Location: St Alkmund's Church, Shrewsbury
Shostakovich – Life, Letters and Friendship
Polka - Two pieces for String QuartetQuartet no 1 in C (I. Moderato)Quartet no 2 in A (I. Overture: Moderato con moto)Quartet no 4 in D (I. Allegretto; II. Andantino)Quartet no 7 in D (I. Allegretto)Quartet no 8 in F# minor (I. Largo; II. Allegro molto)Quartet no 10 in C minor (Adagio)Quartet no 11 in Ab (IV. Etude, V. Humoresque)Quartet no 13 in Bb minor (Doppio movimento)Quartet no 15 in Eb minor (VI. Epilogue: Adagio)Each interspersed with readings from contemporary documents to, from and about Shostakovich, read by writer and broadcaster Stephen Johnson.
Shostakovich – Life, letters and friendship
In the final concert by the Carducci String Quartet this season they present a fascinating profile of Dimitri Shostakovich through words about and music by the composer. It was developed by the quartet for performances at the Barbican in London and received wide critical acclaim. Through this and other performances the Carducci established their reputation as leading interpreters of Shostakovich’s music.
The Carducci take a journey deep into Shostakovich’s psyche, as he walked a delicate tightrope balancing political pragmatism with personal expression against the backdrop of Josef Stalin’s tyrannical Soviet regime. Historical sources and letters from the composer to one of his closest confidantes, read by writer, composer and broadcaster (The Independent, The Guardian, Radio 3’s Discovering Music) Stephen Johnson, are paired with extracts from contemporaneous quartets, painting a fascinating picture of how music offered a much-needed emotional outlet in the most difficult of times.
Few artists have been so affected by the connections of politics and power that surrounded them.
DIRECTIONS
Location: Blackburn Theatre, Prestfelde School
Programme details to follow
In a first for the Music Trust, we are delighted to be presenting the UK’s leading Classical Guitar Quartet who play a wonderful mix of transcriptions and original works for this rare instrumental combination.
The Mēla guitar quartet takes their name from the Sanskrit word for ‘Festival’. Their programmes celebrate an engaging and imaginatively wide-ranging programme of original pieces for guitar quartet and their own ingenious arrangements.
The quartet formed in 2015 as graduates of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the Royal Academy of Music. They quickly became International Guitar Festival Young Artists 2015/16, then Park Lane Group young artists 2018/19 and Royal Over-Seas League chamber music finalists 2019.
Notable performances for the quartet have included the Southbank Centre’s Purcell Room, Kings Place Hall One, St. James’ Church Piccadilly, Barbican Centre’s Milton Court, St. George’s Bristol, Westminster Abbey and of course Jimi Hendrix’s bedroom.
DIRECTIONS
Location: St Chad's Church, Shrewsbury
Robert Schumann: Dichterliebe Op. 48
Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel: Seven songs
Josephine Lang: Sechs Lieder Op. 10
Johannes Brahms: Four songs
Roderick Williams is one of this country’s most sought after baritones.
This long-established partnership has led to many appearances in the UK’s leading concert halls and festivals, as well as recordings and appearances on BBC Radio 3 and Radio 4.
Roddy is one of Europe’s most sought after baritones: In 2016 he won the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Singer of the year award. Watch his Q&A and Masterclass video on YouTube - link below.
Susie Allan, one of today’s most perceptive collaborative pianists, has performed with international vocal soloists including Emma Bell, Susan Gritton, Rowan Pierce, Jonathan McGovern and Mark Padmore.
Patrons:
Ground Floor reserved seating area
DIRECTIONS
