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London Conchord Ensemble is a flexible chamber music ensemble of internationally recognised young soloists, chamber musicians and principals from the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Opera House Orchestra, the Philharmonia, Scottish Chamber Orchestra and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Based in London, the ensemble performs at the highest level, exploring both the traditional and contemporary repertoire of chamber music written for combinations of strings, wind and piano.
Following their critically acclaimed debut at the Wigmore Hall debut in October 2002 the ensemble has continued to perform extensively throughout the UK, Europe and North America. Highlights of recent seasons include performances at Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival, Dusseldorf Tonhalle, Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Brussels Palais des Beaux Arts, Niedersachsen Musik Festival, Library of Congress in Washington, Wigmore Song Series and tours of Ireland, France and America.
The 2011/2012 season sees Conchord celebrate their 10th birthday with performances throughout the UK including a lunchtime recital at the Wigmore Hall for BBC Radio 3 and a birthday celebration at the Wigmore Hall in an evening concert later that year. Conchord will make their debut appearance in Spain in 2012 with a concert at the Teatro Villamarta in Jerez and the 11/12 season also sees the continuation of their highly successful residency at Eton College where they combine masterclasses with evening recitals. The ensemble enjoys regular collaborations with guest vocalists and recent concerts at Windsor Festival, Newbury Festival, Winchester Festival and Chelsea Festival have included Dame Felicity Lott, Sue Bickley, Andrew Kennedy, James Gilchrist and Katherine Broderick. Conchord are ensemble-in-residence at Champs Hill. Conchord has received wide critical acclaim for their recordings of Poulenc, George Crumb, Thuille and Bach on the Sanctuary Classics/ASV, Black Box and Quartz labels. Their latest CD was released to critical acclaim in February 2012. Released on the Champs Hill label, this double disc explores the complete chamber works of Francis Poulenc.
Future Vision
"The London Conchord Ensemble will be 10 years old in 2012. We plan to celebrate with a full day of concerts at the Wigmore Hall. We also intend to mark this milestone by commissioning new work for small combinations of winds, strings and piano, which explores the full imaginative possibilities of the medium, and which can stand alongside contemporary masterpieces such as Ligeti's Horn Trio. We start our own chamber music series in the Upper School at Eton College in 2011, "Conchord at Eton". The first year will comprise three concerts, each concentrating upon music from one city. The idea grew from Conchord's very well-received recording "St Petersburg", released by Orchid Classics in May 2010, which brought together St Petersburg composers from four succeeding generations, each of whom strongly influenced his successor. We have something similar in mind for our next recording project, "Budapest", to feature mixed chamber music by Dohnanyi, Kodaly, Bartok and Kurtag."
Julian Milford.
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Reviews
Poulenc's invention is always sprightly, and the performers are vivified by it; though an outstanding item is the Elegie for Horn and Piano, in memory of Dennis Brain.
Paul Driver, The Sunday Times, Sunday, 26 February 2012
There's a smoky, autumnal sadness to his (Francis Poulenc) harmonic writing....The London Conchord Ensemble understand this completely, working their magic in the bittersweet sonatas...and romping through ensemble works large and small...irrepressibly gorgeous
Stephen Pritchard, The Observer, Sunday 19 February 2012
'Instant rapport with the large audience...bubbled with enthusiasm, good humour and immaculate technical control...audience's reception was rapturous'
Derek Watmough, Sussex Express and County Herald, July 2011
'Flutist Daniel Pailthorpe had a fine showcase in Poulenc's popular Flute Sonata. With palying of airy tone and puckish phrasing, he captured both the other-world loveliness of the slow movement and the scampering energy of the finale. Julian Milford's keyboard work possessed all the elegance and vibrancy the piece demands.'
Joe Banno, Washington Post, April 2011 (Concert at the Library of Congress, Washington)
The excellent London Conchord Ensemble puts us all in its debt in offering this repertoire. Let me say straight away that they all play with great intelligence and musicianship and are blessed with a natural recorded balance and vivid sound recording.
Robert Layton, International Record Review, June 2010
The Conchord Ensemble plays with an aplomb, sensibility and purposefulness
Geoffrey Norris, Saturday Telegraph 'Classical CD of the week', May 2010
Highly entertaining disc of chamber music, played with style and verve by the London Conchord Ensemble...a rare treat.
Stephen Pritchard, The Observer. April 2010
"The ensemble clicks perfectly, the playing seemingly effortless and a regard for precision never stifling the musicians' natural feeling for life and breath."
BBC Music Magazine
Contact
For all queries please contact:
Sinead O'Carroll
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Tel: +44 1753 855 432
Mob: +44 791 376 4141
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