This Season’s Programme

The Gould Piano Trio, directly compared to the great Beaux Arts Trio for their “musical fire” and “dedication to the genre”, have remained at the forefront of the international chamber music scene for a quarter of a century. Launched by their first prize at the Melbourne Chamber Music Competition and subsequently selected as YCAT Artists, they made a highly successful debut at New York’s Weill Recital Hall, which was described by Strad Magazine as ”Pure Gould”.

Their many appearances at London’s Wigmore Hall have included the complete piano trios of Dvorak, Mendelssohn and Schubert – plus in the 2017-18 season, a Beethoven cycle, to celebrate 25 years since their first appearance at this iconic venue. The Goulds have made extensive tours of N. America, the Far East, New Zealand and Sweden, with concerts throughout Europe. When not giving concerts, they find master-classes and coaching a revitalising part of their schedule, particularly as Artists in Residence at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, where they each hold a Fellowship.

“The only comparison that comes to mind is the old Beaux Arts Trio; the combination of jeweler-like precision and a musical fire that ignites from the first bar” The Washington Post

For decades now, Elisabeth Leonskaja has been among the most celebrated pianists of our time. In a world dominated by the media, Elisabeth Leonskaja has remained true to herself and to her music, and in doing so, is following in the footsteps of the great Russian musicians of the Soviet era, such as David Oistrakh, Sviatoslav Richter and Emil Gilels, who never wavered in their focus on the quintessence of music despite working in a very difficult political environment.

Her almost legendary modesty still makes her somewhat media-shy today. Yet as soon as she walks out on the stage, audiences can sense the force behind the fact that music is and always has been her life’s work. Her collaboration with Richter, who was her mentor, as a piano duo partnership was legendary and today her interpretations of Schubert in particular reflect in some measure his mesmerising sense of spacious concentration. We are delighted that Miss Leonskaja will be performing and thereby add to Abbotsholme’s fifty-year line-up of distinguished pianists.

“… perfect weight and balance, miraculous rhythmic articulation, the right sense of space and freedom, and the ability to see where a line or a movement is going” The Artsdesk.com

We are delighted to welcome Tasmin Little back to Abbotsholme. This popular artist has firmly established herself as one of today’s leading international violinists. She has performed on every continent in some of the world’s most prestigious venues. Tasmin’s multi-award winning and varied career encompasses international concerto and recital performances, master classes, workshops and community outreach work. She plays a 1757 Giovanni Battista Guadagnini violin.

London-based Australian pianist Piers Lane stands out as an engaging and highly versatile performer, at home equally in solo, chamber and concerto repertoire. His concerto repertoire alone exceeds ninety-five works and has led to engagements with many of the world’s great orchestras and conductors, including 5 performances at the BBC Proms.

“….their long familiarity with both the music and each other pays dividends…….relishing in the generosity of Brahms’ full textures.” Gramophone

This unique ensemble of five young female guitarists from Bulgaria, Hungary, Russia, Japan and Austria has been enchanting a steadily growing international audience with sensitive musical interplay and virtuoso performances. In 2014 they won 3rd Prize and the special Audience Prize at the 3rd International Competition for Guitar Ensembles in Aschaffenburg, Germany, when they excited both the professional jury and the audience with their performances. They create a refreshingly original sound which gives a new dimension to popular classical works as well as less well known compositions. The Quintet is characterised by a wealth of musical colour and an orchestral density which is rarely heard. Their arrangements combine cleverly balanced voicings with an airy transparency and make ingenious use of the entire range of playing techniques including percussive effects. Their Christmas programme will include movements from Swan Lake and The Nutcracker.

“Another striking contrast came with Gitarrissima, an all female guitar quintet from Vienna, who played well-known and some lesser-known works arranged for guitar (including the intriguing baby “octave” guitar) with great brio, virtuosity and individuality”. The Cross-eyed Pianist

“‘…the magnificent, seasoned ensemble of the Coull”. The Strad

Formed in 1974 by students at the Royal Academy of Music under the guidance of renowned quartet leader, Sidney Griller, they rapidly achieved national recognition, and were appointed Quartet-in-Residence by the University of Warwick in 1977, a post which they still hold today. The Quartet, which includes two of its founder members, has performed and broadcast extensively throughout the UK, and has made tours of Western Europe, the Americas, Australia, China, India and the Far East.

Since the mid-1980s the Coull Quartet has made over 30 recordings featuring a wide selection of the repertoire closest to their hearts, from the complete Mendelssohn and Schubert quartets to 20th century and contemporary British chamber music. Their CD of quartets by Maw and Britten on the Somm label has received universal acclaim; in addition to being featured in ‘Editor’s Choice’ in The Gramophone, it was also described as the ‘Benchmark Recording’ by BBC Music Magazine. Their recordings of music by Sibelius and Ian Venables have also received excellent reviews in the major musical publications.

