Academy of St Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble SAT / OCT 12 / 7:30 PM

Tomo Keller Robert Smissen VIOLIN Harvey de Souza Fiona Bonds VIOLIN VIOLA Jennifer Godson Stephen Orton VIOLIN Martin Burgess Will Schofield VIOLIN CELLO

PROGRAM

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) String Sextet No. 2, Op. 36 (1864-5) i. Allegro non troppo ii. Scherzo: Allegro non troppo iii. Poco Adagio iv. Poco Allegro

Sally Beamish (b. 1956) “Partita” for String (2019) i. Prelude ii. Fugue iii. Chaconne

Intermission

Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) String Octet, Op. 20 (1825) i. Allegro moderato ma con fuoco ii. Andante iii. Scherzo. Allegro leggierissimo iv. Presto

Pre-show Spotlight Talk with Santa Monica College Music Faculty James Bergman, 7:00 PM

Classical Music Series at The Broad Stage made possible in part by generous support from the Colburn Foundation.

PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE 14 Ealovega Benjamin by Photo ABOUT THE PROGRAM

The Academy’s work in the US is You can also find the Academy on: two violins, two and two , supported by Maria Cardamone and Facebook: /asmforchestra finishing the finale the following May. Paul Matthews together with the Twitter: @asmforchestra This was to be his Op. 36. At the American Friends of the Academy of YouTube: /TheASMF time, Brahms told the singer Joseph St Martin in the Fields. SoundCloud: /asmf Gänsbacher: “I have freed myself from my last love.” The Academy of St Martin in the Instagram: @asmf_orchestra Fields Chamber Ensemble appears by He did so literally, as well as arrangement with David Rowe Artists, figuratively, by including a sequence PROGRAM NOTES www.davidroweartists.com of notes by way of catharsis in the JOHANNES BRAHMS (1833-1897) opening movement. The phrase is The Academy Chamber Ensemble String Sextet No. 2, Op. 36 (1864-5) repeated three times, high on the was formed in 1967, drawing its first violin and first viola, immediately membership from the world- “I love you! I must see you again! after the cello introduces the warmly renowned chamber the But I cannot wear fetters.” With lyrical second theme and it continues Academy of St Martin in the Fields, these words in a letter to the soprano to appear throughout the first which was itself founded by Sir Neville Agathe von Siebold, the 25-year- movement. Its notes are A-G-A-D- Marriner in 1958 and is currently old Brahms broke off their secret H-E (H being the German B natural). led by Music Director Joshua Bell. engagement. Brahms had almost The reference to Agathe would have The purpose behind the formation daily contact with Agathe, two years been immediately clear to Brahms’s of the Chamber Ensemble was to younger than himself, over a two- circle of friends, since they were perform the larger scale chamber month period in the summer of accustomed to musical ciphers in music repertoire with players who 1858. They exchanged letters which the music of Brahms, Schumann and customarily worked together, instead Agathe, a professor’s daughter from other romantics. of the usual string quartet with Göttingen, viewed as “the source of additional guests. Drawn from the the deepest and purest joy.” Brahms The second movement is a principal players of the orchestra and was even photographed wearing an bittersweet scherzo. Its darkly play-directed by Academy Director/ engagement ring that summer, though colored opening is a reworking of Leader Tomo Keller, the Chamber it was never publicly acknowledged. an earlier Gavotte for piano, while Ensemble now performs in multiple Agathe had a voice that his friend the the contrasting middle section is a configurations from wind trios to violinist Joseph Joachim compared thigh-slapping ländler of great gusto. string octets. Its touring commitments with the sound of an Amati violin. The E minor Adagio that follows is are extensive and include regular But after Brahms sent his letter in a melancholy and subdued set of tours of Europe and North America, 1859, the couple never again met. variations on another earlier theme, whilst recording contracts with Philips Both wore the scars of the broken this time associated with a more Classics, Hyperion and Chandos have relationship for years and only in old persistent desire, his love for the led to the release of more than thirty age could Agathe bring herself to widowed Clara Schumann. The finale CDs. reply to a greeting that Brahms sent of this magnificently sonorous, closely via Joachim. integrated Sextet returns to a more The Academy Chamber Ensemble’s upbeat mood. October 2019 tour of the United Characteristically, Brahms worked States is supported by Maria out his feelings in music, not in The G major Sextet was the first work Cardamone and Paul Matthews, words. Characteristically, too, it by Brahms to receive its premiere in together with the American Friends took him several years before the the United States, given October 11, of the Academy of St Martin in the work came together on paper. 1866 at the Mendelssohn Quintet Club Fields. The American Friends was It also took a melancholy return in Boston. The European premiere founded in 1998 to support the work visit to Göttingen, once Agathe had followed in Zurich the following of the Academy around the world, fled the town of painful memories month. particularly in the USA. Find out more to become a governess in Ireland. — Program notes © 2019 Keith Horner. at www.asmf.org Shortly afterwards, in September 1864, back at his summer retreat in Comments welcome: Baden-Baden, Brahms composed [email protected] the anguished, intense and revealing songs of his Op. 32. Within the month, he also completed the first three movements of a G major Sextet for

PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE 15 ABOUT THE PROGRAM

SALLY BEAMISH (b. 1956) FELIX MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) always been the favorite movement of “Partita” for String Octet (2019) String Octet, Op. 20 (1825) the Octet, inspired by the Walpurgis night dream section of Goethe's (for the Academy of St Martin in the With this Octet, the 16-year-old , with its vivid insect and small Fields, and dedicated to PFT) Mendelssohn earned a place in Faust animal imagery. The mood of the the line of great composers in the This piece is inspired by my Octet's finale is hard to put into Western classical tradition. He had experience of the Carl Nielsen Violin words. The opening, which is played started daily composition at the Competition, where I was a juror in low down on scrubbing cellos, seems age of 11. By 16, he could look back March 2019. I heard many superb humorous and the countermelody on a catalog of four operas, three performances of the Bach solo which soon evolves is less than piano quartets, a virtuoso sextet sonatas and partitas, and for 10 days, reverentially lifted from the Hallelujah and, most significantly, a dozen my head was filled with Bach. Chorus from Handel’s at string symphonies. These were the Messiah the words: “And He shall reign for Felix Mendelssohn was strongly apprentice works that allowed the ever and ever.” In fact, the entire influenced by Bach and Handel, and precocious young man to appear to movement seems to evolve as a light- this is evident in his brilliant octet. burst forth as a fully mature and, hearted treatment of the academic I have taken the idea of a partita, indeed original, composer at the age form of the fugue. It is youthful in which is traditionally a suite for a solo of 16. Everything came together to its exuberance, tongue-in-cheek instrument. A string octet could be favor early development. His family at times, effortlessly modulating seen as a single entity – almost like a was rich and highly cultivated, with from one key to another, joyous bowed keyboard – as well as being an weekly Sunday musicales in the and assured. It represents a perfect ensemble of soloists. family's magnificent Leipzigerstrasse rapport between form and content, estate in Berlin. Later, the The Prelude takes a fragment from the likes of which Mendelssohn was to philosopher Friedrich Hegel, a family the prelude to Bach’s D minor Sonata achieve only infrequently again. for solo violin, and weaves it into an friend, taught Mendelssohn at the ostinato, initially on 1st viola. This University of Berlin. Even as an — Program notes © 2019 Keith Horner. begins to fragment and break apart, adolescent, Mendelssohn was a gifted reaching a climax which converges all-rounder. He painted, he fenced, onto a single note. he wrote verse as well as a copious BIOS quantity of letters. As a musician, (VIOLIN) was born The Fugue is based on the Handel TOMO KELLER he was an accomplished pianist and in Stuttgart in 1974, to German- quote (from the Messiah) which forms played both violin and viola tolerably Japanese musicians, and started a fugato in the last movement of well. playing the violin at the age of six. Mendelssohn’s Octet. I have used it as At ten years old he gave his first a slow theme. The fugue is in 8 parts. In the Octet, Mendelssohn reveals a palette of eight essentially equal performances with orchestra. He The Chaconne takes a famous instruments and paints in myriad studied at Vienna’s University for Mendelssohn theme, which is heavily instrumental colors, ranging from Music and Performing Arts and New disguised. After a fanfare-like the hushed monochrome unison at York’s Juilliard School of Music. opening, stated on lower strings, the end of the Scherzo to the burst Numerous top prizes and awards there are eight chaconne variations, of multi-colored hues in the eight- followed, at the Fritz Kreisler each featuring a different member part fugal exuberance that follows. Competition, the Johannes Brahms of the octet. The solos range from Mendelssohn also pinpoints the sort Competition and the German Music wistful to playful – the last soloist of chamber-scale orchestral sound Competition Berlin, where he was being the first viola, with an attempt he wants: “This Octet must be played awarded the Grand Prize. He was also to reveal the identity of the hidden by all instruments in symphonic the first instrumentalist to receive theme. orchestral style,” he writes in the the Aalto Stage Prize for young Partita was commissioned by the preface to the score. “Pianos and musicians. He has since performed Academy of St Martin in the Fields. It fortes must be strictly observed and at major concert halls all around formed part of the residency which more sharply emphasized than is the world, most recently at the new also produced “Hover” for chamber usual in pieces of this character.” Philharmonic Halls of Hamburg and orchestra. Throughout, the young Mendelssohn Paris and has been invited both as eagerly explores a sparkling variety soloist and chamber musician to Partita was commissioned by the of textures, often in strikingly original music festivals such as the Schleswig- Academy of St Martin in the Fields, ways. The first two movements Holstein Musik Festival, Mecklenburg- who gave its premiere at the River alternate between polished ensemble Vorpommern Festspiele and Festival Centre for the Performing Arts in playing and, as in the soaring opening, de Musica Manuel de Falla. He has also Columbus, Georgia, USA, on 4th the style of a violin concerto. The been a frequent guest on radio and October 2019. scherzo, a meeting point for both television broadcasts on ARD, BBC, —Sally Beamish, 2019 absolute and program music, has NHK and ORF. As a soloist Tomo has

