London Concertante, Wednesday, February 13, 2008, 7:30 PM

10 STRINGS, PLUS HARPSICHORD - London Concertante was formed in 1992 and has established itself as one of the finest chamber ensembles in England and Europe . Its players are brought together by a shared passion for chamber music and the desire to consistently maintain superb artistic excellence. With an enviable array of critical acclaim, a wide spectrum of recordings and performances throughout the UK and Europe , London Concertante rightfully claims its position at the forefront of classical performers in the UK.

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London Concertante celebrated their 15th Anniversary with a wonderful concert at the Wigmore Hall in December 2006. After 15 years of commitment to the highest standards, an enviable array of critical acclaim, a sensational selection of recordings, and performances throughout the UK and abroad, London Concertante confidently stakes its claim as one of the finest chamber ensembles in Europe. Its players are brought together through a shared passion for chamber music and the group has the rare ability to combine flexibility of instrumental grouping and consistently maintain superb artistic endeavour.

Under the dynamic leadership of international recording artist, Adam Summerhayes, (“to die for” The Strad), the ensemble thrives on inspired programming and the loyalty of some of the country's finest instrumentalists, giving around 100 concerts a year, performing for festivals, music clubs and at theatres.

The ensemble' enjoys an ever growing reputation for exciting and memorable performances, thanks to our exceptional players, inspired programming of Artistic Director, Chris Grist, and the opportunity to tour with the most significant and demanding of chamber music masterpieces.

As well as giving performances at festivals, music clubs and theatres, London Concertante also has a thriving education programme; inspiring youngsters to enjoy classical music, both as listeners and performers.

“ Drum-tight. This is superb chamber playing" - The Scotsman ****

“ Sheen and panache….refined sound….chunks of great music, played neat. Fresh, piquant sounds" - Geoff Brown, The Times

“ Quality musicians. Quite excellent…pursuing each new pulse with the unanimity of a shoal of fish. [They] play with tone as soft as velvet, bow strokes that really sing and a Romanticist's wide volume range."  - Rick Jones, Evening Standard

"played with the characteristic warmth and compassion that made their performance so thoroughly appealing ... exquisite." The Strad

" … lovingly played by the London Concertante" - Roger Watkins, Daily Express

“ The London Concertante was a pleasure to listen to. There was a snap to the rhythm, lively wind sound, a warmth and enjoyment to the playing” - David Blewitt, The Stage

“ London Concertante…play well, the whole ensemble sounding far more substantial than it is. This is stylish and sensitive” - Tom Sutcliffe, Evening Standard

“ London Concertante played Verdi's great music with flair” - David Fingleton, Daily Express

“ London Concertante play excellently" - Tom Sutcliffe, Evening Standard

“ The orchestral playing…was easily the best feature” - Michael Kennedy, Sunday Telegraph

“ Especially pleasing was the [ London Concertante's] warmth of tone” - Tom Higgins, Opera Now

“ The conductor knew what he wanted and got it from his willing orchestra” - Rodney Milnes, The Times

“ London Concertante has full measure of Humperdinck's Wagnerian orchestration and dramatic pacing, as it does of his captivating melody” - Geoffrey Norris, Daily Telegraph

"A WARM welcome always awaits the London Concertante players for their programmes are inevitably laced with wit and consummate artistry .... they radiated its melancholic beauty to perfection, and for encore the London Concertante's enormous versatility sent us smiling homeward with a gypsy-band performance of Summerhayes' insouciant Five Naked Ladybirds." Bournemouth Daily Echo

PRINCIPAL PLAYERS

Adam Summerhayes - Leader/Violin

Adam brings a huge breadth of experience to his directorship of London Concertante. From the beginning of his career he has mixed chamber music with solo work, having given concerto and recital performances in Holland , France , Spain , Germany , Poland , the Czech Republic , Slovenia , Russia and Croatia as well as throughout the UK - all to appreciable critical acclaim. His discography includes eight discs with his piano trio and in duo with his wife Catherine Summerhayes. Their world premiere performance and recordings of early works by Copland received rave reviews in the national press and music magazines - "to die for" wrote The Strad. Their recording of works by Alan Bush fared equally well in the press, featuring as critic's choice in Gramaphone magazine. He has given a great many premiere performances of works for violin and piano - many of which were written specially for him - and his recordings include three discs of contemporary music.

