great music for everyone Spring concerts January – June 2010
©Peter Williams
n Balka er m z e l K
St George’s Bristol would like to thank all of our supporters:
What kind of music keeps you coming back to St George’s? Ladino-Flamenco ... desert blues ... new wave folk ... classical string quartets perhaps? Ask any of the audience members featured on our cover and they’re likely to give a different answer but, a little like Goldilocks, no matter what they choose, they’re all agreed that St George’s always feels ‘just right’. Perhaps it’s the size of the hall: intimate enough to feel complete with just a single piano on stage, releasing the exquisite and clear as crystal sounds of a solo Bach suite, or the rippling sequences of a laid back jazz riff; large enough to give vent to the full-on sounds of an African all-star big band or world renowned orchestra and choir. Then again, it could be the imaginatively conceived series that take you that little further than you ever envisaged, making revelatory connections across vast landscapes of music, introducing you to extraordinary new performers on a weekly basis.
This season we’re not only keeping up the pace of our acclaimed Migrations series, but throwing into the mix of one-off concerts (including a St George’s Birthday Concert on 23 April) a whole host of themed series that deliver in spades for lovers of all styles of music: Shostakovich and Beethoven dominate our chamber music offerings, and there’s plenty to keep you on your toes in Phil Johnson’s new Jazz (Not Jazz) and Late Notes Folk series. With more than 80 events on offer this season, whatever direction you look in, I’m confident you’ll find something to entice you back to this exceptional venue – so see you in January! Suzanne Rolt, Director
Our Education Partners:
H C I V O K A OST
SH
S E I R E S
Our spring series puts the spotlight on chamber music masterpieces and orchestral arrangements by Dmitri Shostakovich. Intense, passionate and often extreme, this is music with the power to hold you transfixed, and to remain with you long after you leave the hall. Alongside Shostakovich, we also feature composers with a shared St Petersburg heritage – Tchaikovsky, Glazunov, Glinka and Mussorgsky – as well as composers whose lives touched his own, such as the American composer Samuel Barber. In the wake of our Shostakovich string quartet cycle, this is a wonderful opportunity to delve more deeply into the work of one of the 20th century’s towering musical figures.
MIKHAIL KAZAKEVICH PIANO Friday 29 January 7.30pm / See page 15 EUROPEAN UNION CHAMBER ORCHESTRA Friday 26 February 7.30pm / See page 25 RAUTIO PIANO TRIO WITH JOAN RODGERS SOPRANO Friday 5 March 7.30pm / See page 27 BRISTOL ENSEMBLE ( FORMERLY EMERALD ENSEMBLE) Saturday 27 March 7.30pm / See page 41 MARIINSKY BRASS ENSEMBLE Friday 23 April 7.30pm / See page 47 RAPHAEL WALLFISCH CELLO & JOHN YORK PIANO Friday 28 May 7.30pm / See page 59
Shostakovich Series Ticket: Book in advance for 3 or more concerts and save 15% on all full price tickets. Look for this symbol
www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk 01
Migrations IS BACK! “One of the most ambitious, important and entertaining cultural programmes Bristol has ever produced.” venue magazine
This season we mark the centenary of Gypsy genius Django Reinhardt with a stonking celebration of string band traditions from around the world. It’s a journey that takes us from Cajun to Cuban, North Carolina to South America, stopping off at Medieval Spain, the Middle East, and the Bath-Gambia interchange along the way. We open with the hot Gypsy swing of the achingly hip Rupa & The April Fishes, a San Francisco septet led by an Indian doctor singing radical French cafe songs to a Latin rhythm with a tango edge. After a Sunday afternoon taste of the scalding Cajun and Creole gumbo that is Sarah Savoy & The Francadians, it’s desert blues from the Gambia via North-East Somerset with the Afro-Celt fusion of Justin Adams & Juldeh Camara. The exuberant African-American roots music of banjo-breakdown specialists Carolina Chocolate Drops is followed by star singer Yasmin Levy’s unique Ladino-flamenco. Joscho Stephan – the greatest current Reinhardt stylist – drops in for a special 100th birthday bash with his Django Legacy Trio before the jangling tres-guitars, trumpet and percussion of Havana’s son-band supreme, Sierra Maestra, get toes twinkling. There’s also the return of our favourite Scots string band, Moishe’s Bagel, a chance to tango in the old-fashioned way, and, of course, harp and cuatro cattle-country music from Colombia’s Cimarrón. We also go tabla-crazy with two special dates dedicated to Indian percussion: Kuljit Bhamra’s ‘Tablature!’ (January 31) and the ‘Bombay Dreams’ performer Sandeep Raval and his band Swar Vishvam (15 May). Phil Johnson Curator Supported by The Rayne Foundation 02 Box Office 0845 40 24 001
Rupa & The April Fishes Thursday 21 January 8pm / See page 11 Sarah Savoy & The Francadians Sunday 24 January 3pm / See page 13 Justin Adams & Juldeh Camara Thursday 28 January 8pm / See page 14 Kuljit Bhamra’s ‘Tablature!’ Sunday 31 January 6pm / See page 16 Carolina Chocolate Drops Wednesday 3 February 8pm / See page 17 Moishe’s Bagel Thursday 11 February 8pm / See page 20 Yasmin Levy Sunday 14 February 8pm / See page 22 Joglaresa: Dancing in Tetuán Sunday 21 February 3pm / See page 24 Joscho Stephan: Django Legacy Friday 12 March 8pm / See page 35 Sierra Maestra Wednesday 17 March 8pm / See page 36 Cimmarón Thursday 25 March 8pm / See page 40 DOUBLE BILL: Claudia Aurora & Kooch Sunday 18 April 3pm / See page 45 Tango Siempre: Malandras Del Tango Thursday 6 May 8pm / See page 50 Sandeep Raval Saturday 15 May 6pm / See page 54
Festival Bar
Migrations Passport
Save money on Migrations concerts and events with the Migrations Passport: Book in advance for four or more concerts within the Migrations festival and save 15% on all full price tickets.
the francadians
joglaresa
moishe’s bagel carolina justin adams &
Migrations
St George’s crypt transforms into a festival bar after every Migrations concert, with late sets from the DJs and musicians of Migrations Bristol. Join the party or chill out in the city’s most atmospheric space.
sarah savoy &
juldeh camara
in the
rupa & the aPRIl fishes
kooch
As support acts or getting the party started after each performance in the festival bar, Migrations Bristol showcases the very best musical talent Bristol has to offer. Whether playing Gypsy jazz, African roots, east-meets-west fusion or any number of culture-crossing genres they are an indispensable part of the Migrations experience.
cimmaron
Great local world music
joscho stephan
MIGRATIONS BRISTOL
chocolate drops
claudia aurora sierra maestra
tango siempre
yasmin levy
Every adult ticket price includes a suggested voluntary donation of £1 to help secure our future.
www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk 03
We know it’s half a century since ‘Kind of Blue’, but what’s happening in jazz right now, and why is some of it not even called jazz anymore? Let our new spring season Jazz (Not Jazz) be your guide to that uncertain terrain where improvisation and syncopation meets the classical tradition, avant-garde rock, ambient trance and country roots. Opening with Bristol’s acclaimed Resonation Big Band (January 8) and a fabulous triple-bill of underground experimentalists Nostalgia 77 with Twelves Trio and the country-jazz-soul
of cult singer-songwriter Jeb Loy Nichols (January 14), Jazz (Not Jazz) brings you the Bristol debut of Nordic trumpet genius Nils Petter Molvaer (February 18), the acclaimed “zen-funk” of ECM’s Nik Bärtsch & RONIN (March 11), and the eagerly-awaited new project by e.s.t bassist Dan Berglund (April 1). The best piano trio in the UK – John Law’s Art of Sound – connects acoustic purity to architectural space (April 22) before the iconoclastic Portico Quartet – the band of the moment, whatever the genre – brings the series to a suitably shattering conclusion (May 27). Now that’s what I call Jazz (not Jazz)!
Jazz Pass: Book in advance for 3 or more concerts and save 15% on all full price tickets. Look for this symbol 04 Box Office 0845 40 24 001
Resonation Big Band Friday 8 January 8pm / See page 7 TRIPLE BILL: Nostalgia 77 / Jeb Loy Nichols / Twelves Trio Thursday 14 January 8pm / See page 8 Nils Petter Molvaer Thursday 18 February 8pm / See page 23 Nik Bärtsch’s RONIN Thursday 11 March 8pm / See page 30 Dan Berglund’s TONBRUKET Thursday 1 April 8pm / See page 42 Art of Sound Trio Thursday 22 April 8pm / See page 46 Portico Quartet Thursday 27 May 8pm / See page 58
There’s old folk, new folk and folk that might not sound very much like folk at all anymore. Our spring programme covers a wide and wonderful selection featuring established star performers, cult heroes and heroines, and experimental new wave artists on the brink of breaking big. Like Real World signings Spiro (19 March), of whom Peter Gabriel says: “They sound folky but once you start listening you hear elements of systems music, people like Steve Reich and Philip Glass. I think this is soulful music, passionate music, and I love it.”
We open with the best-loved folk band in the UK, Fairport Convention (February 4), whose blend of traditional ballads, jigs and reels with jangling folk-rock and anthemic songs form a back catalogue of 40 years’ standing. As folk legends go, no one gets more legendary than Vashti Bunyan (April 8), whose journey from pop-ingenue to folk-rock babe to the reclusive figure whose recent return from a 30-year retirement occasioned one of the most inspiring music stories of the decade. The fabulous-value new wave triple-bill of Lancastrian balladeer Nancy Elizabeth with piano experimentalist Hauschka and 12-string guitar-soundscaper James Blackshaw (May 13) is followed by a very rare appearance (on May 20) by contemporary Irish singer-songwriter and guitarist Luka Bloom whose rippling guitar style and stirring songs of love and protest pulse with rhythmic energy.
Folk fans should also check out the wealth of acoustic roots music from around the world in our Migrations strand, where artists such as the Carolina Chocolate Drops (Feb 3), Yasmin Levy (Feb 14) and Joscho Stephan (March 12) are likely to appeal.
FAIRPORT CONVENTION Thursday 4 February 8pm / See page 18 SPIRO Friday 19 March 8pm / See page 37 VASHTI BUNYAN & THE CEDAR Thursday 8 April 8pm / See page 43 TRIPLE BILL: NANCY ELIZABETH / HAUSCHKA / JAMES BLACKSHAW Thursday 13 May 8pm / See page 53 LUKA BLOOM Thursday 20 May 8pm / See page 56
www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk 05
Lunchtime Classics Great music bite sized.
All concerts start at 1pm and last approximately 50 minutes.
Soloists of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment Thursday 21 January 1pm / See page 10 Primrose Quartet Burns Day Concert Thursday 28 January 1pm / See page 14
Soloists of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment Thursday 15 April 1pm / See page 44 Schubert Ensemble Thursday 29 April 1pm / See page 48
Chisato Kusunoki piano Thursday 4 February 1pm / See page 18 Soloists of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment Thursday 11 February 1pm / See page 20 András Trio Thursday 25 February 1pm / See page 24
Jane Ng violin and Fei Ren piano Thursday 6 May 1pm / See page 50
Ishay Shaer piano Thursday 4 March 1pm / See page 26 Young Musicians’ Showcase Thursday 11 March 1pm / See page 29 Soloists of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment Thursday 18 March 1pm / See page 37
06 Box Office 0845 40 24 001
Sophia Lisovskaya piano Thursday 13 May 1pm / See page 52 Lucille Burns and the Franke Ensemble Thursday 20 May 1pm / See page 56 Masumi Yamamoto and Takako Minami harpsichords Thursday 27 May 1pm / See page 58 Alex Douglas piano Thursday 3 June 1pm / See page 60 Series Ticket and Senior Citizen’s Flexi Series Ticket available. See page 62
£1 is making the difference Last season we introduced a £1 voluntary donation on all adult ticket prices to help save St George’s and narrow the funding gap we face every year. We hoped that you would respond positively, understanding that without the extra support of our loyal audiences, and in the absence of proper public funding, we couldn’t go on offering the world class programme we do.
Well you have...
Every adult ticket price includes a suggested voluntary donation of £1 to help secure our future.
jazz (not jazz)
Friday 8 January 8pm
Resonation Big Band
Thank you ...85% of you are making that donation on each ticket you buy and it is making a real difference. So thank you, and when you buy your tickets please know that you are helping to keep St George’s as the place for great music in Bristol. Registered Charity Number 295178
Bristol’s fabulous new jazz orchestra is a killer 13-piece formed to play the compositions of pianist Jim Blomfield, altoist Kevin Figes and bassist Jeff Spencer. Featuring most of the city’s favourite instrumental stars, including Ben Waghorn,
Josh Arceolo, James Gardner-Bateman, Daisy Palmer and Andy Hague, the band roams far beyond the normal bop gateposts to bite the legs of unsuspecting postmen from straight music, rock and beyond.
