ENSEMBLE 360

Saturday 5 December LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN 7.00pm Live-streamed Performance String Quartet No.5, Op.18, No.5 Upper Chapel, ANTONÍN DVOŘÁK Piano Quartet No.2, Op.87 TIM HORTON piano BENJAMIN NABARRO violin CLAUDIA AJMONE-MARSAN violin This concert is dedicated to RUTH GIBSON viola Ronnie Birks (1945-2020) GEMMA ROSEFIELD cello second violinist in the

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827) Antonín Dvořák (1841–1904) String Quartet in A, Op.18, No.5 Piano Quartet No.2, Op.87 Allegro Allegro con fuoco Menuetto Lento Andante cantabile Allegro moderato, grazioso Allegro Finale. Allegro ma non troppo

Beethoven's six string quartets Opus 18 were written Dvořák composed three major works in very different forms between 1798 and 1800 – his first exploration of the genre during 1889. Between April and June he wrote the Poetic in which his teacher Haydn had excelled. Beethoven was Tone Pictures, a series of 13 pieces for solo piano that commissioned to write the quartets by Prince Joseph amount to his most elaborate and most substantial piano Lobkowitz, one of his most generous patrons and cycle. Between 10 July and 19 August he produced this subsequently the dedicatee of no fewer than three of the Piano Quartet No.2, and a week after finishing that, he symphonies: the 'Eroica', the Fifth and the 'Pastoral'. Given embarked on the Eighth Symphony, completed on Beethoven's reputation as an uncompromising composer, 8 November. With all three works, Dvořák was at the height even something of a 'wild' one (at least as his contemporaries of his powers, and though he disciplined himself to work methodically and patiently, ideas came freely. During the saw it) in many of his works, one of the most surprising composition of the Piano Quartet, he wrote to his friend qualities of the first movement of this A major Quartet is its Alois Göbl on 10 August 1889: "Do you want to know what elegance. This Allegro gives an illusion of wide-eyed I'm doing? My head is full of it. If only one could write it simplicity, though what Beethoven has produced here is not immediately! But it's no use, I have to go slowly, only what only a movement that stands on its own, but also a skillful the hand can manage and the Lord God will grant the rest of parody of less sophisticated music. The Minuet comes it. Now I have again already three movements of a new second, and it's a movement marked by a mood of quartet with piano completely ready and the finale will be gracefulness and a rather endearing sparseness of texture in finished in several days. It's going unexpectedly easily and places, as well as some almost quaint contrapuntal writing – melodies are coming to me in abundance." It was Dvořák's again suggesting an element of parody of earlier quartet publisher Fritz Simrock who urged the composer to produce styles. Adding to that impression is that this is a 'real' Minuet, this new work, his second piano quartet (a first, in D major, not a Scherzo masquerading as one. had been written in 1875). Simrock saw the commercial potential, not least because of the success the publisher had The slow movement is a poised and endlessly inventive set of already had with the three piano quartets by Dvořák's friend variations. In the finale Beethoven explores – brilliantly – the and supporter, Johannes Brahms – as well as hoping for colours and expressive possibilities of the string quartet, another chamber piece that would have the same kind of decorating richly-scored ideas with trills one moment, then success as the Piano Quintet from 1887. producing a delicate, hesitant, dialogue between the instruments, and following this with fiery counterpoint. Yet the whole movement coheres superbly, generating a constant Continued over feeling of forward momentum before reaching a gentle close.

The first movement, in sonata form, opens with a bold theme Ensemble 360, with Music in the Round’s Children’s in octaves on the strings. This dominates much of the Composer-in-Residence Paul Rissmann and narrator Polly movement: the contrasting second theme is very much a Ives, has established a unique brand of children’s storybook subsidiary idea. With the slow movement, Dvořák gives us concerts that play to sell-out audiences across the country. one of his most poetic ideas: essentially a kind of song without words in which the second section is a varied Outside Ensemble 360 many of the musicians have highly repetition of the first, both full of the 'abundance' of ideas he successful careers, performing with groups including the described in his letter. The third movement is Scherzo-like Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie, English National Opera, and has stylistic similarities with the third movement of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, London Philharmonic Eighth Symphony that was written a few weeks later with its Orchestra, Camerata Bern, Manchester Camerata and Nash rather wistful waltz-like music contrasting with a more Ensemble. They perform as chamber musicians and soloists animated central section. The finale begins, unexpectedly, in at many of the top venues and festivals across the UK as well E flat minor, but it is music of irrepressible energy that as Europe, America and Japan. eventually works its way to the home key of E flat major, triumphantly affirmed in the coda. PLEASE SUPPORT OUR LIVE-STREAMED CONCERT © Nigel Simeone 2020 This is our first live-streamed concert from Upper Chapel! We are offering it for free so that everyone and anyone can ENSEMBLE 360 enjoy hearing our wonderful Ensemble 360 musicians while we are unable to present live music. We are asking those who feel Ensemble 360 has gained an enviable reputation across the able to contribute to donate the price of a ticket as if attending UK not only for the quality and integrity of its playing, but a live concert. This will help us support our wonderful musicians also for its ability to communicate the music to a range of and cover costs such as all the technical equipment required to different audiences. Formed in 2005, 11 musicians of bring this concert to you in the comfort of your home. international standing came together to take up residency in Sheffield with Music in the Round, establishing a versatile You can donate online at www.musicintheround.co.uk or you group of five string players, five wind players and a pianist. can donate by text message (texts cost your donation amount, The musicians believe ithat concerts should be informal, plus one standard rate message). friendly and relaxed occasions, and perform ‘in the round’ wherever possible. Critical acclaim has greeted all the group’s Text LIVESTREAM to 70085 to donate £5. CDs to date: Mozart and Spohr (ASV Gold), Beethoven and Text LIVESTREAM 10 to 70085 to donate £10. Poulenc (Nimbus Alliance). Text LIVESTREAM 15 to 70085 to donate £15. Text LIVESTREAM 20 to 70085 to donate £20. Ensemble 360 has performed at many of the leading festivals and venues in England, including Wigmore Hall, National Music in the Round is the leading national promoter of chamber Centre for Early Music, Bath and Buxton International Music music. For over 35 years we have been bringing people and Festivals and Leamington Music Festival Weekend. It appears music closer together through our friendly and informative style regularly on BBC Radio 3 and at a number of small-scale of 'in the round' performances, touring to numerous venues venues nationally with Music in the Round. Ensemble 360 is around the country as well as presenting two concert series and at the heart of chamber music in South Yorkshire, appearing the Sheffield Chamber Music Festival each year at our home regularly in Sheffield, and as part of venue, the Crucible Studio. Our concerts are characterised by Music in the Round's concert series, and is central to the passion, excellence and proximity, and even in these challenging times of a global pandemic we are striving to connect people nine-day Sheffield Chamber Music Festival in May each year. through music by presenting socially-distanced live concerts and creating films featuring our musicians to enjoy online.

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