Autumn Season • Sep-Dec 2019

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The Sunday Concerts trace their history back to 1878 when the People’s Concert Society was formed for the purpose of “increasing the popularity of good music by means of affordable concerts”. The South Place Ethical Society acquired the concert series and, in 1929, had Conway Hall purpose built for them and, with the exception of the war years, the concerts seasons have continued ever since.

Scan this QR code to see a video introduction to our concert series.

from our audience:"the Conway Hall concerts are a lovely, relaxing way to endthe weekend. The music selection is wide and the musicians are very high quality."

Welcometo the Autumn 2019 Season of Conway Hall's Sunday Concerts

It is an absolute delight to be able to present our Autumn series of concerts, which features an enticing variety of music played by some of the finest musicians from the UK and abroad. Alongside a hearty helping of core repertoire by Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, Haydn and others, I am particularly pleased that this season we will have the chance to hear a real rarity: the clarinet quintet by Benjamin Durrant, written in 1940 as the prizewinning entry of the Albert Clements competition, held right here at Conway Hall.

The Arcis Saxophone Quartet, based in Germany, will give their Conway Hall début performance, combining original works for saxophone ensemble with arrangements including Dvořák’s evergreen American quartet - which we will also have the chance to hear in its original version a few weeks earlier.

Further highlights include Camerata Alma Viva in a concert featuring all the Mozart Divertimenti and other works from their recent CD, and the Linos Piano Trio who will offer a prelude to Beethoven’s anniversary year in the form of intimate, chamber arrangements of his works.

I am sure you will agree that we have a truly exciting season of music in store, and I look forward to welcoming you to our concerts. Please do remember to follow us on our social media pages, subscribe to our mailing list, and if you feel able to make a donation towards our work, look at the centre pages for more information on how to do this.

Warmest best wishes,

Simon Callaghan, Director of Music

8th September • 6.30pm

Maggini QuartetJulian Leaper • violinCiaran McCabe • violinMartin Outram • violaMichal Kaznowski • cello

Beethoven Quartet in G Op.18/2Lennox Berkeley Quartet No. 2 Op.15Tchaikovsky Quartet No. 3 in E flat minor Op.30

Conway Hall favourites the Maggini Quartet open our Autumn 2019 season with a wonderful mix of 1940s Paris chic and supreme craft from Berkeley between two great works from the classical repertoire. The quartet have won awards including Gramophone Chamber Music Award of the Year and Diapason d’Or, and have twice been nominated for Grammy awards. We are delighted to welcome them once again to Conway Hall.

15th September • 6.30pm

I MusicantiTamás András • violinFenella Humphreys • violinRaja Halder • violinRobert Smissen • violaRichard Harwood • celloLeon Bosch • double bass

Beethoven Symphony No.1 in C Op.21Beethoven arr. Carl Hinde Romance No.1 in G Op.40Beethoven arr. Carl Hinde Romance No.2 in F Op.50Beethoven arr. Carl Hinde Violin Concerto in D Op. 61

I Musicanti make a welcome return in an all Beethoven programme, as a prelude to Beethoven's upcoming anniversary year. Comprising some of the most experienced and respected musicians to be found in the UK, the ensemble is handpicked by the group’s founder and artistic director, the international double bass virtuoso and conductor Leon Bosch.

+ PRE-CONCERT TALK • 5.30pm Robert Hugill: Arrangement, Transcription and Popularisation (see December pages for details)

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29th September • 6.30pm

Delta Piano TrioGerard Spronk • violinIrene Enzlin • celloVera Kooper • violin

Haydn Trio in E Hob. XV:28Peteris Vasks Plainscapes for piano trioJohn Corigliano Fantasia on an Ostinato for pianoBrahms Trio in C minor Op.101

Founded in 2013 by three Dutch performers, the Delta Piano Trio have won numerous international awards and have growing a discography includingworks by Shostakovich, Taneyev, Borodin and Russian-American composer, Lera Auerbach. Their programme at Conway Hall flanks cutting-edge twentieth and twenty-first century works for piano trio with German classics for the ensemble.

