At the heart of Conchord is thoughtful and intelligently crafted programming. The group’s particular passion is to bring to the fore works by well-loved composers which are seldom heard because of their unusual instrumental combination. In all repertoire Conchord's performances bring a freshness of approach which is compelling to audiences of all ages.
NEW PROGRAMMES FOR SEASON 2009/2010
PROGRAMME I
A NIGHT AT THE OPERA
Some of opera’s greatest moments are presented here in an intimate programme by London Conchord Ensemble. Andrea de Flammineis (principal bassoon Royal Opera House) and Daniel Pailthorpe (fomer principal flute ENO) together with Emily Pailthorpe (principal oboe Spoleto Opera Italy) bring their special operatic flair to this emotionally charged and fun packed concert.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) / Daniel Pailthorpe - Overture to "Cosi Fan Tutte" for flute, oboe, bassoon and piano
Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848) / Broad - Duo from "Lucia di Lammermoor" for oboe, bassoon and piano
Richard Wagner (1813-1883) / Franz Liszt (1811-1886) - Recitative and Romance ("O du mein holder Abendstern") from Tannhäuser for piano solo
Georges Bizet (1838-1875) / François Borne (1840-1920) - Carmen Fantasy for flute and piano
*****
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) - Variations on Mozart's "La ci darem la mano" for flute, oboe and bassoon
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) - "Had a Tousand Voices" from Ariodante for flute, oboe and piano
Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) - Prelude to "I Masnadieri" for basoon and piano
Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868) / Jules Demersseman (1833-1866) - Fantasy on Themes from William Tell for flute, oboe and piano
4 players: flute, oboe, bassoon and piano
Also available for 3 players (flute, oboe and piano) or bigger setting - see MORE PROGRAMMES
PROGRAMME II
This varied programme spans from Debussy's work of his youth - his romantic sounding piano trio - to one of Brahms' latest compositions, the clarinet trio. Brahms had decided to retire from composing when he met clarinettist Richard Mülfeld and was inspired to compose some of the finest chamber music ever written for the clarinet. The instrument's mellow colouring lends itself splendidly to the sometimes melancholy nature of Brahms' music.
2009 marks the 200th anniversary of Felix Mendelssohn's birth. His Variations concertantes are one of the few pieces he composed for the cello. Stravinsky's Soldier's Tale Suite with its famous Tango, Waltz and Ragtime tells the story of a wandering soldier with his magical violin getting involved with the devil.
Claude Debussy (1862-1918) - Piano Trio in G major
Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) - Soldier's Tale Suite for clarinet, violin and piano
*****
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809-1847) - Variations Concertantes for cello and piano
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) - Trio for clarinet, cello and piano in A minor
4 players: clarinet, violin, cello and piano
PROGRAMME III
This programme includes some of the greatest works written by Brahms and Schumann. 2010 marks the 200th anniversary of Robert Schumann's birth. Dichterliebe, the story about the poet, whose beloved has married another, is undoubtedly his masterpiece of song writing. The first idea for Brahms' famous Horn Trio was conceived in the woods of the Black Forest. The slow movement, written in the wake of his mother's death, is one of his most personal and moving pieces.
Franz Schubert (1797-1828) - Auf dem Strom for tenor, horn and piano
Robert Schumann (1810-1856) - Three Romances for oboe and piano
Robert Schumann (1810-1856) - Dichterliebe for tenor and piano
*****
Nicholas Korth - Wars Embers for oboe d'amore, horn and tenor
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) - Trio for horn, violin and piano in E flat major
Tenor + 4 players: oboe, horn, violin, piano
Please contact Sinead O'Carroll regarding details of the guest tenor for this programme
PROGRAMME IV
GERMANY / HUNGARY
2010 will celebrate the 200th anniversary of Robert Schumann's birth. In this concert his Adagio and Allegro is played in its original setting for horn and piano. Brahms' famous Clarinet Trio is one of his latest works.
The second half introduces Hungary's former and present leading composers. Béla Bartók said about his fellow composer "You can sum up Hungarian music in one word, Dohnányi." Kurtag's Hommage a Robert Schumann reflects upon the composer's affection for Robert Schumann's music.
Robert Schumann (1810-1856) - Adagio and Allegro for Horn and Piano
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) - Trio for clarinet, cello and piano in A minor
*****
György Kurtág (*1926) - Hommage a Robert Schumann for clarinet, viola and piano
Ernö Dohnányi (1877-1960) - Sextet in C for clarinet, horn, violin, viola, cello and piano
6 players: clarinet, horn, violin, viola, cello and piano
PROGRAMME V
RUSSIAN MASTERS
Mikhail Glinka is often regarded as the father of Russian classical music. Shostakovich's Blok Songs are sweet and deeply personal meditations about love, intimacy, friendship and the power of art, all surrounded and threatened by prophetic intimations of disaster and the darkness of the night. Rachmaninov is one of the finest melodists of the neo-Romantics, and his songs for voice and piano count among his most heartfelt and beautiful compositions. Sergey Prokofiev's Quintet, written for a trapeze act, is high-spirited, witty, and brilliant.
Mikhail Glinka (1804-1857) - Trio Pathetique for clarinet, cello and piano
Dimitry Shostakovich (1906-1975) - Seven Romances on Poems of Alexander Blok for soprano, violin, cello and piano, op. 127
*****
Sergey Rachmaninov (1873-1943) - Songs
Sergey Prokofiev (1891-1953) - Quintet for oboe, clarinet, violin, viola and double bass
Soprano + 7 players: oboe, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, double bass and piano
Please contact Sinead O'Carroll regarding details of the guest soprano for this programme