£13(£11); £11(£9) Promoted by St George’s Bristol www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk 07
Every adult ticket price includes a suggested voluntary donation of £1 to help secure our future.
jazz (not jazz)
Thursday 14 January 8pm Triple Bill:
Nostalgia 77 / Jeb Loy Nichols / Twelves Trio
Gilles Peterson-favourites Nostalgia 77 are an acoustic octet led by composer Benedic Lamdin, who’s made 10 albums since 1994 and worked with Quantic, Mari Boine and Keith & Julie Tippett. Jeb Loy Nichols is a country-soul singer/ songwriter from Wyoming with heavy jazz and reggae leanings. His new album ‘Strange Faith and Practice’ (Impossible Ark) is a jazz suite arranged by Riaan Vosloo, which the Independent on Sunday called ‘A wonderful and surprising departure ... his gorgeously warm voice and mournful lyrics make you want to cry, but in a good way’. Twelves Trio is bassist Vosloo with drummer Tim Giles and saxophonist Mark Hanslip. Twelves and Jeb play the first half of the concert, Nostalgia the second.
£15(£13); £11(£9) Promoted by St George’s Bristol 08 Box Office 0845 40 24 001
Friday 15 – Sunday 17 January
Bristol Acoustic Music Festival Where better than the gloriously intimate acoustic of St George’s for Bristol’s iconic, three-day acoustic music festival to celebrate its 6th anniversary. A mesmerising programme of weird and wonderful delights casts a very powerful magic, from understated lay-about country, through twisted fables, unique and uplifting avant-garde roots music and haunting sound worlds, to beautifully desolate Zen folk. The phenomenal range of acoustic talent continues with appearances from Hollowbody, The Cedar, The Wraiths, Bashema, Bethany Porter, Slow, Rachael Dadd, Babel, Cue Farefare, Paul Garry, Rosie Garrard, Emily & The Whispers, Sweet Laredo, The Mandibles and Three Cane Whale (the intriguing new acoustic project featuring members of Get The Blessing and Spiro). An outstanding weekender of terrific tunes and unexpected twists. Acoustically ace.
For full programme and running times please visit us online: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk.
£7 day tickets Promoted by Jelli Records and TinHut. Supported by Bath Ales and BCFM Radio. www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk 09 9
Every adult ticket price includes a suggested voluntary donation of £1 to help secure our future.
festival of ideas
lunchtime classics
Monday 18 January 6pm – 7pm
Thursday 21 January 1pm
Stewart Brand and Brian Eno: The future of environmentalism
Soloists of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment: Beethoven I
Stewart Brand is one of the great visionaries of our time. His latest book, Whole Earth Discipline: An Ecopragmatist Manifesto, argues that ‘being green’ is no longer enough.
Through scientific rigor and blazing advocacy, Brand offers a bold and creative set of policies and solutions for producing a more sustainable society.
Schubert String Trio in B flat for Violin, Viola and Cello Beethoven Septet for Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, Violin, Viola, Cello and Bass
Three profound transformations are underway on Earth: climate change, urbanisation and biotechnology. Unless environmentalists keep up with new science, and embrace tools and disciplines that it has traditionally distrusted – such as science and engineering – in order to forestall the cataclysmic deterioration of the earth’s resources, they will become part of the problem.
He is in discussion with Brian Eno, musician and composer, cultural critic and writer, who has a long-standing interest and involvement in new thinking about politics and the future.
In the first of their four concerts, the Soloists of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment bring compelling spontaneity and scrupulous attention to detail to Schubert’s challenging masterpiece, the B Flat String Trio.
Brand shatters a number of environmental myths – cities are greener than the countryside; nuclear power is the future of energy; and genetic engineering is the key to crop and land management.
Beethoven’s lighthearted Septet, one of the last works he wrote before he became aware of his encroaching deafness, offers the players the chance to sparkle. A gorgeous performance of vivid clarity. Recorded for future transmission on BBC Radio 3. ‘Electrifying music-making.’ the guardian
Senior Citizen’s Flexi Series Ticket and Series Ticket available. See p62 £6.50(£4.50) (£1 donation does not apply)
£8(£6 for children and students, free for Jobseekers). All seats unreserved.
Promoted by Bristol Festival of Ideas in association with St George’s Bristol
Promoted by St George’s Bristol
10 Box Office 0845 40 24 001
migrations
Thursday 21 January 8pm
Rupa & The April Fishes
©Judith Burrows
Led by singer and practising medical doctor Rupa Marya, San Francisco septet Rupa & The April Fishes play a wild and sexy, multi-lingual amalgam of hot swing, French cafe music, Latin rhythms, tango and what Time Out has called ‘global agit-prop’, as heard on their debut album ‘eXtraOrdinary Rendition’. The content of Rupa’s lyrics reflects her background: born to Punjabi parents in the Bay Area, she was sent back to India as a child before moving with her parents to Provence, and then back to the USA to study medicine. Not surprisingly, her songs deal with questions of racial identity and migration. This debut UK tour in support of the band’s second album, ‘Este Mundo’, is going to make Rupa a star. Be able to say you were there.
...in the festival bar
Join us for an after-show party/music session.
£17(£15); £13(£11); £11(£9) Promoted by St George’s Bristol www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk 11
brodsky quartet series / migrations
Friday 22 January 7.30pm
BARTÓK BRODSKY
Dvorˇák Cello Concerto in B minor Brahms Symphony No 2 in D The Bristol Classical Players’ second concert this season pairs Brahms’ genial Second Symphony (dubbed his ‘Pastoral’ by some contemporary critics) with the great Cello Concerto by Brahms’ long-standing friend Antonin Dvorˇák.
The Brodsky Quartet is not just an elite ensemble with a stellar international reputation; it is a genuine phenomenon of staggering versatility, embracing music from both the traditional string quartet repertoire and contemporary composers with equal love.
A night of outstanding musical experiences, the consummate mastery of the Brodsky Quartet’s playing speaks for itself.
£23(£21); £21(£19); £17(£15); £11(£9) Promoted by St George’s Bristol 12 Box Office 0845 40 24 001
Bristol Classical Players Madeleine Ridd cello Tom Gauterin conductor
Stravinsky Three Pieces for String Quartet Karen Tanaka At The Grave Of Beethoven Prokofiev String Quartet No 2 Stravinsky Concertino Bartók String Quartet No 6
Here, the Brodsky Quartet comes into its own, responding to the nuances, unusual beauty and high energy of Stravinsky and Bartók’s music; whilst Tanaka’s gently lyrical At The Grave Of Beethoven exemplifies the Quartet’s limitless musical explorations.
Saturday 23 January 7.30pm
‘The Brodskys’ achingly beautiful performance reached deep into the heart of the man, and the long silence that preceded the tumultuous applause acknowledged as much.’ the guardian
The Second Symphony is the most folk-like in mood of Brahms’ four, and reflects the happy circumstances of its composition; after twenty years’ struggle over his mighty First, Brahms composed the Second Symphony in a little over a year, much of it while on holiday.
£13(£11); £11(£9); £9(£7); £7(£5)
Every adult ticket price includes a suggested voluntary donation of £1 to help secure our future.
migrations / sunday world series
Sunday 24 January 3pm
Wednesday 27 January 7.45pm
Sarah Savoy & The Francadians
Corelli Orchestra: Bach and Friends
Cajun with a kick
Warwick Cole director
Cajun and Zydeco honky-tonkin’ from Lafayette-native Sarah Savoy and her kicking band, who mix old-time backwoods laments and jaunty two-steps with rockabilly hoe-downs and contemporary songs celebrating the tradition of strong, independent Louisiana women.
The period-instrument Corelli Orchestra makes its first visit to St George’s with an unusual programme of suites and concertos by Bach and his musical acquaintances.
With accordion, fiddle, guitar and string-bass forming the backdrop to vocals, whoops and hollers this is the real Cajun deal: an afternoon session when the bon temps will truly roulet.
Noted for their vibrant and engaging performances, the Corellis always include lesser-known works in their programmes: here Stölzel, highly-regarded by Bach, in his extravagant Concerto; and Georg Böhm, Bach’s teacher, in his more modest Suite. ‘Top-notch baroque orchestra.’ the independent Bach Study Afternoon 2pm – 4pm Focusing on Bach’s 3rd orchestral suite and the 4th Brandenburg Concerto, this event is specifically for students studying OCR and Edexcel A level music. The talk includes an introduction to historical instruments, performing styles and a detailed study of the music. Tickets £5
£13(£5)
£20(£18); £18(£16); £16(£14); £12(£10)
Promoted by St George’s Bristol www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk 13
lunchtime classics
migrations
Thursday 28 January 1pm
Thursday 28 January 8pm
Primrose Quartet Burns Day Concert
Justin Adams & Juldeh Camara
Various Variations on Robert Burns’ Air ‘By yon castle wa’ at the close of the day’ Brahms Piano Quartet in G minor The Primrose Piano Quartet brings its gloriously natural and unforced interpretative approach to a nuanced set of variations on Burns’ haunting Air, by a host of pre-eminent composers including Sally Beamish, James MacMillan and Peter Fribbins. Brahms’ G minor Quartet is a bracing, high-voltage delight from start to ebullient finish, performed here with zeal and passion aplenty.
Cross-cultural desert blues and more from the World Music Award-winning duo of English guitarist Adams and Gambian riti-player (a one-string violin) and singer Camara. They’re joined tonight by vocalist Mim from their new album, ‘Tell No Lies’, an Afro-Celtic collision of deep roots and electric groove. As a producer (Tinariwen) and a member of Robert Plant’s band, Justin Adams is one of the key figures in the new global fusion. Juldeh Camara is a Fulani griot who first recorded for Bill Laswell and has written music for the National Theatre’s acclaimed production of ‘Elmira’s Kitchen’. Together, they rock.
Senior Citizen’s Flexi Series Ticket and Series Ticket available. See p62 £7 (£5 for children and students, free for Jobseekers). All seats unreserved.
£17(£15); £13(£11); £11(£9)
Promoted by St George’s Bristol
Promoted by St George’s Bristol
14 Box Office 0845 40 24 001
...in the festival bar
Join us for an after-show party/music session.
Every adult ticket price includes a suggested voluntary donation of £1 to help secure our future.
shostakovich series
Friday 29 January 7.30pm
Saturday 30 January 7.45pm
MIKHAIL KAZAKEVICH PIANO
Viva Vivaldi by Candlelight
Tchaikovsky The Seasons Shostakovich 24 Preludes Op 34
Bristol Ensemble Roger Huckle director Rupert Gough conductor Alison Stephens mandolin Choir of Royal Holloway
Claiming a place with the very best, Mikhail Kazakevich is an exceptional pianist of magnificent but unshowy technique and eloquent elegance.
Vivaldi Gloria Mandolin Concerto in C RV425 Mandolin Concerto in D RV514 Concerto for 2 Violins in D minor Concerto for Oboe and Violin RV548 Concerto Alla Rustica
Playing with expected Russian brilliance, Kazakevich brings his immense powers to Tchaikovsky’s The Seasons, variously festive and joyous, sweetly gloomy, mischievous, childlike and charming. Not as well known for his piano music as he is for his symphonies and quartets, Shostakovich’s 24 Preludes are nevertheless compelling works, drawing equally upon the musical past and his own melancholy. Here, Kazakevich invests the music with a life far beyond the page, immersing every fibre of his being in the work to absolutely astounding effect.
£19(£17); £17(£15); £15(£13) £11(£9)
Hearing Kazakevich perform in any circumstance is an extraordinary experience: in the opening concert of St George’s new Shostakovich Series, he reaches to the heart of the composer’s intentions.
Vivaldi’s Gloria forms the framework for this concert with individual concertos interspersed between the movements to create a constant flow of wonderfully varied musical sounds. Internationally acclaimed mandolinist Alison Stephens joins the Bristol Ensemble (formerly Emerald Ensemble) along with the superb Choir of Royal Holloway who have won national press plaudits and a recording contract with Hyperion Records. £19(£17); £17(£15); £13(£11); £9(£7)
Promoted by St George’s Bristol www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk 15
Every adult ticket price includes a suggested voluntary donation of £1 to help secure our future.
migrations
Tuesday 2 February 7.30pm
Kuljit Bhamra’s TABLATURE!
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Three tabla players. Four orchestral percussionists. New compositions.
Vladimir Jurowski conductor Beethoven Symphony No 4 in B flat Symphony No 7 in A
Born to the Bhangra beat, Kuljit Bhamra is a virtuoso tabla player and one of the most prolific Asian music producers in the UK. Tablature! is a very special experiment to demystify the traditional world of the tabla (where a student player learns at the hands of a guru to improvise his own ideas). Fresh from the white heat of a creative musical retreat, Kuljit Bhamra has helped develop a new universal system of music notation for writing for the tabla.
