Lunchtime Concert Series

Elixir Trio St Martin’s Chamber Music Competition semi-finalists 2010

Friday 4 November 2011 1.00pm

Suggested donation £3.50

St Martin-in-the-Fields Trafalgar Square London WC2N 4JJ Tel: 020 7766 1100 www.smitf.org

If you are unable to stay for the whole of the concert please leave during the applause. Smoking and the consumption of food and drink are not allowed in this church. Members of the audience are kindly requested to switch off mobile phones and alarms on digital watches. Photography, audio or video recording are not permitted.

Programme

St Martin-in-the-Fields is delighted to welcome back St Martin’s Chamber Music Competition semi-finalists (2010) the Elixir Trio as part of The Competition’s on-going commitment to supporting the careers of its competitors. String Trio in Bb, D. 471 Franz Schubert Allegro SCHUBERT: The String Trio in B flat major was composed in 1816 and is, like so many of Schubert's instrumental works, an incomplete composition, comprising only a first movement. It is nevertheless a much-loved piece of music in which we can fully hear the nineteen-year-old composer's deep admiration for the music of the Viennese masters whose legacy he inherited—Haydn somewhat, Mozart especially. This piece seems like intent to draw a piece of music from the crystal-clear waters of true musical Classicism. It is music of sparkle to be played with a smile and even a wink.

String Trio Jonathan Harvey We met Jonathan Harvey in the Aix-en-Provence Festival where we had masterclasses on his trio. He wrote the trio in 2005 and here is what he says about his piece: ―Having now written four string quartets, writing a string trio has felt rather an exposing medium. There is even less possibility of ‗ensemble‘ texture than in a quartet, every note and sound is an individual assertion, strongly expressive almost in the way that a solo is. On the other hand, that can be quite a liberating situation: it is no longer necessary to think vertically. The three players can pull apart and meet up at certain places. I sometimes exploit soloistic playing modes of simultaneously different tempi and style. In particular, there are two main (and contrasting) types of music: the rustic and the sacred. The rustic is folkloristic, and the sacred is derived from my liturgical drama ―Passion and Resurrection‖: the music associated with the discovery of the empty tomb on Easter Sunday. The collision of these two moods is the energizing spark of this fifteen-minute work.

String Trio in C minor, op 9 No 3 Ludwig V. Beethoven Allegro con spirit Adagio con espressione Scherzo Presto If the Op. 9 Trios represent a leap forward for Beethoven in the chamber genre—and potentially in the symphonic realm, as well—this C minor work, which shares its key with several heroic compositions of the composer including the Fifth Symphony, the ―Moonlight‖ piano sonata and many more, stands as the most powerful if not the greatest, and most intense of the 5 trios. Beethoven‘s genius and strong personality can already be seen as he accentuates very unusual beats; the dynamic range is wide and sudden: they are the expression of his tormented personality. The C minor Trio is carrying a dedication to one of the composer's patrons, Count Johann Georg von Browne, an officer in the Russian Army.

The Performers Leslie Boulin Raulet, Marine Gandon and Michael Tafforeau, three French musicians with a passion for chamber music formed the Elixir Trio in London in 2007. After studying for two years with the Chilingirian quartet at the Royal College of Music, they are now completing their training with the Ysaye quartet at the Paris conservatoire (CRR). They had masterclasses with Bernard Greenhouse (Beaux arts trio), Philipp Dukes, Peter Cropper, Gordan Nikolitch, David Alberman, Simon Bernardini, Mr Keller. Since his creation, the trio has performed in many venues and festivals in France and has extensive engagements in England (St Martin-In-The-Fields, King‘s Place, National Gallery…), Wales, Germany and Holland. The Elixir Trio played live on France Music Radio for the show: ―Dans la cour des grands‖ and performed for Prince Charles at St James‘ Palace in London. The trio won prizes at the Maurice Ravel International Music Academy in 2008 and in the FNAPEC competition in Paris in 2009. They were finalist in the St Martin‘s Chamber Music Competition in April 2010 in London. The trio regularly works in collaboration with modern composers such as Jonathan Harvey, Marc Monnet, Bernard Cavanna, and Jérôme Combier. The trio was invited as the string trio in residence for the Aix-en Provence Festival Chamber Music Academy in July 2010 where he did the world premiere of the Mark Andre‘s string trio. Recognized as a very promising ensemble the Elixir trio is very keen to promote the string trio repertoire to a young public, much of which is largely unknown, and in this way aspire to bring new life to neglected works such as the Jean Cras string trio.

St Martin-in-the-Fields has welcomed talented musicians to this central London platform for over 60 years - from highly acclaimed young soloists, to choirs from all over the world; from promising new ensembles, to established professionals. This tradition is supported by the generosity of our performers as well as our audiences. Whilst these concerts are free to all, for those able to give, a suggested donation of £3.50 would be greatly appreciated to help fund all aspects of the work at St Martin‘s.

Friday 4 November 7.30pm Mozart Clarinet Concerto by Candlelight Mozart – Salzburg Symphony No 1 Tartini – Concertino for Clarinet Mozart – Eine Kleine Nacthmusik Mozart – Clarinet Concerto Brandenburg Sinfonia Emma Johnson Clarinet Robert Porter Conductor Tickets £25 £22 £18 £12 £8 Friday 4 November 9.30pm – 10.30pm Rachmaninov Vespers by Candlelight Rachmaninov - Vespers English Arts Chorale Leslie Olive Conductor Tickets: £12 unreserved Saturday 5 November 7.30pm Concert for Bonfire Night Handel Royal Fireworks Music by Candlelight Vivaldi – Gloria in D Handel – Zadok the Priest Handel – The King Shall Rejoice Bach – Orchestral Suite No 3 Handel – Let the Bright Seraphim Handel - Royal Fireworks Music New London Singers Belmont Ensemble of London Elizabeth Weisberg Soprano Ciara Hendrick Mezzo Soprano Peter G Dyson Conductor Tickets: £28 £24 £20 £14 £8

Hire the Neville Marriner Room for your rehearsal or workshop. Purpose built rehearsal space in central London with break-out areas, changing rooms and kitchen facilities Discounts available for block bookings and community groups. For more information call 020 7766 1130 or e-mail music@smitf.org