22nd September • 6.30pm

Peter Cigleris & Tippett QuartetPeter Cigleris • clarinetJohn Mills • violinJeremy Isaac • violinLydia Lowndes-Northcott • violaBozidar Vukotic • cello

Arthur Benjamin Quintet in C minor (British Premiere)Frederick Durrant Clarinet Quintet in E flatBrahms Clarinet Quintet in B minor Op.115

In the first half of the twentieth century, British music was divided into two schools of composition. The first was the “Nationalist” school, led at the Royal College of Music by Stanford and Parry, while the second was the “Wagnerian” school, lead by Fredrick Corder at the Royal Academy of Music. The only common ground these two schools of thought shared was their love of Germanic music. Clarinettist Peter Cigleris joins the Tippett Quartet to present two works from these two schools of composition alongside one of the greatest in the genre that kick-started the English clarinet quintet.

6th October • 6.30pm

Piatti Quartet & Simon CallaghanNathaniel Anderson-Frank • violinMichael Trainor • violinTetsuumi Nagata • violaJessie Ann Richardson • celloSimon Callaghan • piano

Turina La oración del torero (The bullfighter's prayer) Op.34Brahms Quartet No.3 in B flat Op.67Shostakovich Piano Quintet in G minor Op.57

The up-and-coming Piatti Quartet make a welcome return to Conway Hall, joined by Director of Music Simon Callaghan to perform Shostakovich’s Piano Quintet, dating from 1940. They complete their richly varied programme with Brahms' final essay in the genre and Turina’s folk-influenced The Bullfighter’s Prayer, originally composer for a quartet of ‘laúd’, Spanish folkloric instruments similar to mandolins.

13th October • 6.30pm

Trio ConcertanteNancy Dahn • violin Heather Tuach • cello Timothy Steeves • piano

Beethoven Trio in D 'Ghost' Op.70 No.1Shostakovich Trio No.2 in E minor Op.67Brahms Trio No.1 in B Op.8

In a rare UK performance, Trio Concertante perform three of the most popular works for piano trio, culminating in the symphonic first trio by Johannes Brahms. The eerie-sounding second movement gave Beethoven’s Ghost trio its famous nickname, while Shostakovich’s second trio, composed during World War Two, combines a similar mysterious quality (opening with high harmonics on the cello) with Jewish melodies and Shostakovich’s trademark ‘sardonic humour’.

(part of Bloomsbury Festival)

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27th October • 6.30pm

Timothy Ridout & Jâms ColemanTim Ridout • violaJâms Coleman • piano

Glinka Sonata in D minorShostakovich Sonata Op.147Franck Sonata in A

Since winning 1st Prize in the Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition in 2016, Timothy Ridout has gone on to perform widely in Europe. Jâms Coleman is a pianist who enjoys a rich and varied musical life performing as a soloist, chamber musician and vocal accompanist. For their Conway Hall début, they come together in a programme of Russian and Belgian works for viola and piano, culminating in one of César Franck’s best-known compositions, originally for violin and piano.

+ PRE-CONCERT RECITAL • 5.30pm Royal College of Music musicians Witness the future generation of music stars as leading ensembles from the internationally-renowned conservatoire take to the Conway Hall stage in a varied programme, to be announced.(see website for programme details)

20th October • 6.30pm

Chamber Philharmonic EuropeAndrey Sur • violinVera Neumann • violinLaurent Tardat • violaMaksim Korobejnikov • cello

Mozart Quartet No.19 in C 'Dissonance' K465Janáček Quartet No. 1 'Kreutzer Sonata'Brahms Quartet No.1 in C minor Op.51 No.1

The unusually dissonant introduction to Mozart’s Quartet K465, dedicated to Joseph Haydn, opens a colourful programme of works for string quartet, spanning almost 150 years. The centrepiece is Janáček’s 1923 work, inspired by Tolstoy’s novella The Kreutzer Sonata, while Brahms' C minor quartet (possibly in this key to acknowledge as well as break free from Beethoven’s influence), over which he agonised for many years and revised extensively, closes the evening.