Not all orchestras are the same – a point perfectly exemplified by the OAE, whose electrifying, zest laden performances around the world have marked it out as an orchestra of exceptional stature and appeal. News of the OAE’s plans for a complete Beethoven symphony cycle this season has created a palpable buzz in music circles, and memories have come flooding back of its sensational Sir Simon Rattle led cycle
The result is a truly breathtaking live show which fuses the stunning drumming of three tabla players and four orchestral percussionists with wildly imaginative new compositions into a mesmerising east / west soundscape.
£17(£15); £13(£11); £11(£9) £33(£31); £27(£25); £19(£17); £13(£11) Presented by Asian Arts Agency in association with St George’s Bristol 16 Box Office 0845 40 24 001
Promoted by St George’s Bristol in association with
‘Vladimir Jurowski, more medium than conductor, produces ever more faultlessly gorgeous, languid sounds’ the times in the 1990s. For its Bristol performance of two of Beethoven’s great landmark works, Symphonies No 4 and 7, the baton is taken up by one of the youngest and most successful maestros around, Vladimir Jurowski. Here is a conductor who has taken the music world by storm, lauded in equal measure by both the press and fellow musicians – this truly is a must-hear event for any classical music devotee.
©Roman Gontcharov
Sunday 31 January 6pm
migrations
Wednesday 3 February 8pm
Carolina Chocolate Drops
©July Roberts
African-American string band Carolina Chocolate Drops play the fiddle and banjo music of the Carolinas’ piedmont foothills: a rich, deep repository of diaspora culture with strong links to African folklore and ritual. Swapping instruments and vocals between them, and adding bones-percussion, washboard, kazoo and jug to the complement of strings, the three young musicians reclaim this powerful, joyous music from the stereotypes of minstrelsy. Expect one almighty yee-haw of a party.
...in the festival bar
Join us for an after-show party/music session.
£19(£17); £15(£13); £11(£9) Promoted by St George’s Bristol www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk 17
Every adult ticket price includes a suggested voluntary donation of £1 to help secure our future.
late notes folk
Thursday 4 February 8pm
Chisato Kusunoki piano
Fairport Convention
Scarlatti Sonata in C K132 Sonata in B minor K87 Chopin N octurne in C minor Op 48 No 1 Polonaise in A flat Op 53 Rachmaninov Six Moments Musicaux
The most famous band in English folk (still led by original member Simon Nicol) returns for a celebratory run-through of their peerless back catalogue.
Emerging as one of the most talented pianists of her generation, Oxford and Royal Academy of Music graduate Chisato Kusunoki has had critics reaching for every superlative in the dictionary.
Anthemic songs both trad and contemporary, including jigs, reels, ballads and laments, are lifted to the skies by impeccable acoustic and electric picking and a great group vibe. Joining Simon are Fairport regulars Dave Pegg, Ric Sanders, Gerry Conway and Chris Leslie.
Scarlatti introduces us to an extraordinary technique; Chopin’s ‘Heroic’ Polonaise in A flat brings an exuberant virtuosity; and Rachmaninov’s complex, imposing Moments Musicaux demonstrate Kusunoki’s remarkable compositional affinity and staggering precision. This is the sort of playing that has an audience on the edge of its seats. Senior Citizen’s Flexi Series Ticket and Series Ticket available. See p62 £7(£5 for Children and Students, free for jobseekers) All seats unreserved.
£23(£21); £17(£15); £11(£9)
Promoted by St George’s Bristol
Promoted by St George’s Bristol
18 Box Office 0845 40 24 001
©Ben Nicholson
lunchtime classics
Thursday 4 February 1pm
Friday 5 February 7.30pm
Natalie Clein cello & Xuefei Yang guitar
©Ray Burmiston
©Wai Tong Kwang
J S Bach C ello Suite No 1 in G Violin Sonata No 1 (for guitar) Casals Song of the Birds (arr. Clein and Yang) De Falla Siete Canciones Populares Espanolas Works by Villa Lobos, Piazzolla and Stephen Goss Natalie Clein is a truly compelling artist, of formidable musicality and integrity, whose characteristic sensitivity has established her as one of the finest musicians on the world stage today. Xuefei Yang is a prodigious talent of feisty virtuosity, impeccable technique and sensitive musicianship, hailed as one of the best guitarists in the world. ‘[Yang’s] technique is flawless.’ classic fm magazine
‘Natalie Clein fearlessly goes where others have feared to tread for a generation, living each and every phrase with a poetic intensity and emotional immediacy that captures the moment to perfection.’ classic fm magazine
For this enthralling performance, Bach and de Falla bookend stunningly virtuosic solo and duo playing by Clein and Yang; with the most intense rapport between guitar and cello on stunning pieces by Astor Piazzolla and Pablo Casals.
£21(£19); £17(£15); £15(£13); £11(£9) Promoted by St George’s Bristol www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk 19
Every adult ticket price includes a suggested voluntary donation of £1 to help secure our future.
lunchtime classics
migrations
Saturday 6 February 7.45pm
Thursday 11 February 1pm
Thursday 11 February 8pm
Brandon Hill Chamber Orchestra
Soloists of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment: Beethoven II
Moishe’s Bagel
Mozart Serenade in C minor K388 Beethoven Octet
Leo McFall conductor Tom Poster piano Prokofiev S ymphony No 1 in D ‘Classical’ Schumann Piano Concerto in A minor Sibelius Andante Festivo Beethoven Symphony No 1 in C Leading chamber orchestra BHCO presents an evening of popular music, including Schumann’s much-loved Piano Concerto performed by awardwinning pianist Tom Poster who appeared at this year’s BBC Proms. Inventive symphonies by Prokofiev and Beethoven frame this work, complemented by Sibelius’ beautiful Andante Festivo. £15(£14); £13(£12)
The Soloists of the OAE bring their technical assurance and the finest of detail to Mozart’s darkly passionate masterpiece, the Wind Serenade, the eloquent phrasing of the players underlining the Serenade’s unusual and atypical, even radical, character. In his four-movement Octet, Beethoven demonstrated that he could be just as charming and delightful as Mozart when he wanted to be, the OAE soloists’ sheer vitality and impeccable ensemble capturing his irresistible humour. Recorded for future transmission on BBC Radio 3.
Senior Citizen’s Flexi Series Ticket and Series Ticket available. See p62 £8(£6 for children and students, free for Jobseekers). All seats unreserved. Promoted by St George’s Bristol
20 Box Office 0845 40 24 001
Rip-roaring, fiendishly fast, Balkan Klezmer dance party Moishe’s Bagel, to a man, have an almost unbearably exotic musical melee coursing undiluted through their veins: an irresistible melding of Scots Klezmer, Balkan Gypsy folk and Asian percussion, with a hefty dash of jazz and a pinch of Breton. Its energetic and heart-wrenching music turbodriven by a seemingly unquenchable vigour and passion, the Bagel kick up one heck of a fuss live, playing with a fiery spirit that goes hand in fist with virtuosity and precision. A fantastically moving musical experience, the fast-faster-supersonic momentum blows you away.
The m The moon shines bright
Saturday 13 February 7.30pm
A Sense of the Divine with Exultate Singers
OPTIMA
David Ogden conductor
A two part concert of sensational choral music to excite the senses and leave you in a state of rapture.
Throughout the evening, the intimate setting of St George’s resonates to a beautiful sequence of music, from powerful outpourings of Elizabethan sacred music by Byrd and Thomas Tallis, to tender settings of Shakespeare by Morley, Vaughan Williams and George Shearing.
Agnus Dei, a profoundly moving arrangement of his own Adagio for Strings, and Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to Music. This setting of verses from Shakespeare’s ‘The Merchant of Venice’ finds the two lovers, Lorenzo and Jessica, listening to music, gazing at the stars and revelling in the magic of the night; its power is such that it moved the composer Rachmaninov to tears, and he considered it the most affecting piece of music he had ever heard.
Wher
At the heart of this programme are Tallis’ unforgettable motet, Spem in Alium – whose performance in the round, with its gradual accumulation of voices from just 1 to 40, must count as one of the most thrilling passages of music of all time – Samuel Barber’s
Completing the programme is multi-choir music from Renaissance Spain and Whitacre’s Her sacred spirit soars, a Shakespearean influenced piece with wonderfully sensuous and rich harmonies.
Where Cressida lay that nigh
...in the festival bar
Join us for an after-show party/music session.
As part of its support of this evening’s concert, Elizabeth Shaw will be distributing chocolates to all audience members. Such exquisite, sensuous sweetness!
£17(£15); £13(£11); £11(£9)
£21(£19); £17(£15); £15(£13); £11(£9)
Promoted by St George’s Bristol in association with DAVAR Jewish Cultural Institute
Promoted by St George’s Bristol. Supported by Elizabeth Shaw.
www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk 21
Every adult ticket price includes a suggested voluntary donation of £1 to help secure our future.
migrations
Sunday 14 February 8pm
Yasmin Levy: ‘Sentir’ Tour Now one of the biggest stars in world music, Israeli-born singer and songwriter Yasmin Levy and her band revisit St George’s following their sell-out debut two years ago. Yasmin describes her performances as “a five hundred year-old musical journey”, taking the all-but-lost language of Sephardic/ Ladino culture to Andalucía and mixing it with Flamenco in what she calls “a musical reconciliation of history”. Her fabulously dramatic new album, ‘Sentir’, was recorded in Madrid with producer Javier Limon and includes five Ladino songs and a traditional hymn, together with new original works.
...in the festival bar
Join us for an after-show party/music session.
£21(£19); £17(£15); £11(£9) Promoted by St George’s Bristol in association with DAVAR Jewish Cultural Institute 22 Box Office 0845 40 24 001
jazz (not jazz)
Monday 15 February 3.30pm
Thursday 18 February 8pm
What a Rackett! The Carnival Band Holiday Concert
Nils Petter Molvaer
In this fun and fast-moving family concert The Carnival Band introduces the raw materials of music plus an astonishing number of unusual instruments (including the bassoon-like ‘rackett’) both ancient and modern. With plenty of opportunity to join in, The Carnival Band’s infectious enthusiasm promises to be a sure-fire hit with children and parents alike.
’s Workshop Carnival Band Children m 1pm – 2.30p perform Learn a special piece to concert! alongside the band in the ed age: 6+ Tickets: £3 Recommend
Norwegian trumpeter and composer/producer Nils Petter Molvaer creates deep, trippy soundscapes that call on electronic jazz, ambient, film and dance-music. He was the first artist to have singles and a re-mix album released by ECM, following the huge success of ‘Kmer’ in 1997. Since then Molvaer has collaborated with artists around the world while continuing to work in a variety of media, writing music for films and for the theatre. Tonight’s trio – playing music from the new album ‘Hamada’ (Universal) – includes the incredible guitarist Eivind Aarset (who’s in Andy Sheppard’s ECM band) and drummer Audun Kleive, and features a special 360 degree sound system.
£7(£5 Under 18s)
£19(£17); £15(£13)
Promoted by St George’s Bristol
Promoted by St George’s Bristol www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk 23
Every adult ticket price includes a suggested voluntary donation of £1 to help secure our future.
migrations / sunday world series
lunchtime classics
Saturday 20 February 7.30pm
Sunday 21 February 3pm
Thursday 25 February 1pm
International Baroque Players
Joglaresa: Dancing in Tetuán
András Trio
Johannes Pramsohler director, violin
From Arabic dance songs and Sephardic wedding music to Moorish romanzas from the heady, hot spices of Andalusia and the Maghreb, Joglaresa bridge the gap between ancient and still-thriving musical traditions.
Janácˇek Violin Sonata Dvorˇák Dumky Trio
Works by Handel and Telemann Let the International Baroque Players transport you to baroque Germany for an evening of elegance, poise and jubilation in the company of two baroque masters: Handel and Telemann. From the richness of the full ensemble to the delicacy of works for unaccompanied violins, and drawing together top talent from across the globe the International Baroque Players promise an evening of energy, excitement and joy – not to mention music making of the highest quality.
This British/Israeli/Irish/Arabic band has a sound that is like no other: at once traditional and contemporary. Combining the most vibrant elements of Medieval, Middle Eastern, Flamenco and Celtic folk music, they meld together a sound that is both extrovert and intimate.
Hungarian violinist Tamás András has found laudable matches in the mesmerising cello of Gemma Rosefield and the outstanding pianism of Daniel Tong. To Dvorˇák’s Dumky Trio, derived from the Ukrainian folk form known as the dumka, and with its alternations of music for lamentation with music for dancing, the András Trio brings a dazzling unity of ensemble, immaculate craftsmanship and astonishing energy.
Lively, intense, rhythmically vital music at its best.
