Milverton
Concert Society

Marmen Quartet

· Friday February 22nd 2019 · 7:30pm
Marmen Quartet
Johannes Marmen·violin
Ricky Gore·violin
Bryony Gibson·Cornish Viola
Steffan Morris·Cello

The Marmen Quartet were founded at the Royal College of Music in 2013, all individually acclaimed musicians they are inaugural winners of Music in the Round’s ‘Bridge’ scheme as well as the annual 2018 Royal overseas league competition and Royal Philharmonic Society Albert and Eugenie Frost prize. Performing regularly in venues around the UK and internationally they currently hold the string quartet fellowship at the Guildhall school of music and drama in London.

‘Performing is all about communication, it’s telling a story and I feel that Marmen are dedicated to this ideal’ … Peter Cropper, The Lindsay String Quartet.

Tickets · £17 · £15 · £10 · £2

www.marmenquartet.com

Marmen Quartet, Haydn – String Quartet in C major Op. 74 No. 1, I – Allegro (YouTube)

Programme

Haydn·String Quartet in B flat major Op. 50/1
Ligeti·String Quartet no 1 · 'Metamorphoses Nocturnes'
Mendelssohn·String Quartet No 6 in F minor Op. 80

Reviews

Steven Osborne

· Friday November 23rd 2018 · 7:30pm
Steven Osborne
Steven Osborne·Piano

Steven Osborne is one of Britain’s most treasured musicians whose insightful and idiomatic interpretations of diverse repertoire show an immense musical depth. His numerous awards include The Royal Philharmonic Society Instrumentalist of the Year (2013) and two Gramophone Awards. His residences at London’s Wigmore Hall, Antwerp’s deSingel, the Bath International Music Festival and most recently with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra are a testament to the breadth of his interests and the respect he commands.

Tickets · £18 · £16 · £10 · £2

www.stevenosborne.co.uk

Sergei Prokofiev Visions Fugitives Op. 22 Complete (YouTube)

Steven Osborne performs Ravel’s La Valse (YouTube)

An interview recorded at Malvern Theatres, where he was performing as part of the acclaimed Yamaha International Piano Series, Steven Osborne explains how his love for the piano started at a very early age. He discusses the bravery of Beethoven, the emotion of Ravel, the art of recording, and the spiritual power of music.

Steven Osborne Interview (YouTube)

Programme

Poulenc·3 Novelettes
Debussy·Images Book 2
Prokofiev·Piano Sonata No 7
Schubert·Sonata in B Flat · D960

Trio Isimsiz

· Friday October 26th 2018 · 7:30pm
Trio Isimsiz
Michael Petrov·cello
Erdem Misirlioglu·piano
Pablo Hernan Benedi·violin

Formed in 2009 at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, the Trio Isimsiz swiftly gathered multiple plaudits as well as serious musical respect, and has performed widely in Europe, China and Argentina. Engagements this season include an all Beethoven programme in Paris, concerts at Trondheim and recitals in Cologne as well as London’s Wigmore Hall.

The Trio are all currently Fellows at the Guildhall School and their first CD was released on the Rubicon label in November 2017.

Tickets · £17 · £15 · £10 · £2

www.trioisimsiz.com

Beethoven op.70 n.1 “Ghost” Trio (YouTube)

Haydn A flat Major Hob XV:14 (YouTube)

Programme

Beethoven·Piano Trio in E flat · Op. 70 No 2
Natalie Klouda·Piano Trio No 1 · Fantasie Tryptych
Brahms·Piano Trio in C · Op. 87

Reviews

Doric String Quartet

· Friday March 23rd 2018 · 7:30pm
Doric String Quartet
Alex Redington·violin
Jonathan Stone·violin
Hélène Clément·viola
John Myerscough·‘cello

The Doric String Quartet has firmly established itself as the leading British string quartet of its generation, receiving enthusiastic responses from audiences and critics across the world as well as many prestigious awards. The Quartet performs in leading concert halls throughout Europe and the UK including several performances at The Wigmore Hall. In 2010 the Quartet made its highly acclaimed American debut with recitals at the Frick Museum in New York and Library of Congress in Washington, and now returns for annual tours to the US. Alongside main season concerts, the Quartet has a busy festival schedule and has performed at the Aldeburgh, Edinburgh, and West Cork Festivals amongst many others world class venues. In 2009 the Doric Quartet’s first CD was released to critical acclaim on the ‘Wigmore Live ‘label and was soon after chosen as ‘Editor’s Choice’ in ‘Gramophone’ magazine.