Their impressive and unusual list of commissions includes works by Sally Beamish, Edward Cowie, Joe Cutler, David Matthews, Nicholas Maw, Robert Simpson and Howard Skempton. These include string quartets, quintets with piano or wind player, works with solo voice or choir, and even a piece for quartet and table tennis players!

The rare combination of maturity and freshness which characterises the Quartet’s performances is often singled out by reviewers:

“Here the playing is so brimful with enthusiasm and commitment, and at the same time so infused with the accumulated wisdom of three decades, that the music simply reinvents itself as it should”. The Strad

As part of its regular support towards emerging musical talent, Abbotsholme is delighted to welcome the young English pianist Julian Trevelyan. Last year, he was finalist and prizewinner, including the audience prize, in the prestigious Dudley International Piano Competition having, in 2015, secured the highest award in the Long-Thibaud-Crespin Grand Prix when still only sixteen years of age. In 2016, he was a finalist in the BBC Young Musician. Since then, Julian has performed in many European countries and with the St.Petersburg Symphony Orchestra for his debut in Russia. His repertoire is extensive, ranging from Bach to Boulez and his Abbotsholme programme is especially eclectic and one that will be much anticipated. Julian is currently pursuing a degree in music at Oxford.

” The quality and interpretation of the performance was what might be expected from a performer with far more maturity.“  The Herts Advertiser

“I do not know whether one ought to laugh or cry at it. Perhaps both”. These were the words of Claude Debussy, describing his ‘Sonate’, the most famous flute harp viola trio ever written. In 2018, Debussy’s centenary year, this programme of tribute explores the music of Debussy, his influences, and music inspired by the ‘Sonate’.

Trio Anima was formed in 2006 at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and has been delighting audiences with its distinctive combination of flute, viola and harp. The trio won the Elias Fawcett Award for Outstanding Chamber Ensemble at the 2012 Royal Overseas League Competition and First Prize at the Camac Harps Chamber Ensemble Competition in 2007. The members have been Live Music Now Artists, and were awarded a Chamber Music Fellowship at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2011. Three outstanding musicians of their generation form this fine chamber ensemble and we look forward to a varied programme that, apart from Debussy, includes music by Couperin, Fauré and Ravel.

‘audacious and simply magnificent’ La Republique du Centre, France

Chetham’s is the largest specialist Music School in the UK, being a national and international resource for music education – welcoming teachers, professional players, composers and conductors, community groups, school children and other young musicians, both experienced and novices, to come together and make music. The network of partnerships with professional orchestras and organisations extends across the music industry, and alumni populate orchestras and ensembles around the world.

Distinguished alumni have included the cellist Guy Johnstone and world famous pianists Peter Donohoe, Steven Hough and Paul Lewis. Abbotsholme is fortunate that Chethams forms part of this season and we look forward to a wide variety of musical genres and styles from its pupils.

Present an evening of imaginatively conceived and expertly performed dance, choreographed by the Academy’s Director, Eve Leveaux with piano accompaniment arranged and performed by John Rooks.

Tickets £10 Includes a cold buffet.

Wine is available for purchase.

This is a fundraising event and not part of the concert series

Roderick Williams encompasses a wide repertoire, from baroque to contemporary music, in the opera house, on the concert platform and in recital. He won the Singer of the Year Award in the 2016 Royal Philharmonic Society Awards and was awarded the OBE for services to music in June 2017. He enjoys relationships with all the major UK opera houses and is particularly associated with the baritone roles of Mozart. He has also sung world premieres of operas by, among others, David Sawer, Sally Beamish, Michael van der Aa and Robert Saxton.

His numerous recordings include Vaughan Williams, Berkeley and Britten operas for Chandos and an extensive repertoire of English song with pianist Iain Burnside for Naxos. Roderick Williams is also a composer and has had works premiered at the Wigmore and Barbican Halls, the Purcell Room and live on national radio. He was Artistic Director of Leeds Lieder+ in April 2016. For his Abbotsholme recital he will sing Beethoven’s only songcycle and Schubert’s last. Susie Allan is best known for her work as a vocal accompanist and has partnered many established singers. I n Britain she has performed at most of the major recital venues and many festivals including the Three Choirs, Covent Garden, Harrogate, Spitalfields, Aldeburgh and Mananan. She appears regularly on BBC Radio Three, especially the Voices programme.

“Mr. Williams proved a natural and expressive communicator, conveying the drama and anguish in the songs without ever resorting to excessive vocal or theatrical gestures.” The New York Times

This concert is supported by the Patrons of Abbotsholme Arts Society