©John Nicholl
‘Groundbreaking ensemble of cultural nomads ... I was blown away by their charm and originality.’ the scotsman Senior Citizen’s Flexi Series Ticket and Series Ticket available. See p62 £21(£19); £17(£15); £13(£11); £9(£7)
24 Box Office 0845 40 24 001
£13(£5)
£7(£5 for children and students, free for Jobseekers). All seats unreserved.
Promoted by St George’s Bristol
Promoted by St George’s Bristol
shostakovich series
Friday 26 February 7.30pm
Saturday 27 February 7.30pm
EUROPEAN UNION CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Bristol University Music Society Chamber Orchestra and Chamber Choir
WITH HANNAH MARCHINOWICZ SAXOPHONE Grieg Holberg Suite Glazunov Saxophone Concerto Shostakovich Prelude & Scherzo Dvorˇák Serenade for Strings
Chamber Orchestra Ajantha Chandrasena conductor
Hailed by The Times as ‘a superb young saxophonist’, Hannah Marcinowicz has worked with top orchestras such as the London Symphony Orchestra and London Philharmonia and received rave reviews for her BBC Proms appearance with Sir Colin Davis. She joins the talented players of EUCO as soloist for the Saxophone Concerto by Glazunov, a St Petersburg born composer who was taught by Rimsky-Korsakov and went on to become teacher to Shostakovich. Written in the final year of Glazunov’s life and now a core piece in the instrument’s repertoire, this single movement concerto is a highly rhapsodic piece that shows off the saxophone’s wide range of colours.
Tippett Five Negro Spirituals from ‘A Child Of Our Time’ Giles Swayne Magnificat I Schumann Requiem in D flat
£25(£23); £21(£19); £15(£13); £11(£9)
Chamber Choir Emma Louise Goddard conductor
From early in Shostakovich’s career comes his edgy and rhythmically driven Prelude & Scherzo. Scored for double string quartet, and composed at a time when his mind was teeming with ideas for his first symphonies, Shostakovich considered it “the very best thing I have written”. A sense of peace is restored towards the end of the concert with one of Dvorˇák’s enduringly popular pieces, the Serenade for Strings.
Following the success of last year’s event, the Chamber Orchestra and Choir of Bristol University Music Society return to St George’s for their annual concert. The first half features the orchestra and choir separately, with the orchestra being joined by the winner of the Music Society’s prestigious annual concerto competition. After the interval, the two ensembles join forces to perform Schumann’s Requiem. This promises to be a memorable display of the University’s brightest musical talent.
£13(£11); £11(£9); £9(£7); £7(£5)
Promoted by St George’s Bristol www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk 25
festival of ideas
lunchtime classics
Wednesday 3 March 6pm – 7pm
Thursday 4 March 1pm
Albie Sachs : The Strange Alchemy of Life & Law
Ishay Shaer piano Beethoven Piano Sonata No 27 in E minor Op 90 Liszt Concert Etude ‘La Leggierezza’ Ravel ‘Scarbo’ from Gaspard de la Nuit Chopin Piano Sonata No 3 in B minor Op 58
Albie Sachs is a hero of our times. From a young age he played a prominent part in the struggle for justice in South Africa. As a result he was detained in solitary confinement, tortured by sleep deprivation and eventually blown up by a car bomb which cost him his right arm and the sight of an eye. Sachs’ experiences provoked an outpouring of creative thought on the role of law as a protector of human dignity in the modern world, and a lifelong commitment to seeing a new era of justice established in South Africa. After playing an important part in drafting South Africa’s post-apartheid Constitution, Sachs was appointed by Nelson Mandela to be a member of the country’s first Constitutional Court.
Over his fifteen year term he has grappled with the major issues confronting modern South Africa, and the challenges posed to the fledgling democracy as it sought to overcome the injustices of the apartheid regime. As his term on the Court approaches its end, Sachs talks about what it has been like to be a judge in these unique circumstances, how his extraordinary life has influenced his approach to the cases before him, and his views on the nature of justice and its achievement through law, and provides unique access to an insider’s perspective on modern South Africa, and a rare glimpse into the working of a judicial mind.
One of Israel’s leading young classical pianists, Ishay Shaer has toured his superlative music-making throughout the world to critical acclaim. With strong pianism allied to an equally strong musical intelligence, Ishay’s journey through Beethoven’s emotionally complex Piano Sonata No 27, Liszt’s virtuosic showpiece La Leggierezza and Ravel’s challenging, nightmarish Scarbo is wonderfully arresting. An outstanding Chopin player, Shaer ends with the striking B minor Sonata.
Senior Citizen’s Flexi Series Ticket and Series Ticket available. See p62
£6.50(£4.50) (£1 donation does not apply)
£7(£5 for children and students, free for Jobseekers). All seats unreserved.
A Bristol Festival of Ideas event in association with St George’s Bristol
Promoted by St George’s Bristol
26 Box Office 0845 40 24 001
Every adult ticket price includes a suggested voluntary donation of £1 to help secure our future.
shostakovich series
Friday 5 March 7.30pm
RAUTIO PIANO TRIO WITH JOAN RODGERS SOPRANO
Fired up by the chance to take part in our Shostakovich series, the Rautio Piano Trio has devised a very special programme that touches on key moments from the incredible history of Russia’s past. It sees the Trio performing alongside one of Britain’s best loved singers, Joan Rodgers, whose interpretations of Russian repertoire have won worldwide acclaim, and who is something of a dream pairing for Shostakovich’s haunting settings of the Seven Romances. ‘Rodgers does more than merely sing a song beautifully; she performs it with expressive elegance, her eye ranging effortlessly from twinkle to tear.’ the observer
At the heart of the Trio’s programme are two lamenting trios by Glinka and Shostakovich. The former’s Trio Pathétique is a beautifully proportioned piece that echoes with Russian folk melodies, its score marked with the very personal quotation “I have known love only through the unhappiness it causes”.
©Anne-Marie Le Blé
Beethoven Trio in G ‘Kakadu Variations’ Shostakovich Seven Romances on Verses of Alexander Blok Glinka Trio Pathétique in D minor Shostakovich Trio No 2 in E minor
A century later, in an era of wars and uprisings, Shostakovich produced an incredible outpouring of works, from the Leningrad Symphony to the Trio we hear tonight. Written in 1944, it is a work of captivating intensity, a lamentation both for his close friend Ivan Sollertinsky and the victims of the Holocaust. Pre-concert Event 6.15pm A screening of excerpts of a master class held by Joan Rodgers, looking at two scenes from Tchaikovsky’s opera Eugene Onegin: Tatiana’s ‘Letter Scene’ and Olga’s ‘Aria’. Shown with the permission of the Masterclass Foundation. Free for ticket holders.
£21(£19); £17(£15); £15(£13); £11(£9) Promoted by St George’s Bristol www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk 27
Saturday 6 March 7.30pm
Sunday 7 March 3pm
Wednesday 10 March 8pm
Bristol Music Club Orchestra
Bristol Suzuki Group
Turin Brakes
William Goodchild conductor Charlotte Newstead soprano
Shinichi Suzuki, born in Japan in 1900, was a remarkable pioneer in the world of music teaching.
Turin Brakes return to Bristol in support of their fifth album, due for release in March.
Brahms Tragic Overture Strauss Four Last Songs Holst The Planets This concert of magnificent masterpieces follows a path from tragedy to death, culminating in a trip to the heavens. Renowned soprano Charlotte Newstead joins the BMCO for a performance of Richard Strauss’ Four Last Songs. Composed at the end of his life, when he was 84 years old, it is imbued with the calm acceptance of the composer’s inevitable fate. Holst’s Planets provides the perfect conclusion with its otherworldly portrayal of the celestial bodies.
£13(£11); £11(£9); £9(£7); £7(£5)
28 Box Office 0845 40 24 001
A professional violinist, he devised a method of teaching the instrument based on the principle that all children can achieve a high level of ability if they learn music in the same way as their native language. The results he demonstrated were astonishing, and the method quickly spread throughout the world. Now thousands of children learn the violin and other instruments using the same method. This concert brings together children, parents and teachers from the Bristol region to share their achievements made over the past year.
£8.50(£6). All seats unreserved.
Having recently celebrated their 10th anniversary with ‘Bottled at Source – The Best of the Source Years’, now the band takes to the road, reminding everyone just how good their songwriting really is. Friends since primary school at Balham in South London in the 1980s, harmony singer Olly and lead guitarist Gale grew into Turin Brakes almost by accident – honing their modern folk-rock sound through the songs they wrote together as teenagers. Featuring music from their refreshing first album – the Mercury nominated ‘The Optimist’ – through the rawness of 2007’s electrified ‘Dark on Fire’ to their latest release, Turin Brakes never fail to impress.
£18.50; £16; £14.50
Every adult ticket price includes a suggested voluntary donation of £1 to help secure our future.
lunchtime classics
Thursday 11 March 1pm
Young Musicians’ Showcase Another in our ongoing series of concerts giving a performance platform to local young musicians. This time, an opportunity for talented performers from Bristol Cathedral Choir School and Churchill Community School to shine.
‘Turin Brakes inhabit a space which is entirely their own, fully-formed and brutally emotive ... give them the devotion they deserve.’ nme
Free Admission Promoted by St George’s Bristol www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk 29
Every adult ticket price includes a suggested voluntary donation of £1 to help secure our future.
jazz (not jazz)
Thursday 11 March 8pm
Nik Bärtsch’s RONIN Zen-funk and “ritual groove music” from Swiss pianist, composer and ECM Records star Nik Bärtsch and his amazing acoustic quintet. Named after “the lonely path” taken by Japanese samurai warriors, Ronin is a remarkably disciplined and imaginative attempt to create real living and breathing music through systems that relate to the experience of the city and the architecture of urban environments. Using various rhythmic modules, repeated beats and phrases, Bärtsch and his musicians layer patterns together to form complex but organically ordered pieces that work equally on both mind and body. ‘Steve Reich-style minimalism surfing over James Brown funk ... thoroughly hypnotic.’ the times
£17(£15); £13(£11) Promoted by St George’s Bristol 30 Box Office 0845 40 24 001
Become a Friend of St George’s Bristol today play your part... ...and help us play ours
“ You have a really special venue in your midst, so please give it your support.” NICOLA BENEDETTI
www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk 31
St George’s Bristol is one of the country’s leading concert halls. It boasts a superb acoustic and unique atmosphere which attracts the world’s best artists. A full and vibrant programme, with over 200 events each year, makes it an incredibly popular and important venue for all kinds of music.
©Gary Wallis
“ Great audiences and a great vibe. If you love music then support this great venue.” COURTNEY PINE 32 Box Office 0845 40 24 001
St George’s is also a charity dedicated to promoting high quality music to diverse audiences. We do this by offering the best classical, jazz, folk, blues and world music as well as family concerts and talks. We rely on ticket sales and venue hire to meet much of our annual running costs of £1 million, receiving public funding of just £30,000. Each year we are faced with a shortfall of around £300,000 which must be raised from donations and Friends subscriptions.
By becoming a Friend, you can help keep St George’s alive.
Without this support, we could not put on the breadth and quality of music that our audiences enjoy. We could not run our award-winning education programmes which are encouraging new generations to enjoy and make music. And we would struggle to maintain the wonderful Grade II* listed building that is home to such incredible talent.
Become a Friend from £30 a year. Support St George’s and enjoy great benefits...
• Advanced mailing of each season’s brochure • Priority booking ahead of the general public • Pre-season Director’s talks • Regular newsletters
©www.cambridgejones.com
For Friends who are able to support at a greater level and wish to spread their payments, we offer a regular giving option from £5 per month. Your support will help St George’s: • Maintain and develop our world class programme of music that has broad appeal • Continue to develop exciting education programmes to inspire new generations of music lovers • Carry out essential works to maintain the Grade II* listed venue • Plan for a sustainable future
“ St George’s is a real gem, the minute you walk through the doors you know you’re somewhere special where anything might happen.” CERYS MATTHEWS www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk 33
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Every adult ticket price includes a suggested voluntary donation of £1 to help secure our future.
migrations
Friday 12 March 8pm
Joscho Stephan: Django Legacy Probably the best current exponent of the classic Django Reinhardt style, as heard on his album, ‘Django Legacy’, young German guitarist Joscho Stephan burns up the the best fret board with a dazzling Probably current exponent of the speed of light runs. He also bends classic Django Reinhardt style, as heard on notes further than you ever thought his album, ‘Django Legacy’, young German a note could be Stephan bent, leaving guitarist Joscho burns up the fret amateur instrumentalists gaping board with a dazzling speed of light runs. in astonishment. He also bends notes further than you ever thought notehe could bent, leaving amateur Last timeaout, was be unbelievable. instrumentalists gaping in astonishment. This time, celebrating Django’s 100th birthday with a special trio performance Last time out, he was unbelievable. This time, of his familyDjango’s band (father Gunther plays celebrating 100th birthday with a rhythm),trio it’sperformance going to be Djantastic! special of his family band (father Gunther plays rhythm), it’s going to be Djantastic!