Tickets · £18 · £16 · £10 · £2

Programme

BRAHMS·String Quartet no. 3 in B flat major · Op 67
HAYDN·String Quartet in G major Op 33 no. 5
BEETHOVEN·String Quartet no. 13 in B flat major · Op 130

Reviews

Martin James Bartlett

· Friday February 23rd 2018 · 7:30pm
Martin James Bartlett
Martin James Bartlett·piano

As many of you will recall, in May 2014 at the age of 17, concert pianist Martin James Bartlett burst onto the classical music scene in a storm of applause as he won the ‘BBC Young Musician of the Year’ with a breathtaking performance of Rachmaninov. Little surprise then, that successes at the BBC Proms and being invited to perform at the Queen’s 90th Birthday Thanksgiving Service in 2016 were swiftly to follow, as well as concerts in a host of other renowned venues at home and abroad. More recently, Martin received a standing ovation at his unforgettable performance here in Milverton last May, playing the programme of music he was, soon after, to take across the Atlantic for performance at the very prestigious Van Cliburn Piano Competition in Fort Worth ,Texas, where he was the only player chosen to represent the UK alongside 29 other talented young hopefuls drawn from across the globe.

Tickets · £16 · £14 · £10 · £2

Martin at the BBC Young Musician Piano final 2014

Playing Rachmaninoff – Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini at the 2014 BBC Young Musician Grand Final

Interview on BBC Breakfast

Last Night of the Proms. Belfast, Titanic Slipway

Programme

SCARLATTI, BEETHOVEN & SCRIABIN·Sonatas for piano
RACHMANINOV·Preludes
LISZT·‘Sonetto del Petrarca’

Reviews

Endymion ‘A Breeze through France and Germany’

· Friday November 24th 2017 · 7:30pm
Endymion ‘A Breeze through France and Germany’
Helen Keen·flute
Melinda Maxwell·oboe
Mark van der Wiel·clarinet
Stephen Stirling·horn
Meyrick Alexander·bassoon
Michael Dussek·piano

The long-established and brilliant Endymion exists to deliver world-class performances of chamber music throughout London, the UK and abroad. For many years it has nurtured the UK’s most dynamic and original composers, inspired new and younger audiences and championed mixed chamber music of all kinds through performance, commissioning, recording and promotion.

Since Endymion was formed in 1979, it has built a consistently lively reputation across a broad and sometimes adventurous repertoire, which commands a strong following among audiences both at home in the UK as well as internationally. Unusually for chamber groups, Endymion retains most of its original players who now number among the best soloists and chamber musicians anywhere, making it a group as much at home with works by Mozart as by Birtwistle. Excitingly, they will be premiering a new arrangement of Stravinsky’s ‘Pulcinella Suite’ for wind quintet at Milverton!

Tickets · £18 · £16 · £10 · £2

Programme

MOZART·Quintet in E flat major · piano and winds · K 452
STRAVINSKY·‘Pulcinella Suite’ wind quintet
BEETHOVEN·‘Quintet in E flat major · piano and winds · Op 16
POULENC·Sextet for piano and winds

Reviews

  • WHAT A BREEZE!
    Endymion ‘A Breeze through France and Germany’ -- 24th November 2017

Duo Birringer

· Friday October 20th 2017 · 7:30pm
Duo Birringer
Esther Birringer·piano
Lea Birringer·violin

Lea Birringer has firmly established herself as one of the most celebrated German violinists to emerge internationally in recent years. Described by many as an “outstanding violinist of the younger generation”, she delights audiences with her charm, emotion and virtuosity. Her sister, pianist Esther Birringer, generates equal enthusiasm among the public with her confident style and playing which is both sensitive and exciting. Musical critics have described her as a “lyrical poetess of the piano”.

Since their shared international success in major chamber music competitions in 2011, the sisters have also conquered the concert halls as a duo, “bursting with the joy of playing music’.

The duo recently released a debut CD under the German Avi-music label with works by Szymanowski, Hindemith and Respighi, for which they received rave reviews from newspapers and in the media.

