Chiaroscuro Quartet, with Annelien van Wauwe (clarinet)

​​29 September 

Haydn String Quartet Op. 33, No. 2 
Beethoven String Quartet Op. 18 No. 1
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Mozart Clarinet Quintet in A Major

​The Chiaroscuro Quartet is:
Alina Ibragimova: violin
Pablo Hernán Benedí: violin
Emilie Hörnlund: viola
Claire Thirion: cello​

The Chiaroscuro Quartet, led by Alina Ibragimova, is praised by Gramophone as "a trailblazer for the authentic performance of High Classical chamber music". The musicians perform works of the Classical and early Romantic periods on gut strings with historical bows, allowing them to find a great range of dynamics and colours. Haydn's much-loved 'Joke' Quartet leads naturally into one of Beethoven's early Quartets, still rooted in the Classical idiom. The performers are then joined by Annelien van Wauwe for Mozart's wonderful Clarinet Quintet. A former BBC New Generation Artist, she is one of the most exciting clarinettists of her generation.

. Generously supported by Sally and Nicholas Reckert

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Joanna MacGregor (piano)
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​13 October

Beethoven 32 Variations in C minor, WoO 80
Chopin Mazurkas Op. 30, Op. 59
Ginastera Danzas Argentinas
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Sofia Gubaidulina Chaconne
Fazıl Say Black Earth
Beethoven Sonata No. 23 in F minor, 'Appassionata'​

Joanna MacGregor OBE, one of the world’s most creative pianists, is Head of Piano at the Royal Academy of Music and has a busy career as concert soloist and festival curator. She is famed as a performer of Bach and Scarlatti, but her repertoire is diverse, as she shows tonight on a powerful Steinway D concert grand.

From their strong opening chords, through lyrical middle sections to a stormy finish, Beethoven's 32 Variations explore the range and colour of the piano and every imaginable technique. Chopin's Mazurkas follow, rich and flamboyant, leading into the young Alberto Ginastera's vividly imagined Argentinian dances. Sofia Gubaidulina's Chaconne is a youthful work based on an older form. Black Earth, written  by Fazıl Say in 1997, fuses Eastern and Western styles and brings a note of loneliness and loss. Finally, Beethoven's great middle-period Appassionata sonata closes an evening of extraordinary variety. 

 Generously supported by

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Engegård Quartet
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​10 November

Haydn String Quartet Op. 76 No. 2 , 'The Fifths'
Bartók String Quartet No. 4
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​Svendsen Romance
A selection of Norwegian Folksongs

The Engegård Quartet is:
Arvid Engegård: violin
Alex Robson: violin
Juliet Jopling: viola
​Jan Clemens Carlsen: cello

This Oslo-based quartet’s first CD was praised as "breath-taking" in The Strad, while its latest - of works by Grieg and Sibelius - was described as "what Grieg lovers have been waiting for" (Music Web International). Haydn's 'Fifths' Quartet opens the evening, with its familiar, obsessive rhythms. Bartók's Fourth Quartet takes us into the world of folksong, which is returned to after the interval.

Generously supported by

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Royal Northern Sinfonia Wind Octet

​12 January 2019

Mozart Harmoniemusik from Il Seraglio (arr Wendt)
Stephen Oliver Character Pieces
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Jonathan Dove Figures in the garden
Mozart Serenade in C Minor K388

The musicians from the Sage, Gateshead, loved coming to Richmond last year and gave us our largest audience ever. We're delighted to welcome them back as a wind octet.

Two familiar and very lovely works by Mozart are interspersed with works by modern British composers, Stephen Oliver and Jonathan Dove, both of them passionate Mozartians. 

Generously supported by

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Trio Goya

​2 March

Mozart Divertimento in Bb K254
CPE Bach Sonata for violin and fortepiano in A Minor, H514 (Wq 78)
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​Stephen Paxton (1735-87) Cello Sonata in A Major, Op. 1 No. 1
Beethoven Piano Trio in E Flat Op. 1 No. 1

Trio Goya is Maggie Cole (fortepiano), Kati Debretzeni (violin), Sebastian Comberti (cello)​
 
Specialising in  music of the Classical period - Mozart, Haydn, early Beethoven - the group performs on period instruments and a fortepiano modeled on one built in Vienna in 1795. The Trio is a veteran of Wigmore Hall and King's Place. Its latest recording, of the three Beethoven Opus 1 trios, will have been recently released on Chandos Records.

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Generously supported by one of our Members 

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Divertimenti

6 April

Boccherini String Quintet in C Major
Sally Beamish Divertimenti
Dvořák Terzetto
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​Schubert String Quintet in C Major

Divertimenti is Paul Barritt (violin), Rachel Isserlis Violin), Jonathan Barritt Viola), Sebastian Comberti (cello), Josephine Horder (cello) 

The members of Divertimenti are top ranking performers, with a wealth of world-wide concert experience as soloists, orchestral principals and chamber music players. A number of fine quintets have been written for the double-cello lineup. First tonight is Boccherini's famous String Quintet - which will have many in the audience exclaiming "Oh, but I know this!". Next comes Sally Beamish's Divertimenti, written for this very ensemble, then the cellos take a rest during Dvořák's luscious Terzetto. Finally, Schubert’s great C Major Quintet forms the backbone of the evening's programme, and will be a fabulous ending to the 71st season of the Richmondshire Concerts. 

Generously supported by David and Angelica Carr in memory of Tom and Katherine Carr