...in the festival bar
Saturday 13 March 7.30pm
The Eduardo Niebla Experience A formidable Flamenco-jazz guitar virtuoso, Eduardo Niebla is the master of today’s generation; technically superb, breathtakingly versatile, supernaturally talented. Inspired by tours to India, the Middle East and his adopted Yorkshire homeland, Eduardo presents his stunning new album in memory of his mother – intricately brilliant, passionate Flamenco infused with a myriad of eastern colours and a Gypsy-jazz edge. Ideally partnered by the brilliant tabla of Dharmesh Parmar and the rhythmical accompaniment of Ricardo Garcia, this is an amazing opportunity to hear world class guitar playing at its very best. ‘A formidable guitarist and a musically fluent master of today’s generation.’ songlines
Join us for an after-show party/music session. £17(£15); £13(£11); £11(£9)
£20(£18); £16(£14); £11(£9) Under 18s £6; Under 12s FREE
Promoted by St George’s Bristol www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk 35
migrations
Wednesday 17 March 8pm
Sierra Maestra
Cuba’s greatest traditional son (salsa to you) nine-piece orquesta famed worldwide for their jangling tres-guitars, tootling trumpet and rattling percussion. Formed 33 years ago at Havana University by Afro-Cuban All Stars and Buena Vista Social Club legend Juan de Marcos Gonzales, Sierra Maestra were responsible for the revival of interest in old-style dance music that paved the way for the huge success of Cuban music in recent years. Don’t forget your dancing shoes. £19(£17); £15(£13); £11(£9) Promoted by St George’s Bristol 36 Box Office 0845 40 24 001
...in the festival bar
Join us for an after-show party/music session.
Every adult ticket price includes a suggested voluntary donation of £1 to help secure our future.
lunchtime classics
late notes folk
Thursday 18 March 1pm
Friday 19 March 8pm
Soloists of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment: Beethoven III
Spiro
Mozart Flute Quartet in C Schubert String Trio Beethoven S erenade for Flute, Violin & Viola Op 25
High-octane, essentially English, beautifully brilliant folk music of sublime individuality
In this, the third in their series of concerts for BBC Radio 3, some of the top soloists of the OAE gather for engagingly fresh readings of three captivating chamber works. For Mozart’s Flute Quartet, flautist Lisa Beznosiuk’s needle-sharp delineation and robust attack are matched by gutsy string playing; the String Trio is wonderful, perfectly evoking the candlelit rooms and intimate music-making of Schubert’s time; Beethoven’s witty and altogether captivating Serenade is performed here with deft artistry and ineffable delight.
Following its superb debut on Peter Gabriel’s Real World label and triumphant, tent-busting WOMAD performance, the number – and calibre – of people queuing to sing the praises of Bristol-based Spiro is surely the envy of any band. ‘Acoustic-folk four-piece for people who can’t abide acousticfolk four-pieces, and those who can.’ the word
With its roots deep in the music of the British Isles, Spiro gives a darker, edgier twist to traditional dance with breathtakingly moving melodies repeating and interweaving, while the majestically sweeping rhythms invoke cinematic minimalism. The result is uniquely theirs, transcending Spiro’s strings plus squeezebox set-up: an emotionally charged, beguiling and spirit-reviving musical experience like no other.
Recorded for future transmission on BBC Radio 3.
£8(£6 for children and students, free for Jobseekers). All seats unreserved.
£15(£13); £11(£9)
Promoted by St George’s Bristol
Promoted by St George’s Bristol www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk 37
Saturday 20 March 7.30pm
Sunday 21 March 4.30pm
Monday 22 March 7.30pm
The Red Maids’ School 375th Anniversary Concert
Sherborne Schools’ Symphony Orchestra
Excellent! Music & Dance South West
Stephen Browne Director of Music
John Jenkins conductor
The Red Maids’ School celebrates its 375th Anniversary with a concert featuring music for Wind Band, String Orchestra and its highly-acclaimed Chamber Choir. Individual performers include former pupil Ada Kan (piano) who studied at the Royal Academy of Music. The concert ends with Vivaldi’s popular Gloria.
Comprising musicians from five secondary schools, the Sherborne Schools’ Symphony Orchestra is delighted to return for its biennial concert at St George’s.
Former Red Maids and boys from brother school QEH join current pupils – including girls from The Red Maids’ Junior School – to make this a truly memorable evening.
This year’s programme contrasts music by three English composers: Gordon Jacob, Kenneth Leighton and Philip Lane, as well as music by Glinka – the exquisite Karamiskaya – the last movement of Dvorˇák’s 8th Symphony and Sibelius’ evocative portrayal of Finnish folklore and landscape, the Karelia Suite. Part of a national celebration of exceptionally talented young musicians and dancers, performers from South West Music School, Wells Cathedral School and Youth Dance Academy are joined by students from the RWCMD Junior Department to stage a spectacular, truly Excellent! evening. The programme includes a wide range of styles, from contemporary to urban dance,
£11(£4)
38 Box Office 0845 40 24 001
Free Admission
£13(£11); £11(£9); £9(£7); Under 18s £6
Tickets for this concert are available at the door from 3pm on the day of the concert. All seats unreserved.
Supported by the Department for Children, Schools & Families, Music & Dance Scheme
Every adult ticket price includes a suggested voluntary donation of £1 to help secure our future.
Tuesday 23 March 7.30pm
Wednesday 24 March 7.30pm
Bristol Cathedral Choir School Gala Concert
Bristol Grammar School
The senior ensembles of the country’s first music specialist academy, including the choristers of Bristol Cathedral, return to St George’s with another varied and exciting programme.
The spring concert from Bristol Grammar School is always much anticipated by performers and audience alike.
£9(£5)
£7.50(£5.50)
Featuring the best of the school’s musical talent in an array of ensembles, it promises, as always, to be a superb evening.
original singer/songwriter material, classical soloists and songs from West End musicals. The evening also features the unique folkinspired duo of Ben & Alfie Weedon, RWCMD Junior Department Jazz Ensemble and the WCS Chamber Orchestra performing Mendelssohn’s Symphony No 4.
www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk 39
migrations
Thursday 25 March 8pm
Cimmarón
Dynamite roots with a real kick, Colombian seven-piece Cimarrón play joropo, a high velocity festive dance music from Los Llanos – the vast Orinoco plains which stretch from Colombia into Venezuela. This is cattle rearing country, where life revolves around country ranches and music accompanies the working day, and Cimmarón have spent the past twenty years perfecting it. Expect hot, driving rhythms and virtuoso displays of rippling melodies played on harp, bandola and cuatro, accompanied by bass and maracas, not to mention the high pitched voices reminiscent of Andalusian Gypsy roots. Fierce.
£17(£15); £13(£11); £11(£9) Promoted by St George’s Bristol 40 Box Office 0845 40 24 001
...in the festival bar
Join us for an after-show party/music session.
Every adult ticket price includes a suggested voluntary donation of £1 to help secure our future.
shostakovich series
Saturday 27 March 7.30pm
Sunday 28 March 7.30pm
BRISTOL ENSEMBLE )
Gorgeous Big Horns Big Band
A concert that introduces the lighter side of Shostakovich! Photographs of Shostakovich usually depict a serious and troubled man, but there was also a more relaxed and playful side to him that entered into the spirit of ‘light music’ with enjoyment and enthusiasm. The Bristol Ensemble (formerly Emerald Ensemble) takes this aspect of Shostakovich as its inspiration for the choice of pieces in tonight’s programme. There are excerpts from the music he wrote for his ballets and film scores, drawing in football teams and swashbuckling heroes, and music that has more recently found popularity through films such as Kubrick’s ‘Eyes Wide Shut’ and numerous television series. There are movements too from the wonderful Jazz Suites, and Tahiti Trot – in which the young Shostakovich took up the challenge to orchestrate Tea for Two in less than an hour and produced a popular hit for dance bands in just 40 minutes flat! £19(£17); £17(£15); £15(£13); £11(£9)
A Big Band Exhibition: Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Woody Herman, Charles Mingus, Stan Kenton, Buddy Rich and Quincy Jones The Gorgeous Big Horns Big Band returns to St George’s with a stunning version of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition arranged by father and son Clare and Brent Fischer. Clare Fischer has written for Dizzy Gillespie, Prince, Natalie Cole, Chaka Khan and Branford Marsalis amongst others and, from the opening promenade to the towering gate of Kiev, these famous Pictures have been exquisitely reworked to create a new jazz masterpiece. GBH also presents a gallery of big band classics by masters of the last fifty years, from Ellington to Quincy Jones. ‘Breathtaking solos ...GBH is packed with outstanding young players ... a terrific sound’ wiltshire times
£15(£13); £13(£11); £11(£9); £9(£7)
Promoted by St George’s Bristol www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk 41
Every adult ticket price includes a suggested voluntary donation of £1 to help secure our future.
jazz (not jazz)
Thursday 1 April 8pm
Dan Berglund’s TONBRUKET Former e.s.t. bassist and co-creator Dan Berglund follows the release of his debut solo album by touring a new band drawing on his extensive experience in both jazz and rock. After the untimely death of Esbjörn Svensson in a diving accident in June 2008, Dan and drummer Magnus Ostrom decided it was impossible to continue in another trio. Dan accordingly put together this quartet of fellow Swedes to play original music that he describes as stretching from e.s.t. to Pink Floyd, Royksopp to Arvo Part.
£19(£17); £15(£13) Promoted by St George’s Bristol 42 Box Office 0845 40 24 001
late notes folk
Thursday 8 April 8pm
Mark Latimer piano
Vashti Bunyan plus The Cedar
J S Bach Italian Concerto Chopin Allegro de Concert Alkan Concerto for Solo Piano
The legend: singer/songwriter Vashti Bunyan recorded one of the most retrospectivelyrevered of all British folk albums, ‘Just Another Diamond Day’, in 1970, then disappeared from view for 30 years. Following its re-release on CD, Vashti was sought out by new folktroubadours such as Devendra Bandhart, Joanna Newsom and Adem and belatedly recorded a follow-up, ‘Lookaftering’.
The fascinating, eclectic pianist Mark Latimer celebrates three great keyboard masters: Bach, Chopin and the formidable Alkan. Part of the Border Bicentenary Project (celebrating the 200th birthdays of Chopin, Liszt and Alkan), Latimer deftly illustrates the richness of the concerto form in these solo works. Ten years after recording Alkan’s formidable Concerto for Solo Piano live and unedited, Latimer revisits territory both rich and daunting for performer and listener. A contrast between liner and yacht, Bach’s beautiful and refined Italian Concerto, opens the concert, with Chopin’s rarely heard Allegro de Concert bridging the gap.
©Whyn Lewis
Wednesday 7 April 7.30pm
Since then, there’s been a film of her life; she appeared at Massive Attack’s Meltdown as part of the live soundtrack to ‘Blade Runner’; there are even rumours of a new album. And tonight she’s playing St George’s, supported by Bristol’s own fabulous cult attraction, The Cedar.
£21(£19); £18(£16); £16(£14); £12(£10)
£19(£17); £15(£13); £11(£9)
Supported by Border Bicentenary Project
Promoted by St George’s Bristol www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk 43
©Gary Blake
lunchtime classics
Saturday 10 April 7.30pm
Sunday 11 April 1pm – 10.30pm
Bristol Cabot Choir and The Bristol Ensemble
Bristol Music Showcase
Soloists of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment: Beethoven IV
Ben England conductor Helen Massey soprano Ian Yemm tenor Martin Le Poidevin bass
Alchemizing diverse elements of the Bristol music scene into the most distinctive festival day, this pre-eminent music showcase is endowed with an embarrassment of sonic riches: The Shrinks’ impressive musical pedigree and wonderfully maverick ‘Avonicana’; Miss Cecily’s jazz-tinged, Flamenco-inflected sound world, captured with the sparkle and elegant poise of a Mary Ford; Jemma Rycroft’s sultry, beautifully understated acoustic lounge-songs; Mark Venus’ raucous countryrock and achingly regretful ballads; and Inu’s breathtaking empathy for the traditions of Celtic and Balkan music making, with its blistering jigs and muscular black dog ballads.
Mozart ‘Kegelstadt’ Trio for Clarinet, Viola & Piano Beethoven ‘Eyeglass’ Duo for Viola and Cello Trio for Clarinet, Cello and Piano Op 11
Haydn The Seasons Bristol Cabot Choir, accompanied by the Bristol Ensemble (formerly Emerald Ensemble), performs Haydn’s The Seasons, conducted by Ben England, with soloists Helen Massey, Ian Yemm and Martin Le Poidevin. This work, first performed in 1801, describes the four seasons of the year as experienced by farmer Simon, his daughter Jane, and her lover Lucas. Two hundred years on, the themes of Haydn’s work are just as relevant today, as we are reminded to embrace the best that each season offers.