Tickets · £17 · £15 · £10 · £2

YouTube: J. Brahms, Scherzo in C minor – Lea & Esther Birringer

Programme

GRIEG·Sonata in F major Op.8 no. 1
CESAR FRANCK·Sonata in A major
CLARA SCHUMANN·3 Romances Op.22
LISZT·Elegies nos. 1 & 2

Reviews

Martin James Bartlett

· Friday May 5th 2017 · 7:30pm
Martin James Bartlett
Martin James Bartlett·Piano

In May 2014 at the age of 17, concert pianist, Martin James Bartlett burst onto the classical music scene in a storm of applause as he won the ‘BBC Young Musician of the Year’ with his breathtaking performance of Rachmaninov’s ‘Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini’, receiving accolades not only from Edinburgh’s Usher Hall live audience but also from those tuning into the broadcast on BBC4 and BBC Radio 3. Leading up to this outstanding TV performance Martin had already enjoyed success in any number of competitions and festivals and has since given solo performances in all the top UK concert venues, including his début at the BBC Proms with Gershwin’s ‘Rhapsody in Blue’, both in a ‘Last Night’ live from Belfast and in 2015, at The Albert Hall. Other recent highlights include playing at the Chinese State visit last year and performing in June 2016 at the Queen’s 90th Birthday Thanksgiving Service, which was broadcast live on BBC 1 from St. Paul’s Cathedral.

STOP PRESS.EXCITING NEWS!

Martin has just progressed to the finals of the Van Cliburn International Piano competition in America in May. A major triumph for him and of course we are thrilled to agree the new programme. He will now be playing the repertoire for that event in Milverton!

This is not to be missed!

Tickets · £16 · £14 · £10 · £2

Martin at the BBC Young Musician Piano final 2014

Playing Rachmaninoff – Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini at the 2014 BBC Young Musician Grand Final

Interview on BBC Breakfast

Last Night of the Proms. Belfast, Titanic Slipway

Programme

JS Bach·Partita no.2
Beethoven·Sonata no. 18 in E flat Major
--- Interval ---
Granados·'El Amor Y La Muerte'
Liszt·Sonetto del Petrarca 104
Prokofiev·7th Piano Sonata

Reviews

The Vienna Piano Trio

· Saturday February 18th 2017 · 7:30pm
The Vienna Piano Trio
Stefan Mendl·piano
David McCarroll·violin
Matthias Gredler·‘cello

Celebrated for its finesse, infectious exuberance as well as irresistible panache, the Vienna Piano Trio has long been hailed as one of the ‘world’s leading ensembles of piano, violin and ’cello’ and as such, we are thrilled to be welcoming them on their first visit to Milverton! Formed in 1988 and winning numerous prizes at international competitions, the trio today performs in all the most prestigious concert halls worldwide and their performances are frequently broadcast on BBC Radio 3, Radio France, and all the world’s major classical music stations. Equally, the trio has won many top awards for its recordings which include performances of works by Saint-Saëns, Beethoven and Brahms. In addition to performing, the trio delights in passing on it’s expertise and gives many master classes, working with students from all corners of the globe.

Tickets · £18 · £16 · £10 · £2

Biography of the trio (on their agent’s web site)

http://www.viennapianotrio.com/index.html

Programme

Mozart·Piano Trio in G · K496
Schoenberg·‘Verklärte Nacht’ · Op. 4
Schubert·Piano trio in B-flat major · Op. 99 · D.898

Reviews

The President’s Concert

· Friday November 25th 2016 · 7:30pm
The President’s Concert
Melvyn Tan·piano

Virtuoso piano soloist and internationally acclaimed musician, Melvyn Tan, needs little introduction to many of you and was one of the very first performers ever to give a recital for us in St Michael’s church, Milverton. That was way back in June 1988 when he was first carving out a career for himself as a player of the fortepiano. Clearly he has come a long way since then and has performed widely all over the world, notably in recent years, in Singapore – where his family originates – and in China where he has done much to foster the growing interest in the western tradition of classical music, particularly amongst the young. Since 2010 he has been our Honorary President and in that year gave a the inaugural recital on the society’s own new Yamaha grand piano to mark the occasion. This November we look forward to welcoming him back once again, this time to celebrate Milverton Concert Society’s 30th Anniversary, as well as a special birthday of his own.

Tickets · £18 · £16 · £10 · £2

Cheltenham Festival Review — 9th July 2016

Cheltenham Music Festival — Video of Melvyn Tan playing a Chopin Etude

Details of this new work – including video clips

Programme

Beethoven·‘Bagatelles’ · Op.126
Beethoven·Sonata Op.109
Jonathan Dove·‘Catching Fire’ premiered at Cheltenham Music Festival
Liszt·Sonata in B minor

Reviews