16 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE ABOUT THE ARTISTS performed with the Beethovenhalle plays on a Carlo Bergonzi, kindly lent orchestra, and as a member of the Orchestra Bonn, St Petersburg to him by the Beare’s International ASMF chamber ensemble and the Pro Camerata, Symphony Violin Society. Arte Piano Quartet he has performed, Orchestra, Radio Symphony Orchestra broadcast and recorded all over the Berlin and the Vienna Symphony JENNIFER GODSON (VIOLIN) has been world. Outside of music, being a Orchestra. Concert tours have led a member of the Academy since 1985. father of five keeps him more than him all across Europe, as well as She was for many years a member busy, but his other interests include Russia, Asia, America and the Middle of the Fairfield String Quartet with walking his six dogs, gardening, DIY, East. Tomo Keller is a much sought- whom she toured extensively in early renaissance art, philosophy, after orchestral leader, having led Britain and abroad. She now leads a cooking and cricket. the London Symphony Orchestra as busy chamber and orchestral career Assistant Leader from 2009-2015. In and has a special interest in period FIONA BONDS (VIOLA) is Associate 2014 he became first concert master performance. She is sub-leader Principal Viola of the Academy of of the Swedish Radio Symphony of John Eliot Gardiner’s Orchestre St Martin in the Fields, and enjoys Orchestra. He has also appeared with Revolutionnaire et Romantique and a a busy and diverse career outside more than 20 as guest member of the Orchestra of the Age the orchestra. She has recently leader all over Europe, the US and of Enlightenment, with whom she has been appointed Principal Viola of Asia. Tomo was appointed Leader of appeared as guest leader. the City of London Sinfonia and is a the Academy of St Martin in the Fields founder member of the GRAMMY®- in December 2015. MARTIN BURGESS (VIOLIN) began nominated Emperor String Quartet, Tomo’s recordings include solo works playing with the Academy in 1992, who have recently released a critically by Bach, Bartók and Ysaÿe, orchestral taking up the position of Principal acclaimed disc of ’s recordings including Stravinsky’s Second Violin in 1998. Having studied quartets. with Emanuel Hurwitz and the Apollon musagète with Sir John Eliot Amadeus Quartet he brought with STEPHEN ORTON (CELLO) was born Gardiner/LSO and Avant Gershwin with Patti Austin and the WDR Big Band, him the love of . in Ripon, Yorkshire, and studied with He leads the GRAMMY® which was awarded a GRAMMY® in nominated William Pleeth at the Guildhall School 2008. He has given violin, chamber Emperor Quartet (winners of the of Music and Drama. He has been music and orchestral masterclasses prestigious Evian International String principal cello with the Bournemouth at all major London Music Colleges Quartet Competition). The Quartet Sinfonietta and the City of London as well as at Yale University and has released critically acclaimed Sinfonia and was also a member of numerous other schools in the US and CDs of music by Britten, Walton, the Delmé Quartet for ten years. He the Far East. Martinu and James MacMillan. They has acted as Guest Principal Cello have also performed on several film with the London Symphony Orchestra Tomo Keller plays the 1709 ‘Crafoord’ soundtracks, notably There Will Be and Philharmonia. Stephen has wide Stradivarius violin, kindly made Blood and Norwegian Wood (both experience of chamber music and has available to him by the Swedish written by Jonny Greenwood from often played the Schubert