Thursday 15 April 1pm
The lunchtime celebration of Beethoven finishes with his charming Eyeglass Duo, a piece which exudes a sense of sheer playfulness, and the Trio, one of Beethoven’s most lyrically lighthearted chamber works. A robust, empathic performance, full of confidence and vigour. Recorded for future transmission on BBC Radio 3.
For full programme and running times please visit us online: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk.
Senior Citizen’s Flexi Series Ticket and Series Ticket available. See p62 £19(£17); £17(£15); £14(£12); £11(£9)
£7 day ticket
£8(£6 for children and students, free for Jobseekers). All seats unreserved.
Supported by Paragon Concert Society
Promoted by Jelli Records. Supported by BCFM Radio.
Promoted by St George’s Bristol
44 Box Office 0845 40 24 001
Every adult ticket price includes a suggested voluntary donation of £1 to help secure our future.
migrations / sunday world series
Sunday 18 April 3pm
Bristol Classical Players
DOUBLE BILL: Claudia Aurora / Kooch
Diana Ionescu piano Tom Gauterin conductor
A subtly intense, exquisitely passionate music double-bill, possessed of the raw heat of the radical traditions of Portugal and Iran.
Mendelssohn Hebrides Overture Schumann Piano Concerto in A minor Brahms Symphony No 3 in F The Bristol Classical Players’ second season, following on from their successful Beethoven cycle, focuses on the four symphonies of Johannes Brahms. Brahms greatly admired Mendelssohn and his friend Schumann, whose famous seascape and beautiful piano concerto are followed tonight by Brahms’ most lyrical and complex symphony.
£13(£11); £11(£9); £9(£7); £7(£5)
Porto-born Claudia Aurora Magalhaes da Silva enraptures with the spine-tingling emotion of her mournful fado torch songs. Backed by a classic fado guitar duo, her extraordinary voice, drenched in a sadness that courses through the audience, gives the soaring sound of Portugal dramatic expression.
Whilst the modern music of North Africa and Israel are increasingly known to festivals such as WOMAD, contemporary IranianAzerbaijani music retains its mystery. Here, the charismatic singer/guitarist Cyrus Khajavi, his dusty clarity of voice and stinging acoustic guitar recalling Richard Thompson, leads the phenomenal Kooch, its evocative Middle Eastern ethereality, beautiful, insistent folk rhythms and reflective, Iranian vocals, packing a powerful charge.
£13(£5) Promoted by St George’s Bristol www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk 45
©Gary Jones
Saturday 17 April 7.30pm
jazz (not jazz)
Thursday 22 April 8pm
Triquetra Trio
John Law’s Art of Sound Trio with Sam Burgess and Asaf Sirkis
Works by John Anthony Lennon, Joe Cutler, Adrienne Albert, Liduino Pitombeira and Brenton Broadstock
The best kept secret in British jazz
That the youthful Triquetra Trio seems destined for greatness requires no explanation. This group shines out for the brilliance of its playing, its inventive programmes, and it’s unique line-up of saxophone, cello and piano. Exploring beautifully crafted, imaginative works by contemporary English, American, Brazilian and Australian composers, the Triquetra Trio’s distinctive voice penetrates to the heart of this rich and interesting recital.
Named after the Artesueno studio in Udine, Italy where their two amazing albums (plus Law’s solo work) have been recorded, this is a trio able to stand alongside those of Keith Jarrett and Brad Mehldau as among the very best the format can offer. Drawing on Bach and the baroque as well as the lyrical flights of fancy associated with Jarrett’s Koln Concert, pianist/composer Law with Burgess on double bass and Sirkis on drums, percussion and hang-drum alternate deliciously dreamy ambient-soundscapes with impassioned soloing. The concert will be performed acoustically.
Senior Citizen’s Flexi Series Ticket and Series Ticket available. See p62 £7(£5 for children and students, free for Jobseekers). All seats unreserved.
£13(£11); £11(£9)
Promoted by St George’s Bristol
Promoted by St George’s Bristol
46 Box Office 0845 40 24 001
‘If there’s one ensemble on the British scene that wows you with sheer technical brilliance, it’s surely this one.’ the daily telegraph
©Andy Webb
lunchtime classics
Thursday 22 April 1pm
Every adult ticket price includes a suggested voluntary donation of £1 to help secure our future.
shostakovich series
Friday 23 April 7.30pm
ST GEORGE’S DAY CONCERT:
THE MARIINSKY BRASS ENSEMBLE Aleksey Repnikov conductor The Mariinsky Brass Ensemble brings together the very crème de la crème of brass players – the twelve prize winning brass soloists, and not forgetting the percussionist, from Valery Gergiev’s world-renowned Mariinsky Orchestra. Making a detour to Bristol as part of its world tour in 2010, this concert slips naturally into our Shostakovich series by picking up on a whole series of Russian connections, beginning with an arrangement of Shostakovich’s Festival Overture and taking in a succession of exhilarating works, from Tchaikovsky’s Romeo & Juliet, Rimsky Korsakov’s Night on a Bare Mountain and the opening of Shostakovich’s Seventh Symphony, before ending with Mussorsgsky’s fantastical Pictures at an Exhibition.
‘These legendary brass players are renowned for the power, virtuosity and white-hot intensity of their playing.’
What a way to celebrate our birthday!
£29(£27); £25(£23); £19(£17); £13(£11) Promoted by St George’s Bristol www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk 47
lunchtime classics
Thursday 29 April 1pm
Saturday 1 May 7.30pm
Schubert Ensemble: Exploring Schumann’s Piano Quartet
Clare Teal
The Schubert Ensemble draws on its many years of experience working as a team to explore one of the key works of its repertoire in front of an audience.
Never one to disappoint, like a true perennial flower, Clare Teal returns this spring with a brand new tour and a brand new show featuring material just recorded, plus selections from her impressive back catalogue – a glorious mix of standards, classics and originals from the albums spanning her highly successful career.
In the first half hour of this one hour event the Ensemble will play excerpts from the Quartet to illustrate how Schumann achieves the drama, passion and beauty of line and texture in this work; in the second half hour, they will give a concert performance of the entire work. Please note: There will be an opportunity to talk with the Ensemble and to ask questions after the performance.
The multi award-winning singersongwriter, Radio 2 presenter and columnist brings her unique blend of humour and great music to the stage backed by the finest jazz musicians in the land. Led by the dynamic young Australian composer, conductor and pianist Grant Windsor, this show certainly swings. Not to be missed.
Senior Citizen’s Flexi Series Ticket and Series Ticket available. See p62 £8 (£6 for children and students, free for Jobseekers). All seats unreserved. Promoted by St George’s Bristol 48 Box Office 0845 40 24 001
“Wonderful. Worth raving about.” sir michael parkinson Advanced Tickets: £19(£17); On the Door: £21(£19)
Every adult ticket price includes a suggested voluntary donation of £1 to help secure our future.
Sunday 2 May 7pm
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
MONTEVERDI 1610 VESPERS Robin Howarth conductor Choir of the Enlightenment Monteverdi’s 1610 Vespers is one of the truly towering achievements of western classical music, and the Orchestra and Choir of the Age of Enlightenment join together this evening for a special 400th anniversary year performance of this sumptuous work. The Vespers is a fascinating musical experience and a piece of paradoxes too: monumental, yet intimate and spiritual; secular, yet extraordinarily theatrical given the religious subject matter. Above all, it is a richly satisfying and deeply moving piece of music that remains startling despite the passing of four centuries. Pre-concert Talk 5.45pm – 6.15pm An introduction to the Vespers with Robert Howarth, including musical illustrations. Free for ticket holders. £33(£31); £27(£25); £19(£17); £13(£11) Promoted by St George’s Bristol in association with www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk 49
festival of ideas
lunchtime classics
migrations
Wednesday 5 May 6pm – 7pm
Thursday 6 May 1pm
Thursday 6 May 8pm
Peter Singer:
Jane Ng violin with Fei Ren piano
Tango Siempre: Malandras Del Tango
Mozart Violin Sonata in G KV 301 Brahms Violin Sonata No 1 in G Op 78 Jane Ng The Pagoda of Dreams (arr violin & piano)
Victor Villena bandoneon Guillermo Rozenthuler voice
Animal Liberation 35 Years On The 2010 Tom Ewer Memorial Lecture ©Derek Goodwin
Peter Singer is one of the world’s great philosophers. His Animal Liberation, published 35 years ago, immediately became a classic, contributing to the rise of the modern animal movement. It remains in print worldwide, and continues to have wide influence. In this special lecture, Peter Singer looks at the progress of animal liberation 35 years on, examines changing attitudes to farm animals and animal experimentation in that time, and reflects on the development and future of animal liberation philosophy and action. Peter Singer, Ira W. DeCamp Professor of Bioethics at Princeton University, and Laureate Professor at the Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics, University of Melbourne, is the author of many books including the classic Animal Liberation; Practical Ethics; How Are We to Live?; A Darwinian Left; One World; Eating; and, most recently, The Life You Can Save.
£6.50(£4.50) (£1 donation does not apply) A Bristol Festival of Ideas event in association with St George’s Bristol 50 Box Office 0845 40 24 001
Immerse yourself in a life enhancing performance of life affirming music: Malaysian violinist Jane Ng and her perceptive pianist Fei Ren are ideal partners, bringing a charmingly fresh approach to Mozart’s Sonata; and, passionate Brahms interpreters both, play like a single mind in a vivid account of the gloriously lyrical Sonata No 1. They then deliver a mesmerising version of Ng’s own The Pagoda of Dreams. A revelatory voyage of discovery by two stellar artists.
Imagine the lush, passionate tango-nights of Buenos Aires in the 30s and 40s, alive with the voice of Carlos Gardel and the intertwining sounds of bandoneon and strings. This exciting new project from the Tango Siempre septet, augmented by their Argentinian guests Villena and Rozenthuler, evokes both the romance and sensuality of classic tango and Astor Piazzolla’s radical deconstruction of it. The concert will be performed acoustically, including vocals.
...in the festival bar
Senior Citizen’s Flexi Series Ticket and Series Ticket available. See p62
Join us for an after-show party/music session.
£7(£5 for children and students, free for Jobseekers). All setas unreserved.
£17(£15); £13(£11); £11(£9)
Promoted by St George’s Bristol
Promoted by St George’s Bristol
Saturday 8 May 7.30pm
Exultate Singers David Ogden conductor Exultate Chamber Orchestra Mozart Mass in C minor ‘The Great’ Lauridsen Midwinter Songs Corigliano Fern Hill Bristol’s accomplished chamber choir with its newly-formed vibrant chamber orchestra of outstanding musicians perform Mozart’s Mass in C Minor, packed with virtuosic solo and choral writing. Two choral symphonies by American composers complete the programme. Morten Lauridsen’s Midwinter Songs is a five movement work of soaring lyricism setting deeply moving words by Robert Graves. Fern Hill, by the 20th century composer John Corigliano, sets the words of Dylan Thomas. The music is distinctively American, tuneful and romantic, full of colour and expression.
£21(£19); £17(£15); £14(£12); £9(£7) £6 Under 18s & Students Every adult ticket price includes a suggested voluntary donation of £1 to help secure our future. www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk 51
lunchtime classics
Wednesday 12 May 6.15pm
Thursday 13 May 1pm
Einstein’s Universe
Sophia Lisovskaya piano
Combining musical virtuosity with scientific endeavour, Professor Brian Foster (Head of Particle Physics at Oxford University) and musician Jack Liebeck regularly collaborate on events that highlight Einstein’s love of the violin and how his ideas have shaped our modern view of the Universe. 6.15pm – 7.45pm Lecture Discover more about many of the concepts of modern physics that Einstein did so much to found: Relativity; E=mc2; the discovery of radioactivity; plus Einstein’s role in understanding the atom and the ways in which his theories are being addressed through work with the Large Hadron Collider at CERN in Geneva. The lecture is punctuated by interludes of music related to Einstein.
8.15pm – 9.15pm Jack Liebeck violin and Ashley Wass piano Mozart Sonata in B flat KV454 Brahms Sonata in G Op 78 Bloch ‘Nigun’ from the Baal Shem Suite An imaginative programme of music associated with Einstein and performed by two of the country’s leading musicians: Jack Liebeck, Classical Brit nominee; and Ashley Wass, first British pianist to win top prize at the World Piano Competition and a young artist who already has eight CDs of solo piano music to his credit. ‘The name is not Vengerov or Benedetti: it’s Liebeck. And those who know a thing or two about the violin know to be there.’ the times
Scarlatti Sonata in D K119 Schumann Sonata in G minor Op 22 Schumann/Liszt Widmung S566 Chopin M azurka in E minor Op 17 No 2 Barcarolle in F sharp Op 60 Scriabin Feuillet d’album; Désir and Caresse Dancée; Vers La Flamme Russian pianist Sophia Lisovskaya’s outstanding playing seizes the gamut of emotion contained in Scarlatti’s colourful Sonata her interpretative powers are brought to the fore in Chopin’s intimate and serene Mazurka; and her meticulous skill never wavers in a powerful performance, full of expression and dramatic edge, that embraces the kaleidoscopic detail and prodigious technical difficulty of Scriabin’s sensuous Vers La Flamme. A stunning recital.
