Milverton
Concert Society

Red Priest

St Andrew's Church, Wiveliscombe · Saturday October 16th 2021 · 7:30pm
Red Priest
Piers Adams·recorders
Adam Summerhayes·violin
Angela East·cello
David Wright·harpsichord

Founded in 1997, and named after the flame-haired priest, Antonio Vivaldi, Red Priest has given several hundred sell-out concerts in many of the world’s most prestigious festivals.

Red Priest comprises recorder player Piers Adams, violinist Adam Summerhayes, cellist Angela East and harpsichordist David Wright. These musicians have redefined the art of period performance, creating a virtual orchestra through their creative arrangements, performing from memory with swashbuckling virtuosity, heart-on-sleeve emotion and compelling stagecraft. Their repertoire ranges from obscure 17th century sonatas to the most famous works of Bach and Vivaldi, all presented in imaginative programmes with filmic titles. This extraordinary acoustic foursome has been described by music critics as ‘visionary and heretical’, ‘outrageous yet compulsive’, ‘completely wild and deeply imaginative’.

Red Priest’s website

Programme

Bach·Brandenburg Concerto no. 5
Vivaldi·Concerto for Four Violins
Albinoni·Oboe Concerto Op9/2
Tartini·The Devil’s Trill Sonata

Reviews

5 Kanneh-Masons

St Andrew's Church, Wiveliscombe · Friday September 17th 2021 · 7:30pm
5 Kanneh-Masons
Braimah·violin
Konya·piano
Jeneba·piano and cello
Aminata·violin and piano
Mariatu·cello and piano

The Kanneh-Masons are seven brothers and sisters, all of whom play violin, piano or cello. They have won many prizes and awards and perform regularly together or as soloists in their own right.

As a family in lockdown they have been performing regularly on social media and on BBC 1 ‘Imagine’ programme, showcasing their exceptional talent, dedication and musicianship.

For the Milverton Concert Society, 5 members of this extraordinarily talented family are performing a very varied programme

The Kanneh-Masons website

BBC ‘Imagine’ episode about the Kanneh-Mason family

Programme

Liszt·Hungarian Rhapsody - Jeneba
Bartok·Op 14 - Suite - Konya
Mendelssohn·Piano Trio no 1 - 2nd Mvt - Jeneba/Aminata/Mariatu
Mozart·Sonata In G K301 - 1st Mvt - Aminata/Jeneba
Grieg·Sonata no 3 - 1st Mvt - Braimah/Konya
Elgar·Sospiri - Braimah/Konya
Rachmaninov·Elegie - Mariatu/Jeneba

Reviews

Martin James Bartlett

· Saturday July 17th 2021 · 7:30pm
Martin James Bartlett Programme Notes
Martin James Bartlett·piano

Martin James Bartlett, (MCS Young Musician patron) is visiting Milverton for the third time. He is such a popular performer who possesses a fearless technique and plays with a maturity and elegance far beyond his years.

Since his victory in BBC Young Musician of the Year 2014, Martin has built a considerable international reputation, has performed with many of the top orchestras around the world and famously performed at The Queen’s 90th Birthday thanksgiving service, which was broadcast live on BBC One from St. Paul’s Cathedral.

“Martin is beyond just a young talented pianist. He has the core and essential quality and character of a performer, which attracts audiences without trying hard. He is definitely the one to watch – let’s look forward to his development in the next several years.”

Martin’s website

Programme

Rameau·Suite in A minor (RCT 5): Gavotte et six doubles
Couperin·Les Barricades Mysterieuses
Couperin·Le Tic-Toc-Choc
Haydn·Piano Sonata No. 31 in A flat Major - Hob XVI-46
Rachmaninoff·Polka de W.R.
Rachmaninoff·Where Beauty Dwells (arr. Wild)
Rachmaninoff·Vocalise, Op.34, No.14 (arr. Wild)
Ravel·La Valse

Reviews

Carducci String Quartet

· Friday June 4th 2021 · 7:30pm
Carducci String Quartet Programme Notes
Matthew Denton·Violin
Michelle Fleming·Violin
Eoin Schmidt-Martin·Viola
Emma Denton·Cello

An internationally renowned Anglo-Irish string quartet based in the UK, the versatile and award-winning Carducci String Quartet has performed everything from brand new quartets, classic works by Haydn, complete Shostakovich cycles, and even partnered with folk-rock icon Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull.