Quintet Järnåker Foundation. Radiohead). with the Chilingirian Quartet. In 1985 Martin enjoys a wide variety of playing Stephen became Principal Cello with HARVEY DE SOUZA (VIOLIN) has been away from both these ensembles, the Academy of St Martin in the Fields a member of the Academy since and has played concertos with the 1993 and has led the orchestra most recently recording and then touring the world with Peter Gabriel. orchestra. He is also a member of the on tours with Sir Neville Marriner Academy Chamber Ensemble, touring and soloists including Joshua Bell (VIOLA) Born in internationally and making numerous and Julia Fischer. As a member ROBERT SMISSEN Mansfield Nottinghamshire, Robert recordings. He has recently joined the of the Chamber Ensemble he has Smissen won a scholarship to Chilingirian Quartet in 2013. performed extensively throughout Chethams School of Music and went South America, Europe and the USA. on to study at the Guildhall School WILL SCHOFIELD (CELLO) was born Harvey has been a member of the of Music, from which he graduated in London to Australian and Italian Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia with distinction. After playing with the parents. He read music at Edinburgh and a member of the Vellinger European Community Youth Orchestra University and went on to study String Quartet, who were winners and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe with Radu Aldulescu in Rome and of the 1994 London International he took the position of Principal Viola at the Menuhin Academy in Gstaad, String Quartet Competition. He has with the Northern Sinfonia before Switzerland. Will has been cellist with been Principal Guest Director of ® nominated Emperor joining the Academy of St Martin in the GRAMMY the Lancashire Sinfonietta and is String Quartet since the group was the Fields, with whom he has been co-artistic director of the Sangat formed in 1992. He started playing Principal Viola for over 25 years. He Chamber Music Festival, now in its with the Academy of St Martin in often performs as a soloist with the seventeenth year in Mumbai. Harvey

PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE 17 ABOUT THE ARTISTS the Fields the following year, and membership of these two groups has been the primary focus of his playing career ever since. With the Quartet he has played throughout Europe, North and South America and in Africa, appearing at all of the major festivals in the UK and at numerous festivals abroad including Prague Spring Festival, “Mostly Mozart” New York, Flanders, Monte Carlo, Montpelier/ Radio France and Kuhmo in Finland. The Quartet records for BIS, the latest project being a complete cycle of Britten. He has also played as a guest with the Allegri and Maggini Quartets and with the Schubert Ensemble of London. With the Academy Will has had the opportunity to play the key repertoire for Chamber Orchestra at the highest level, working and recording with musicians such as Murray Perahia, Joshua Bell, Janine Jansen, Julia Fischer and, of course, Sir Neville Marriner. As a freelance cellist Will has played as Guest Principal Cello with many of the country’s top orchestras such as the Royal Philharmonic and the English Chamber Orchestra and with orchestras in Ireland and Spain. He has played on numerous film soundtracks, and with the Emperor Quartet has collaborated with Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood on several projects, most notably the soundtrack to the 2007 movie There Will Be Blood.

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