©Richard Lea-Hair
Senior Citizen’s Flexi Series Ticket and Series Ticket available. See p62 £13; (Young people aged 8–22 years in full time education pay just £2 when quoting the Cavatina Music scheme).
£7(£5 for children and students, free for jobseekers). All seats unreserved.
Promoted by St George’s Bristol in association with Bristol Festival of Ideas
Promoted by St George’s Bristol
52 Box Office 0845 40 24 001
Every adult ticket price includes a suggested voluntary donation of £1 to help secure our future.
late notes folk
Thursday 13 May 8pm TRIPLE BILL:
Nancy Elizabeth / Hauschka / James Blackshaw ©Harold Thompson
Strange and magical triple-bill of new wave folk experimentalists. Nancy Elizabeth: stark, fatalistic, marvellously gloomy songs from Lancastrian signee to the ultra-hip Leaf label, described as “the best thing to come out of Wigan since Poole’s pies”. Hauschka: prepared piano-specialist from Dusseldorf whose twinkling soundscapes reference Cage, Satie and Balinese gamelan. Blackshaw: 12-string guitar instrumentalist compared to Bert Jansch and John Fahey. As well as performing solo the artists will also guest with each other.
©Shoko Ishikwa
©Estelle Klawitter
£13 Promoted by St George’s Bristol www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk 53
Every adult ticket price includes a suggested voluntary donation of £1 to help secure our future.
migrations
Saturday 15 May 6pm
Sandeep Raval Sandeep Raval is one of the most versatile multi-instrumentalists and composers performing in the UK today. Following his classical training in dolak and tabla Sandeep now creates extraordinary new sounds using a wide range of percussive instruments. Having composed for large scale shows such as ‘Blessing’ in 2005 and performing in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘Bombay Dreams’, this national tour showcases Sandeep’s global sound. Fusing Indian classical and folk music with electronic beats, Eastern percussion and jazz, this music is enchanting and exciting. Performing tracks from his latest album, ‘Mosaic in Motion’, with his full band, Swar Vishvam, this concert promises to ignite the senses. Pre-concert Workshop 4.30pm – 5pm Sandeep Raval hosts a drum circle workshop before the concert. Tickets £3 £17(£15); £13(£11); £11(£9) Promoted by Asian Arts Agency in association with St George’s Bristol 54 Box Office 0845 40 24 001
Sunday 16 May 2.30pm & 8pm
Wednesday 19 May 7.30pm
Gasworks Choir
Juan Martin Flamenco Dance Ensemble
Dee Jarlett and Alison Orbaum directors
‘A giant of the Flamenco guitar tradition’ the times ©Nick White
Regular performers at St George’s, this hugely popular 150-strong community choir returns for its spring concert. The members of Gasworks like to surprise the audience with their diverse repertoire encompassing pop, folk, jazz, classical and world music. Expect an uplifting and heart warming hour of entertainment with many original arrangements.
Voted into the top Flamenco guitarists in the world by US Guitar Player magazine, Juan Martin returns to perform his own compositions, supported by a line-up of the finest musicians and Flamenco dancers. Matinee: £6.50(£5); Evening: £7.50(£6) All seats unreserved.
Martin’s ensemble is at the vanguard of modern Flamenco, with a unique style of music that succeeds in embracing classical, jazz and modern harmonies while upholding the great Flamenco tradition.
£19(£18); £17(£16)
www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk 55
late notes folk
Thursday 20 May 1pm
Thursday 20 May 8pm
Lucille Burns and the Franke Ensemble
Luka Bloom
Villa-Lobos The Jet Whistle Henri Tomasi Invocations et Danses Rituelles Ravel Introduction and Allegro
The younger brother of Irish music legend Christy Moore, singer-songwriter Luka Bloom made his reputation first in Ireland (as Barry Moore) and then in the USA, where he built up a reputation as one of the foremost contemporary folk and folk-rock performers in the clubs of Washington DC and New York’s Greenwich Village.
Ravel’s dazzling Introduction and Allegro forms the backbone of this wonderful and captivating recital by Portland-born flautist Lucille Burns and the Franke Ensemble. Revealing the full elegance and refinement of Ravel’s piece, this flawless performance, its tremendous solo harp exquisitely played by Victoria Davies, makes time stand still. ‘A brilliant and sensitive performance … intimate, tender and tranquil.’ bristol evening post
With influences from Gypsy and world music, a plectrum-guitar style favouring DADGAD tuning and a rhythmic, rocking sound, Bloom is a powerful live performer whose UK dates occur very rarely. He’s also probably the only Irish folk performer to cover a song by LL Cool J (‘I Need Love’).
Senior Citizen’s Flexi Series Ticket and Series Ticket available. See p62 £7(£5 for children and students, free for Jobseekers). All seats unreserved.
£17(£15); £13(£11); £11(£9)
Promoted by St George’s Bristol
Promoted by St George’s Bristol
56 Box Office 0845 40 24 001
©Bart Denolf
lunchtime classics
Every adult ticket price includes a suggested voluntary donation of £1 to help secure our future.
Friday 21 May 7.30pm
Chamber Orchestra of Basel with Angela Hewitt piano Julia Schröder director
Few pianists are more closely identified with the music of J S Bach than Angela Hewitt: her award-winning recordings of Bach’s major keyboard works were acclaimed by The Sunday Times as ‘one of the record glories of our age’, and her Bach World Tour led to sell-out performances in 25 countries, a huge audience following and the accolade of ‘pre-eminent Bach pianist of our time’ (The Guardian). For her return visit to St George’s, Angela Hewitt is joined by the distinguished Chamber Orchestra of Basel to perform three of Bach’s magical keyboard concertos.
©Peter Searle
J S Bach Keyboard Concerto No 3 in D BWV 1054 Frank Martin Pavane Couleur du Temps (1920) J S Bach Keyboard Concerto No 7 in G minor BWV 1058 Frank Martin Etudes for String Orchestra J S Bach Keyboard Concerto No 1 in D minor BWV 1052
‘The Canadian pianist is one of the reliably mesmerising musicians of the day. You sit entranced … it would have been more accurate to say I was floating just below the ceiling.’ the sunday times
£29(£27); £25(£23); £19(£17); £13(£11) Promoted by St George’s Bristol in association with
www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk 57
lunchtime classics
jazz (not jazz)
Saturday 22 May 7.45pm
Thursday 27 May 1pm
Thursday 27 May 8pm
Brandon Hill Chamber Orchestra
Masumi Yamamoto and Takako Minami harpsichords
Portico Quartet
Kevin Griffiths conductor Charlie Siem violin
Johann Ludwig K rebs Concerto in A minor François Couperin Selection from ‘Neuvieme Ordre’ J S Bach Concerto in C BWV 1061
Schubert ‘Rosamunde’ Overture Sibelius Violin Concerto in D minor Beethoven Symphony No 7 in A Dynamic violin virtuoso Charlie Siem joins the Brandon Hill Chamber Orchestra for a performance of Sibelius’ Violin Concerto – ambitious in scale, full of passages of instrumental brilliance and the only concerto ever written by the composer. Schubert’s delightful Overture to the ‘Rosamunde’ ballet opens the evening, while the second half is occupied by one of the greatest inventive symphonies ever written: Beethoven’s Seventh.
£15(£14); £13(£12)
58 Box Office 0845 40 24 001
Masumi Yamamoto and Takako Minami bring astonishing virtuosity and remarkable presence to the rare and arresting soundscape of the harpsichord duo: their graceful playing vividly alive to the wit, charm, and descriptive power of François Couperin’s enchanting French Baroque Ordres and J S Bach’s Concerto, one of his earliest concertos for the instrument. Here is keyboard-playing of the highest order, of exquisite subtlety and refinement, in unfamiliar repertoire long due a sympathetic hearing. Post-concert Talk 2.15pm – 2.45pm Please stay on for an on-stage harpsichord demonstration and talk by Masumi Yamamoto immediately following today’s concert.
The perfect conclusion to our Jazz (Not Jazz) season With their acclaimed second album, the fabulous ‘Isla’, Portico Quartet have defined the new possibilities of improvised experimental music for the next generation. Produced by John Leckie (Radiohead etc), ‘Isla’ represents a new, more confident Portico, with an intensely textured and dynamic sound flowing between saxophone,
£7(£5 for children and students, free for Jobseekers). All seats unreserved.
£16(£14); £13(£11)
Promoted by St George’s Bristol
Promoted by St George’s Bristol
©Toby Summerskill
Every adult ticket price includes a suggested voluntary donation of £1 to help secure our future.
shostakovich series
Friday 28 May 7.30pm
RAPHAEL WALLFISCH CELLO JOHN YORK PIANO Beethoven Cello Sonata in C Shostakovich Cello Sonata Op 40 Barber Cello Sonata Shostakovich Viola Sonata Powerful individual players both, Raphael Wallfisch and John York are also one of Britain’s most talented cello and piano duos, performing with beauty, passion and control. Expect an electrifying rapport as they bring St George’s Shostakovich Series to an immaculate close. double bass, drums and hang drum (looks like a wok, sounds like a steel pan). The extra-beefy bass sound and subtle electronic shadowing recall e.s.t., while lead saxophone lines suggest the joyful spontaneity of Balkan Gypsy music. Heard live, it’s a very heady brew.
In this 100th anniversary year of his birth, Samuel Barber’s questing and passionate Cello Sonata receives a much deserved airing and, given the close friendship between the composers, it seems only fitting that it should be heard alongside Shostakovich’s own Cello Sonata, a work of mournful lyricism with hints of mordant wit. The series ends with a cello performance of Shostakovich’s Viola Sonata, the composer’s
last musical testament, pregnant with intimations of death. Wallfisch and York are perfectly attuned not only to the music’s deep melancholy, but also to its sense of repose, the distorted folk tunes and impassioned monologues intensely sustained, the sparse piano lines vividly sure. Even Dmitri might smile...
£21(£19); £19(£17); £17(£15); £13(£11) Promoted by St George’s Bristol in association with DAVAR Jewish Cultural Institute www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk 59
Every adult ticket price includes a suggested voluntary donation of £1 to help secure our future.
lunchtime classics
Thursday 3 June 1pm
Friday 25 June 7.30pm
Alexander Douglas piano
Mark Padmore tenor Kristian Bezuidenhout piano
Alexander Douglas, one of the UK’s most enigmatic improvising pianists, takes to the St George’s stage with a programme of interpretations and improvisations on sacred music themes, starting with African-American spirituals and finishing with contemporary gospel, with Welsh hymns and Bach chorales making an appearance along the way. Rooted deeply in both the jazz and gospel traditions – and yet not fully belonging to either, this is music of deep faith and commitment.
Schumann Leiderkreiss Op 24 Lachner Selected Songs Schumann Dichterliebe (Poet’s Love) The greatest of all Schumann’s song cycles is brought vividly to life by the finest English tenor around right now, Mark Padmore, and the exciting young keyboard player Kristian Bezuidenhout. Love, passion, heartache and betrayal all find a place in Schumann’s Dichterliebe, unfolding during the course of this powerful song cycle and evoking an atmosphere of longing and uncertainty to the very end. The range and intensity of emotion and colour that Mark Padmore brings to all his performances of the songs of Schumann and Lachner is both remarkable and palpable and, as his many devotees will attest, you should prepare to be transported by the sheer beauty of his sound.
Senior Citizen’s Flexi Series Ticket and Series Ticket available. See p62 £7(£5 for children and strudents, free for Jobseekers). All seats unreserved.
£25(£23); £21(£19); £17(£15); £13(£11)
Promoted by St George’s Bristol
Promoted by St George’s Bristol
60 Box Office 0845 40 24 001
‘Padmore’s great gift, apart from his prodigious technical ability, whether to float a line with perfect legato or to enter pianissimo at the top of his range, is to sing from the soul.’ the evening standard
Thursday 1 July 7.30pm
NICOLA BENEDETTI
Pre-concert Talk 6.15pm Join Mark Padmore for a talk before the performance. Free to ticket holders.
plays Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons
with the European Union Chamber Orchestra ©Marco Borggreve
£29; £25; £19; £13 Promoted by St George’s Bristol www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk 61
Save money! MIGRATIONS PASSPORT See page 2 for details JAZZ PASS See page 4 for details SHOSTAKOVICH SERIES See page 1 for details LUNCHTIME CLASSICS Series Ticket: Book a ticket for all 14 of our Lunchtime Classics concerts and pay just £89 (including £1 levy).
