant masterpiece showcasing each of the six instrumentalists. Completing the programme is the glorious Brahms Sextet in B flat, especially well known for the noble and heartfelt ‘theme and variations’ movement.
The Felix Ensemble is a recently established ensemble of chamber musicians and soloists brought together by violinist Jane Gordon. Featuring some of Europe’s most prestigious performers, frequently heard on BBC Radio 3 and in the finest concert halls including the Wigmore Hall, Berlin Philharmonie, Vienna Konzerthaus, Carnegie Hall and Glyndebourne Opera.
The Sacconi Quartet
Ben Hancox (violin)
Hannah Dawson (violin)
Robin Ashwell (viola)
Cara Berridge (cello)
Sacconi Quartet
The Sacconi Quartet enjoy a busy international career, performing regularly across the world and at Europe’s major venues including recordings and radio broadcasts. Formed in 2001 the four founder members continue to demonstrate a shared passion for string quartet repertoire, infectiously reaching out to audiences with their energy and enthusiasm. Their prolific recording career covers a broad swathe of repertoire from Haydn to present day. Their latest album featuring world premiere recordings of works by Roxanna Panufnik includes the Sacconi’s commission Heartfelt. The Sacconi are quartet in residence at the Royal College of Music.
Jan Rautio
Jan Rautio is a critical acclaimed soloist, chamber musician, composer and conductor. His work has taken him to many performance venues across the UK, Europe, Russia and the USA with highlights including Edinburgh Festival, Wigmore Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Room, Bridgewater Hall, Palazzo Borghese in Rome, the Yusupov Palace in St Petersburg, Hambacher Musikfest in Germany, and the Charleston International Piano Series. His recent compositions include “New Horizons” for choir and orchestra; “Gloria, laus et honor” for choir and chamber ensemble; and his first String Quartet.
world premiere: Sacconi Quartet
7pm Friday Sept 20th, Kino Teatr
The Sacconi Quartet
Mozart in B flat K589
String Quartet by J.Rautio (World Premiere)
(Interval)
Schubert ‘Death and the Maiden’ Quartet
Includes ‘artists in conversation event’
Tickets: £20/18
Programme
This exciting concert features the internationally renowned Sacconi Quartet who will give the world premiere of a new work by composer/pianist Jan Rautio. Jan is well known to Kino audiences for his performances and he will introduce his new piece and give insight into life as a modern day composer.
The Sacconi Quartet will also perform the iconic ‘Death and the Maiden’ Quartet by Schubert. Written in 1824 when Schubert’s health was failing, the title comes from a song written 7 years earlier, based on a poem by Mattias Claudius (1740 – 1815). One of the most compelling classical pieces of all time, it is a deeply powerful and expressive piece which has also been used in media and film. Mozart’s quartet in B flat K589 completes the programme.
This concert is kindly supported by Louise Kaye, commissioner of the new string quartet
The Rautio Trio are frequently heard on BBC Radio 3 and have released four critically acclaimed albums, receiving 5 stars in the BBC Music Magazine. They have performed at the Wigmore Hall, Kings Place, South Bank, Bridgewater Hall, throughout the UK and in France, Austria and Germany. Well known to our Festival audiences, they regularly perform in the area.
Kay Stephen is a highly regarded chamber musician, recipient of numerous awards. For nearly ten years, Kay was violist with the award winning Gildas Quartet, performing with them world wide throughout China, South Africa and Australia, and recording for Champs Hill. She has performed with ensembles such as the Consone, Elias, Navarra, and Edinburgh quartets, and the Manchester Collective, the Vonnegut Collective, Red Note Ensemble and the United Strings of Europe.
French romantics by candlelight
7pm Saturday Sept 21st, Christ Church
Rautio Piano Trio
Kay Stephen (viola)
Faure Piano Quartet no.1 in C minor op.15
(Interval – complimentary refreshments)
Debussy Piano Trio in G major
Lili Boulanger ‘D’un soir triste’
*Meet the musicians after the concert
Tickets: £20/18/15
Programme
Celebrating the music of Faure on the centenary of his death, this concert features the Rautio Piano Trio with guest violist Kay Stephen. They will perform Faure’s first piano quartet, a youthful masterpiece written at the height of French romanticism. Completing their programme is ravishing music by Debussy and Lili Boulanger. Debussy’s trio was written when he was just 18 years old and is brimming with French lyricism and charm.
* Please note change of programme from previously advertised Ravel to Debussy, due to unforeseen circumstances and a change of piano at the concert venue.
The Rautio Trio are frequently heard on BBC Radio 3 and have released four critically acclaimed albums, receiving 5 stars in the BBC Music Magazine. They have performed at the Wigmore Hall, Kings Place, South Bank, Bridgewater Hall, throughout the UK and in France, Austria and Germany. Well known to our Festival audiences, they regularly perform in the area.
music from Spain & argentina
11am Sunday Sept 22nd, Kino Teatr
Young Artists Platform:
Duo Fabulae
Lorena Cantó (viola)
Yvain Calvo (piano)
Music by Manuel de Falla, Enrique Granados, Astor Piazzolla, Carlos Guastavino, Alberto Ginastera and more…
‘Artists in Conversation’ Q & A
Tickets: £14/12 including coffee & croissant
Programme
Duo Fabulae is a viola and piano duo formed by Guildhall School of Music & Drama alumni Lorena Cantó and Yvain Calvo. Since forming in 2020, they aim to connect with new audiences through programming music with a strong focus on storytelling and playing in non-conventional music settings. As a duo, they have won first prizes in competitions from Poland, Switzerland and USA and made appearances on Spain’s and Germany’s National Radios.
For this concert Lorena and Yvain have gathered inspiration from Spanish and Argentinian popular song and dance to create a viola and piano recital full of passion and flair. They want audiences to experience the storytelling powers of hispanic and latin classical music, through soul-filling songs traditionally sang by mothers and lovers, to vibrant and electric dances that will push you off your chairs into an imaginary dance floor.