His expertise as a violinist also extends from period instrument Baroque performance to a wide variety of folk styles - from Bluegrass to Copanitza and the folk end of this spectrum informs his work as a composer. His compositions have been broadcast on both Classic FM and BBC Radio 3 and feature on four discs recorded by ZUM - the unique and highly successful Gypsy Tango band of which his compositions and distinctive brand of folk fiddling are a integral part.

“ This is a disc to die for….the disc is most worth having for Adam Summerhayes' excellent playing….superb playing from all.” -Copland CD – The Strad

“ I cannot recommend it too highly” – Gramaphone Magazine

Matthew Quenby - Principal Viola

Matthew was born in London in 1966 and began playing the violin at the age of 5. At 18, he changed to viola and began his studies at the Royal Northern College of Music, attending masterclasses with members of the Fitzwilliam, Lindsay, Vermeer and Franz Schubert Quartets. He graduated in 1989 and was awarded the Hiles Gold Medal. In 1990, he was awarded a full scholarship to study at the Banff Centre for the Fine Arts in Canada . During his time there he gave many solo performances, including broadcasts for Canadian National Radio.

On returning to Europe in 1991, he became Principal Viola of the European Community Chamber Orchestra as well as Assistant Musical Director. This led to solo performances with the orchestra in Mexico , Bolivia , Argentina and Italy . As soloist with other orchestras, he has appeared in France and Germany , playing the Telemann Concerto in the Berlin Philharmonie. Matthew has also appeared as Guest Principal Viola with the Netherlands Bach Ensemble and as Co-Principal Viola with the Philharmonia Orchestra.

Chris Grist - Principal Cello

Chris Grist studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and has since had an exceedingly varied career performing throughout the UK and Europe as orchestral musician, chamber musician and recitalist. As a chamber musician, Chris is cellist and founding member of Metamorphosis chamber group and principal cellist of London Concertante. He has performed throughout the country as soloist and chamber musician.

"....Grist gave a beautifully expansive rendering of the cello's reverent song. Grist whispered his eulogy from heights of the fingerboard with shimmering assurance......thoroughly appealing." The Strad

In London , Chris has performed concertos and recitals at the Barbican Centre, South Bank, St. James' Piccadilly, St. Martin-in-the-Fields as well as at Music Clubs and Festivals throughout the UK . As a soloist, Chris has performed in France , Spain , Germany , USA and Chile . Chris is also a member of ZUM - the gypsy-tango band.

Ben Griffiths - Principal Bass

Benjamin Griffiths enjoys a busy and varied freelance career while living in London . Orchestral work includes BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, LSO , Britten Sinfonia and Orchestra Nova. He is also a founding member of the Manning Camerata and the Aurora Orchestra, and in 2004 was a member of Southbank Sinfonia.

As a chamber musician Ben has performed with numerous ensembles of very different genres, including the Johnston quartet, London Concertante, the Britton-Carvalho ensemble and is currently a guest member of the Royal Quartet, resident at the Wigmore Hall.

In March 2006 Ben was a soloist with violinist Freya Ritts-Kirby for a new album of Cecilia McDowell's music.

David Gordon - Harpsichord

After gaining degrees in mathematics and logic, David Gordon studied piano and harpsichord at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, since when he has made a career playing harpsichord and jazz piano, and as a composer.

He performs with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, has toured Europe and South America with the European Baroque Orchestra, and played at the Melbourne Festival and EXPO 98 in Lisbon with Opera Theatre Company of Dublin. With recorder-player Evelyn Nallen, he has toured Australia and New Zealand , and given recitals at the Wigmore Hall and Purcell Room. He also leads Respectable Groove, an experimental early music/jazz band, which has made two CDs. Solo work includes performances of Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No.5 at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford and many other venues.

David is harpsichordist with English Concert at the request of their new director, Andrew Manze, as well finding time to be a prize-wining composer.

Other players include:
Matthew Scrivenor - Guest Leader, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Maya Magub - 1st Violin in London Mozart Players
Dania Alzapiedi - Co-principal 2nd Violin, BBC Philharmonic
Julian Sperry - Guest Principal Flute, London Symphony Orchestra

The information above was copied from The London Concertante Website.