+ PRE-CONCERT TALK • 5.30pm Peter Quantrill: Small Steps and Giant Leaps: endeavour, progress and pioneering achievements(see December pages for details)

Support usIn order to continue to fulfil our ethos of “affordable classical music for all”, philanthropic support will be ever more significant to the bright future of our concert series. By supporting our concerts, you will be playing a vital role in enabling us to deliver inspiring concerts for many years to come, and memorable experiences for new and long-lasting audiences.

We are extremely grateful for the support of our current distinguished patrons who are

renowned musicians, actors and broadcasters. Supporting our series means that you will join a family of dedicated, generous people who share a common passion and enthusiasm for music. Whatever your interests or backgrounds, we can build a close and rewarding relationship with you.

Not only do we provide a performance platform for established chamber groups, but we also give a springboard for the next generation of young artists to make their mark on the classical music stage. In a highly competitive world where young professionals

are often expected to perform without any fee, we at Conway Hall are committed to supporting today’s musicians and insist on paying fees to our artists.

You can help us to continue our work by donating today. The generosity that you may provide will not just benefit Conway Hall as a cultural organisation, but also help the roster of professional musicians we work with continue to realise their lifelong ambitions.

How to Donate: In return for your generosity, we can offer exclusive benefits that get you

closer to our concerts, including:• Patrons’ receptions after key concerts• The opportunity to attend rehearsals• Meet the Artists after the concert• Acknowledgment in our concert programmes

Online: po.st/ConcertsAppeal

By cheque, payable to “Conway Hall Ethical Society”, to: Conway Hall Sunday Concerts, 25 Red Lion Square, London, WC1R 4RL

To find out more, contact our Director of Music, Simon Callaghan: simon@conwayhall.org.uk

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3rd November • 6.30pm

Camerata Alma VivaCharlotte Maclet • violin & director

Mozart Divertimento in F K138Handel arr. Mouret PassagliaMozart Divertimento in B flat K137Kabalevsky arr. Mouret ValseMozart Divertimento in D K136Monti arr. Mouret Czardas

Camerata Alma Viva make a welcome return to Conway Hall as part of their European tour and new album release.“The works presented on this album are those that have inspired and surrounded us for these past ten years. Mozart’s divertimenti – little gems that nonetheless contain all the facets of human emotions – are a source of rejuvenation for the listener and a marvellous space for experimentation and playing for the musicians. The “B-Side” of the album dives into another world, with three original arrangements written by Éric Mouret. From the finesse of Kabalevsky’s Waltz to the bohemian virtuosity of Monti’s Czardas and the famous “Baroque ‘n Roll” of Handel’s Passacaglia, Éric displays all the ingenuity of his writing in these works specially arranged for the musicians of the group.” (Charlotte Maclet, founder)

10th November • 6.30pm

Rossetti EnsembleSara Trickey • violinSarah-Jane Bradley • violaTim Lowe • celloJohn Lenehan • piano

Mozart Piano Quartet No.2 in E flat K493Bridge Phantasy for Piano Quartet in F sharp minor H.94Debussy arr. John Lenehan Prelude from La Damoiselle élue L.62Schumann Piano Quartet in E flat Op.47

Mozart was among the first to explore the piano quartet, and it is his graceful E flat quartet that opens this concert. The evening continues with Bridge’s quartet, best summed up by his teacher, Britten: "Sonorous yet lucid, with clear, clean lines, grateful to listen to and to play. It is the music of a practical musician, brought up in German orthodoxy, but who loved French romanticism and conception of sound—Brahms happily tempered with Fauré." John Lenehan’s new arrangement of Debussy begins the second half, before Schumann’s quartet, composed in 1842, one of his most productive chamber music years.