The Crypt Gallery The Gallery offers tranquil surroundings in which to enjoy exhibitions by new artists each season.
Jeb Loy Nichols: The Way Out Is The Way In – Past and Future Jazz Portraits
Senior Citizen’s Flexi Ticket: Buy a ticket for any six of our 14 Lunchtime Classics concerts and pay just £36 (including £1 levy) – with no need to decide in advance which concerts you would like to attend.
From 1979 to 1982 Wyoming-born author, musician and artist Jeb Loy Nichols lived in New York, where his primary musical passions were hip hop and jazz. This collection of portraits are a tribute to those days.
UNDER 21 STANDBY TICKET The best available seats for any concert promoted by St George’s Bristol for just £5. Standby tickets are only available from our Box Office one hour before the concert start time.
Lisa Malyon: Built In Bristol
FAMILY TICKET Buy four tickets to any show displaying the Family Ticket symbol at the same time and get the lowest priced ticket free .
Celebrating the wealth of architectural styles in the city, Built in Bristol is a series of detailed pen drawings worked directly on to a collage of paper torn from Bristol publications Venue and The Spark or Chinese paper ‘money’.
CAVATINA DISCOUNTS Cavatina Chamber Music Trust works with us to introduce young people to chamber music. We are delighted to offer a £5 discount on tickets to young people aged 8 – 22 and in full-time education for any show displaying the Cavatina symbol .
Please contact our Box Office for further information and to book: 0845 40 24 001. 62 Box Office 0845 40 24 001
For customers looking to enjoy a hot meal, St George’s has teamed up with Goldbrick House – situated on the corner of Park Street and Charlotte Street – to provide an ‘Early Evening’ menu for St George’s patrons.
Exhibiting from Fri 08 Jan to Sun 04 Apr 2010.
© Lisa Malyon
Discount Terms and Conditions: See website for details.
St George’s bar, in the crypt under the hall, offers a unique space to relax with friends before and after concerts. Take your pick from our selection of specially chosen wines from nearby Averys wine cellars, plus locallyproduced beers and soft drinks as well as teas, coffees, cake and a selection of bar snacks. Plus, this spring, enjoy regular live music as our Migrations performers take over the bar after each performance.
For more details www.goldbrickhouse.co.uk. © Jeb Loy Nichols
GROUP BOOKINGS See website for details or contact our Box Office.
Harry’s Bar
Booking information Box Office opening hours Monday to Friday: 12 noon – 6pm Plus: On any day with a concert we open one and a half hours before the concert start time. On most concert days the Box Office is open until the end of the interval. When to book Patrons’ / Benefactors’ Priority Booking opens Monday 30 November 2009 Gala Friends’ Priority Booking opens Wednesday 2 December 2009 Friends’ Priority Booking opens Friday 4 December 2009 General Booking opens Monday 7 December 2009 Please note that on the first day of Friends’ Priority Booking and the first two days of General Booking the Box Office will be open from 10am – 6pm. On Saturday 5 December the Box Office will open from 12 – 5pm. How to book In person – we have a Box Office for personal callers. The entrance is on the right hand side of the building, accessible from Great George Street. By telephone 0845 40 24 001 – we accept all major credit cards (except American Express), Switch and Delta Cards. We charge £1 for each transaction where the total spend is over £15. By post – please use the booking form on page 55. Online – book online at www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk Booking fee £2 for each transaction (irrespective of the number of tickets being booked).
General information If you would like us to post your tickets to you, add 50p to your remittance. Otherwise your tickets will be held at the Box Office for collection. Concessions Concession prices are stated in brackets after the full price. These apply to those in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance or Benefits, registered disabled, senior citizens, children under 18 and full-time students. Please note only one type of concession can be claimed per ticket. Concessions cannot be used in conjunction with any special offer. Refunds Tickets are not transferable and refunds can only be offered on events which are sold out. Latecomers and readmission Admission will be offered at the first suitable break but admission and readmission cannot be guaranteed. The management reserves the right to refuse admission to any person. Children We welcome children but parents are asked to remember that some concerts, such as BBC broadcasts, may not be suitable for younger children. Babes in arms and young toddlers cannot be admitted to the auditorium for ticketed events unless otherwise stated. All children must be issued with a ticket. Data protection When you book a ticket your details are stored on our computer database. However we will only use this information to send you details of events here and at other arts venues with your permission. Data Protection Act registration number: PZ5013390
Amplification Due to the nature of our artistic programme, some events are amplified. If this causes any concern, please check with the Box Office when booking. Facilities for disabled patrons We welcome all disabled concert-goers and the venue is fully-accessible from Charlotte Street. Please mention your particular needs to the Box Office when you book and we will give you all the assistance and advice you need. Limited parking is available for disabled patrons in the adjacent car park but must be reserved in advance – call the Box Office to check availability. Sound reinforcement St George’s Bristol is equipped with an infra-red sound reinforcement system. Please ask for a headset when you arrive. Guide dogs Guide dogs are admitted to all parts of St George’s Bristol. Facilities for cyclists There are a number of bicycle racks at the Great George Street entrance to the venue. The information given in this brochure was correct at the time of going to press. Programme subject to change. Design: www.pelotondesign.co.uk Print: www.mdp-uk.com Registered Office: Great George Street, Bristol, BS1 5RR Administration: 0117 929 4929 Email: administration@stgeorgesbristol.co.uk Director: Suzanne Rolt St George’s Bristol No 2053843 Registered Charity No 295178 VAT No 821 9681 15
www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk 63
Booking Form event
date
no of tickets
Please continue on a separate sheet if necessary.
forename
total £
+50p postage or enclose a Stamped Addressed Envelope
preferred seating area / row (subject to availability) title
ticket price
surname
address
Please add an additional £1 for ticket bookings over £15 if paying by credit / debit card
Booking total
postcode
daytime telephone
email (optional)
Jobseekers Allowance / Housing Benefit Registered Disabled
I enclose a cheque made payable to St George’s Bristol or Please debit my Mastercard / Visa / Switch / Maestro (delete as appropriate)
Senior Citizen Full-time Student Child Under-18
Card number Valid from
concession (please tick appropriate box)
/
signature
Expiry date
/
date
Issue number (Switch only)
NB. Except for Senior Citizens and Children, tickets ordered at the above discount rates will be held for collection and proof of eligibility will be required.
Please return to: St George’s Bristol, Great George Street, Bristol BS1 5RR 64 Box Office 0845 40 24 001
www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk 64
Seating plan
How to find us Customers are reminded that on-street parking is strictly controlled with the nearest car park located ten minutes away on Trenchard Street.
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St George’s Bristol is located two minutes walk off Park Street and is served by frequent bus services from Temple Meads rail station: 1, 8, 8A, 9, 9A (visit the First Bus information website: www.firstgroup.com for details of the best bus for your journey). Taxis are numerous in the area and there are taxi ranks located on Park Street and Queen’s Road near Sainsbury’s. www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk 65
At a glance January pg Fri 8 8pm Resonation Big Band 07 Thu 14 8pm Nostalgia 77 / Jeb Loy Nichols / Twelves Trio 08 Fri 15 – Sun 17 Bristol Acoustic Music Festival 09 Mon 18 6pm Festival of Ideas: Stewart Brand & Brian Eno 10 Thu 21 1pm Soloists of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment 10 Thu 21 8pm Rupa & The April Fishes 11 Fri 22 7.30pm Brodsky Quartet 12 Sat 23 7.30pm Bristol Classical Players 12 Sun 24 3pm Sarah Savoy & The Francadians 13 Wed 27 7.45pm Corelli Orchestra 13 Thu 28 1pm Primrose Quartet Burns Day Concert 14 Thu 28 8pm Justin Adams & Juldeh Camara 14 Fri 29 7.30pm Mikhail Kazakevich 15 Sat 30 7.45pm Bristol Ensemble 15 Sun 31 6pm Kuljit Bhamra 16 February pg Tue 2 7.30pm Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment 16 Wed 3 8pm Carolina Chocolate Drops 17 Thu 4 1pm Chisato Kusunoki, piano 18 Thu 4 8pm Fairport Convention 18 Fri 5 7.30pm Natalie Clein, cello & Xuefei Yang, guitar 19 Sat 6 7.45pm Brandon Hill Chamber Orchestra 20 Thu 11 1pm Soloists of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment 20 Thu 11 8pm Moishe’s Bagel 20 Sat 13 7.30pm Exultate Singers: A Sense of the Divine 21 Sun 14 8pm Yasmin Levy 22 Mon 15 3.30pm The Carnival Band Holiday Concert 23 Thu 18 8pm Nils Petter Molvaer 23 Sat 20 7.30pm International Baroque Players 24 Sun 21 3pm Joglaresa: Dancing in Tetuán 24 Thu 25 1pm András Trio 24 Fri 26 7.30pm European Union Chamber Orchestra 25 Sat 27 7.30pm Bristol University Music Society 25 March pg Wed 3 6pm Festival of Ideas: Albie Sachs The Strange Alchemy of Life & Law 26 Thu 4 1pm Ishay Shaer, piano 26 Fri 5 7.30pm Rautio Piano Trio with Joan Rodgers, soprano 27 Sat 6 7.30pm Bristol Music Club Orchestra 28 Sun 7 3pm Bristol Suzuki Group 28 Wed 10 8pm Turin Brakes 28 Thu 11 1pm Young Musicians’ Showcase 29 Thu 11 8pm Nik Bärtsch’s RONIN 30 Fri 12 8pm Joscho Stephan: Django Legacy 35 Sat 13 7.30pm The Eduardo Niebla Experience 35 Wed 17 8pm Sierra Maestra 36 Thu 18 1pm Soloists of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment 37 Fri 19 8pm Spiro 37
Sat 20 7.30pm The Red Maids’ School 38 Sun 21 4.30pm Sherborne Schools’ Symphony Orchestra 38 Mon 22 7.30pm Excellent! Music & Dance South West 38 Tue 23 7.30pm Bristol Cathedral Choir School Gala Concert 39 Wed 24 7.30pm Bristol Grammar School 39 Thu 25 8pm Cimmarón 40 Sat 27 7.30pm Bristol Ensemble 41 Sun 28 7.30pm Gorgeous Big Horns Big Band 41 April pg Thu 1 8pm Dan Berglund’s TONBRUKET 42 Wed 7 7.30pm Mark Latimer, piano 43 Thu 8 8pm Vashti Bunyan plus The Cedar 43 Sat 10 7.30pm Bristol Cabot Choir & Bristol Ensemble 44 Sun 11 1pm – 10.30pm Bristol Music Showcase 44 Thu 15 1pm Soloists of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment 44 Sat 17 7.30pm Bristol Classical Players 45 Sun 18 3pm Claudia Aurora / Kooch 45 Thu 22 1pm Triquetra Trio 46 Thu 22 8pm Art of Sound Trio 46 Fri 23 7.30pm Mariinsky Brass Ensemble 47 Thu 29 1pm Schubert Ensemble 48 May pg Sat 1 7.30pm Clare Teal 48 Sun 2 7pm Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment 49 Wed 5 6pm Festival of Ideas: Peter Singer 50 Thu 6 1pm Jane Ng, violin & Fei Ren, piano 50 Thu 6 8pm Tango Siempre: Malandras Del Tango 50 Sat 8 7.30pm Exultate Singers 51 Wed 12 6.15pm Einstein’s Universe 52 Thu 13 1pm Sophia Lisovskaya, piano 52 Thu 13 8pm Nancy Elizabeth / Hauschka / James Blackshaw 53 Sat 15 6pm Sandeep Raval 54 Sun 16 2.30pm Gasworks Choir 55 Gasworks Choir 55 Sun 16 8pm Wed 19 7.30pm Juan Martin Flamenco Dance Ensemble 55 Thu 20 1pm Lucille Burns and the Franke Ensemble 56 Thu 20 8pm Luka Bloom 56 Fri 21 7.30pm Chamber Orchestra of Basel with Angela Hewitt, piano 57 Sat 22 7.45pm Brandon Hill Chamber Orchestra 58 Thu 27 1pm Masumi Yamamoto & Takako Minami, harpsichords 58 Thu 27 8pm Portico Quartet 58 Fri 28 7.30pm Raphael Wallfisch, cello & John York, piano 59 June pg Thu 3 1pm Alex Douglas, piano 60 Fri 25 7.30pm Mark Padmore, tenor & Kristian Bezuidenhout, piano 60 July pg Thu 1 7.30pm Nicola Benedetti, violin 61
Visit us www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk Box Office 0845 40 24 001 General booking opens Monday 7 December 2009
St George’s Bristol, Great George Street (off Park Street), Bristol BS1 5RR