Founded in 1997, the ensemble has won numerous international competitions, including Concert Artists Guild International Competition USA 2007 and First Prize at Finland’s Kuhmo International Chamber Music Competition 2004. In 2016, they took home a Royal Philharmonic Society Award for their performances of cycles of the complete Shostakovich Quartets. This Shostakovich15 project was accompanied by a recording of quartets 4, 8 and 11 for Signum Classics, to which the quartet added a further volume in spring 2019 (1,2 and 7) acclaimed by Gramophone Magazine for its “…athletic, upfront performances, clear in texture, forthright in tone and bold in articulation.”

The quartet has released a bevy of acclaimed recordings on their own label, Carducci Classics, as well as Signum Classics, and their Naxos recordings of Philip Glass Quartets have had over six million plays on Spotify.

Carducci String Quartet website

Programme

Dvorak·American Quartet Op. 96 in F major
Beethoven·Quartet Op. 59 no 2 in E Minor 'Rasumovsky'

Reviews

The London Bridge Trio

· Friday February 28th 2020 · 7:30pm
The London Bridge Trio
David Adams·violin
Kate Gould·cello
Daniel Tong·piano

Formed in 2002, the London Bridge Trio is one of Britain’s leading chamber ensembles, known for its deeply sensitive musical interpretation and strong, composer-led programmes, often with guest artists. Their name reflects an admiration for English music of the early 20th century, borne out by their hugely successful Frank Bridge recordings. In 2008 the ensemble founded the ‘Winchester Chamber Music Festival’ and appear frequently at Wigmore Hall and Kings Place, London, where their pre-concert talks are becoming increasingly popular. Since David Adams joined the trio in 2016, they have focused especially on piano trios by Clara Schumann and Fanny Mendelssohn, with recordings regularly earning glowing reviews from Gramophone Magazine, and others.

Tickets · £17 · £15 · £10 · £2

The London Bridge Trio’s website

London Bridge Trio: Beethoven Piano Trio in E flat major, Op. 1 No. 1 (YouTube)

Programme

Beethoven·Piano Trio Op. 1 No 1 in E Flat
Schumann·Piano Trio in F Major, Op 80
Interval
Mendelssohn·Piano Trio in C Minor Op 66

Reviews

Leonard Elschenbroich · Alexei Grynyuk

· Friday November 22nd 2019 · 7:30pm
Leonard Elschenbroich · Alexei Grynyuk
Leonard Elschenbroich·cello
Alexei Grynyuk·piano

Leonard Elschenbroich has established himself as one of the most charismatic cellists of his generation, renowned for his passionate and compelling performances. His notable plaudits include the Leonard Bernstein Award, among many others. In the UK, he was a BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist, artist in residence at Deutschlandfunk, as well as at the Philharmonic Society of Bremen.

Kiev-born pianist Alexei Grynyuk was performing by the age of six and as a thirteen-year-old, was already appearing with Ukrainian orchestras playing Chopin and Mozart piano concertos, as well as winning international prizes, including first prize at the last historic All-Soviet-Union piano competition in Moscow.

Tickets · £18 · £16 · £10 · £2

Leonard’s website

Alexi’s website

Here are 2 clips to tempt you!

Leonard Elschenbroich – Elgar Cello Concerto

Leonard Elschenbroich/Alexei Grynyuk Beethoven Sonata No 2 Op.5 No 2

Programme

Beethoven·Cello Sonata No 3 in A Major Op 69
Beethoven·Cello Sonata No 5 in D Major Op 102
Interval
Shostakovich·Viola Sonata arr for cello Op 147

Reviews

Isata Kanneh-Mason

· Friday October 25th 2019 · 7:30pm
Isata Kanneh-Mason
Isata Kanneh-Mason·piano

Isata Kanneh-Mason is a brilliant young pianist from the exceptionally talented Kanneh-Mason family. She was in the piano category final of BBC Young Musician in 2014 and since then has made a name for herself playing as a soloist in prestigious concert halls in the UK and abroad. She also performs regularly with her brothers, cellist, Sheku and violinist Braimah as part of the Kanneh-Mason Trio.