+ PRE-CONCERT TALK • 5.30pm Robert Hugill: The Cinderella Effect: A History of the Piano Quartet(see December pages for details)November

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24th November • 6.30pm

Linos Piano Trio Konrad Elias-Trostman • violinVladimir Waltham • celloPrach Boondiskulchok • piano

Beethoven arr. Beethoven Symphony No.2 in D Op.36Beethoven arr. Linos Trio Finale from Symphony No.3 'Eroica' in E flat Op.55Mendelssohn Piano Trio No.1 in D minor Op.49Ravel La valse

The Linos Piano Trio returns to Conway Hall with the rarely heard Beethoven transcription of his own second Symphony, followed by the trio's re-imagination of the variations from the Eroica Symphony. Hailed by Schumann as one of the genre's masterworks, Mendelssohn's D minor Trio is paired with Ravel's haunting La Valse.

17th November • 6.30pm

Carducci QuartetMatthew Denton • violinMichelle Fleming • violinEoin Schmidt-Martin • violaEmma Denton • cello

Moeran Quartet No. 2 in E flatBorodin Quartet No. 2Dvořák Quartet in F 'American' Op.96

Posthumously discovered by Moeran’s widow in 1950, British composer Ernest John Moeran’s E flat quartet is an early work, set in two movements in a relaxed mood, and full of echoes of Ireland, where Moeran spent much of his life. Borodin’s second quartet (with the famous ‘Notturno’) continues the programme, before Dvořák’s 12th quartet, composed during the composer’s time in the United States, provides a light-hearted, celebratory finale to the evening.

+ PRE-CONCERT RECITAL • 5.30pm Royal College of Music musiciansWitness the future generation of music stars as leading ensembles from the internationally-renowned conservatoire take to the Conway Hall stage in a varied programme, to be announced. (see website for programme details)

1st December • 6.30pm

Fitzwilliam Quartet & Simon CallaghanLucy Russell • violinMarcus Barcham Stevens • violinAlan George • violaSally Pendlebury • celloSimon Callaghan • piano

Haydn String Quartet in D 'The Frog' Op.50 No. 6Beethoven String Quartet No. 11 in F minor 'Serioso' Op.95Elgar Piano Quintet in A minor Op.84

Elgar’s piano quintet is one of three works completed during the summer of 1918 (the other works being the string quartet and the violin sonata), while he was staying at Brinkwells in Sussex, a country cottage rented by the Elgar family, and is dedicated to Ernest Newman, music critic of The Guardian. Simon Callaghan joins the Fitzwilliam Quartet for this performance, which will also include Haydn’s Frog quartet, and Beethoven’s masterpiece, his Serioso quartet.

8th December • 6.30pm

Arcis Saxophone Quartet American Dreams

Claus Hierluksch • soprano saxophoneRicarda Fuss • alto saxophoneEdoardo Zotti • tenor saxophoneJure Knez • baritone saxophone

Reich New York CounterpointDvořák Quartet in F 'American' Op.96Bernstein West Side Story suiteBarber AdagioGershwin arr. Dedenon Suite after themes of Porgy and Bess

Endless fascinating prairie landscapes; the exciting pulse of the city that never sleeps; the swinging life of the Southern states; stories full of dreams, hopes and love. In American Dreams, the Arcis Saxophone Quartet presents a broad musical range of the American way of life.

+ PRE-CONCERT TALK • 5.30pm Robert Hugill: The Fascinating History of the Saxophone(see opposite for details)

December

Talks15th September • 5.30pm Robert Hugill: Arrangement, Transcription and Popularisation Arrangements and transcriptions were everywhere in the late 18th and 19th centuries, from Beethoven symphonies for piano duet to Rossini for wind octet. Beethoven even did some himself, producing a piano trio version of one of his symphonies, and encouraged his contemporaries to write transcriptions of his music.

