Mendelssohn Octet

Programme:

Caroline Shaw - In Manus Tuas - Milena 

Franz Schubert- Quartetsatz- Ellie, Tom, Julia and Andrew

Edmund Finnis - Sister - Stephanie and Will

Ysaÿe - Ballade - Roman

INTERVAL

Mendelssohn - Octet in E flat major. 

Written, in 1825, when he was only 16 years old, Mendelssohn's String Octet in E Flat major remains one of the greatest masterpieces of all time.  The youthful exhuberance and passion in the music is, at times, almost overwhelming, with moments of touching beauty and maturity that are still staggering, nearly 200 years later. It is impossible not to be swept along in the tide of this extraordinary, virtuosic music.

Ellie and Tom are so excited to welcome an unbelievable line up  for this evening's concert.  Firstly, we are absolutely thrilled that Roman Simovic and his wife Milena, are returning to Sydenham for the second time to enthrall and inspire. Roman, the leader of the London Symphony Orchestra is enjoying a very busy international solo career and actually rearranged a concerto in China to be with us! 

This will also be a really special concert for us as we will be joined by our old friends and 'Puertas Quartet' companions, Andrew and Julia Joyce,  Principal Cello and Viola of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra who are taking a break from the wonders of New Zealand and introducing their 4 girls to the wonders of Surrey Quays (and Sydenham!) This will be our first concert together in nearly 10 years!

And finally, we have another extraordinary musical couple joining us - local cellist Stephanie Tress, and her fiancé William Newell on violin, from the multi award winning Solem Quartet www.solemquartet.co.uk.

The first half of the concert will be a really exciting mix of music from the unknown to the extremely popular and feature each member of the Octet in different combinations.