She has been featured recently on Classic FM and Radio 3 playing Clara Schumann and has performed several times on the BBC including The One Show, the BBC4 documentary: Young, Gifted and Classical, BBC2 Classroom Heroes, ITV Born to Shine and a documentary for Sunday Morning by CBS Television (USA).

Tickets · £17 · £15 · £10 · £2

STOP PRESS

40 extra tickets will be available on the door for this concert. Some with limited view, all £10.

The school car park will also be available (SatNav: TA4 1JP), see the map on our Contact Us page. Please drop passengers at the church and follow signs.

Isata’s website

Isata’s agent’s website

Programme

Brahms·Intermezzo in B-flat Major, Op. 117, No. 2
Brahms·Intermezzo in A Major, Op. 118, No. 2
Brahms·Intermezzo in F Minor, Op. 118, No. 4
Clara Schumann·Ballade, Op. 6, No. 4
Brahms·Ballade in G Minor, Op. 118, No. 3
Clara Schumann·Notturno, Op. 6, No. 2
Clara Schumann·Scherzo No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 14
Interval
Sofia Gubaidulina·Chaconne
Clara Schumann·Piano Sonata in G Minor

Reviews

Young Musicians Platform

· Friday May 3rd 2019 · 7:00pm
Young Musicians Platform
Weng Soon Tee·piano
Julia Hwang·violin, Accompanied by Charles Matthews

This season we are once again staging one of our occasional and much-loved young musician concerts, where, as always, we take pride in show-casing the best of our local young classical music talent. Amongst our performers taking to the platform in May 2019, will be solo violinist Julia Hwang and Weng Soon Tee, pianist and leading light of the Tee Trio.

Details of the other young musicians we shall be hosting and final arrangements for the concert will be available here nearer the time of the concert.

Tickets · £15 · £10 · £2

www.juliahwang.com

www.theteetrio.com

Programme

Weng Soon Tee · piano
Beethoven·Op. 2 No. 2 in A major
Janacek·In the Mists
Julia Hwang · violin. Accompanied by Charles Matthews
Poulenc·Sonata for Violin and Piano FP 119
Beethoven·Sonata for Violin and Piano no.8 in G major, op.30/3
Frolov·Concert Fantasy on Themes from Porgy and Bess
Details of the other young musicians we shall be hosting and final arrangements for the concert will be available here nearer the time of the concert.

Reviews

Adam Walker · James Baillieu

· Friday March 22nd 2019 · 7:30pm
Adam Walker · James Baillieu
Adam Walker·flute
James Baillieu·piano

At the forefront of a new generation of wind soloists, Adam Walker was made principal flute of the LSO in 2009 at the age of 21 and is an ambassador for solo flute, as well as committed chamber musician with a creative approach to repertoire and programming.

Described by The Daily Telegraph as ‘in a class of his own’, James Baillieu has been a multiple prize-winner and has also given solo and chamber recitals throughout Europe and further afield, often with Adam Walker.

Tickets · £18 · £16 · £10 · £2

james-baillieu.com

Adam Walker’s Wikipedia page

Programme

Reineke·'Undine' · Sonata · Op. 167
Widor·Suite · Op. 34
Schumann·3 Romances · Op. 94
Cesar Franck·Sonata in A Major for Flute and Piano

Vision String Quartet

· Friday February 22nd 2019 · 7:30pm
Vision String Quartet
CANCELLED
see replacement concert
Jakob Encke·violin
Daniel Stoll·violin
Leonard Disselhorst·cello
Sander Stuart·viola

Founded in 2012 and based in Berlin, the Vision String Quartet is already established as one of the best young string quartets of its generation. With a versatility that focuses on the quartet repertoire plus their own compositions and other genres, the four young musicians are working to change traditional perceptions about classical music. Their distinctive way of performing all their programmes standing-up and from memory gives performances an added intimacy and intensity which has been widely praised.

Tickets · £17 · £15 · £10 · £2

www.visionstringquartet.com

Programme

Ligeti·Quartet No 1 · 'Metamorphoses Nocturnes'
Schubert·Quartettsatz in C Minor · D703
Schubert·Quartet in D Minor · D810 · 'Death and the Maiden'