20th October • 5.30pm Peter Quantrill: Small Steps and Giant Leaps: endeavour, progress and pioneering achievements To tie in with the Bloomsbury Festival which is taking place at Conway Hall during the weekend, musicologist Peter Quantrill talks about the evening’s programme in the context of the development of the string quartet and its pioneers.

10th November • 5.30pm Robert Hugill: The Cinderella Effect: A History of the Piano Quartet Intended for amateurs but in fact far too difficult, Mozart’s first piano quartet effectively created a new genre, which remained in the shadow of its big brother, the piano quintet. Even Schumann’s piano quartet remained far less popular than his contemporaneous quintet.

8th December • 5.30pm Robert Hugill: The Fascinating History of the Saxophone When it was invented by Adolphe Saxe, the saxophone was only one of a number of instruments created to correct the problems inherent in the instrumentation of the orchestra. Perceived as classical in the 19th century, the instrument’s 20th century history has enabled players to cross boundaries and genres.

15th December • 6.30pm

Piatti QuartetNathaniel Anderson-Frank • violinMichael Trainor • violinTetsuumi Nagata • violaJessie Ann Richardson • cello

Suk Meditation on the Old Czech Hymn 'St Wenceslas' Op.35aShostakovich Quartet No. 8 in C minor Op.110Schubert Quartet in G D887

Our Autumn 2019 series of concerts comes to a close with Schubert’s G major quartet, his last work for the genre. To welcome in the festive season, the Piatti Quartet’s performance begins with Suk’s Meditation on ‘St Wenceslas’, composed when he was second violinist in the Bohemian String Quartet and later arranged for string orchestra. Shostakovich’s eighth quartet, arguably the most well known of his 15 essays in the genre and containing numerous self quotes, lies at the centre of a programme not to be missed.

+ PRE-CONCERT RECITAL • 5.30pm Royal College of Music musiciansWitness the future generation of music stars as leading ensembles from the internationally-renowned conservatoire take to the Conway Hall stage in a varied programme, to be announced. (see website for programme details)

BOOKING

Standard Tickets £14 - available on the night, at the box office

Advance Tickets £12 - may be purchased online: conwayhall.org.uk- available until 4.30pm on the day of the event

Ethical Society Members Tickets £10- may be purchased online: conwayhall.org.uk& on the door on production of a membership card

FREE for people aged 8-25courtesy of the CAVATINA Chamber Music Trust

Discounted tickets are also available for NHS staff: £5 online (using a discount code) and £6 on the door, on production of valid ID.

The box office opens at 5.15pm when there is a pre-concert event, otherwise it opens at 5.45pm (cash and credit cards accepted).

THE HIVE CAFÉ / BAR

Our ground floor cafe/bar will be open before and during each performance, with snacks, hot, cold & alcoholic drinks and local honey... plus a live feed from our rooftop beehive.

CONTACT US

+44 (0)20 7405 1818 General enquiries: info@conwayhall.org.ukArtistic enquiries: simon@conwayhall.org.uk

GETTING TO CONWAY HALL

25 Red Lion Square, London, WC1R 4RL

Tube: Holborn station on the Piccadilly and Central lines (within 5 mins walk)

Bus: 1, 8, 19, 25, 38, 55, 59, 68, 91, 98, 168,171, 188, 242, 243, 521 (within 5 mins walk)

Parking: Free parking all day on Sundays in Red Lion Square and adjacent streets. (Some parking bays are for residents only and there may be other local parking restrictions)

Accessibility: the Main Hall, Brockway Room and Cafe are accessible by wheelchair. There is also an accessible toilet on the ground floor, opposite the Brockway Room.

SUNDAY CONCERTS PATRONS

Stephen HoughPrunella Scales CBEHiro TakenouchiPetroc TrelawnyTimothy West CBE

ABOUT CONWAY HALL

Built in 1929 and now Grade II listed, Conway Hall is and always will be the place for those who dare to dream of a better world.

Owned by Conway Hall Ethical Society, the building is named in honour of Moncure Daniel Conway (1832–1907), anti-slavery advocate, peace campaigner, early supporter of women's suffrage and biographer of Thomas Paine.

Conway Hall is an educational charity (no. 1156033) whose object is the advancement of study, research and education in humanist ethical principles. Conway Hall hosts a wide variety of talks, concerts, exhibitions, courses, performances, community and social events.

You can support Conway Hall and its work through donations or by joining the Ethical Society. For more information visit: conwayhall.org.uk/donate

HIRE CONWAY HALL

As well as concerts, our venue is ideal forconferences, receptions & launches, as well as exhibitions and talks - with state-of-the-art PA & AV systems. Contact: venuehire@conwayhall.org.uk

*Artists and programmes were correct at the time of going to print. Conway Hall reserves the right to make changes to these at any point, and will endeavour to notify our patrons through our mailing list and social media.

PHOTO CREDITS:

Melanie Strover (Maggini Quartet)Thomas Bowles (Peter Cigleris)Kaupo Kikkas (Camerata Alma Viva)Robert Piwko (Rossetti Ensemble)Andy Holdsworth (Carducci Quartet)Kaupo Kikkas (Linos Piano Trio)Peter Searle (Fitzwilliam Quartet)Viktor Erik Emanuel (Piatti Quartet)Robert Piwko (Robert Hugill)idjphotography.com ("Support us")

from our audience:"the concert hall is small and intimate and you feel completely enveloped in amazing music."

September 2019

8th 6.30pm Maggini Quartet BEETHOVEN • BERKELEY • TCHAIKOVSKY

15th 5.30pm Robert Hugill • FREE PRE-CONCERT TALK 6.30pm I Musicanti BEETHOVEN

22nd 6.30pm Tippett Quartet & Peter Cigleris BENJAMIN • DURRANT • BRAHMS

29th 6.30pm Delta Piano Trio HAYDN • VASKS • CORIGLIANO • BRAHMS

October6th 6.30pm Piatti Quartet & Simon Callaghan TURINA • BRAHMS • SHOSTAKOVICH

13th 6.30pm Trio Concertante BEETHOVEN • SHOSTAKOVICH • BRAHMS

20th 5.30pm Peter Quantrill • FREE PRE-CONCERT TALK 6.30pm Chamber Philharmonic Europe MOZART • JANÁČEK • BRAHMS

27th 5.30pm Royal College of Music musicians • FREE PRE-CONCERT RECITAL 6.30pm Timothy Ridout & Jâms Coleman GLINKA • SHOSTAKOVICH • FRANCK

November3rd 6.30pm Camerata Alma Viva MOZART • HANDEL • KABALEVSKY • MONTI

10th 5.30pm Robert Hugill • FREE PRE-CONCERT TALK 6.30pm Rosetti Ensemble MOZART • BRIDGE • DEBUSSY • SCHUMANN

17th 5.30pm Royal College of Music musicians • FREE PRE-CONCERT RECITAL 6.30pm Carducci Quartet MOERAN • BORODIN • DVOŘáK

24th 6.30pm Linos Piano Trio BEETHOVEN • MENDELSSOHN • RAVEL

December1st 6.30pm Fizwilliam Quartet & Simon Callaghan HAYDN • BEETHOVEN • ELGAR

8th 5.30pm Robert Hugill • FREE PRE-CONCERT TALK 6.30pm Arcis Saxophone Quartet REICH • DVOŘáK • BERNSTEIN • BARBER • GERSHWIN

15th 5.30pm Royal College of Music musicians • FREE PRE-CONCERT RECITAL 6.30pm Piatti Quartet SUK • SHOSTAKOVICH • SCHUBERT • SEASON FINALE

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