London Concertante is the UKs leading chamber orchestra, now approaching its 25th anniversary season. Tonight, the ensemble performs Vivaldi's Four Seasons, alongside other great baroque masterpieces - music by Bach, Telemann and Mozart - in the glorious setting of Manchester Cathedral. All presented in an enticing 'candlelight' setting. With guest director and violin sensation Owen Cox at the helm, this will surely be an exciting and memorable evening.
London Concertante is one of the finest chamber ensembles in the country, its players brought together through a shared passion for chamber music. Founded in 1991, the ensemble soon established a reputation for inspired programming, thrilling performances and the unique rapport it builds with its audience.
The ensemble has toured regularly and gives a regular, and hugely popular, series of concerts at one of London’s landmark venues; St. Martin-in-the-Fields, where it performs 12 concerts each year, alongside concerts at St James' Piccadilly, Southwark Cathedral, Cadogan Hall and the Southbank Centre.
In 1995, the group released the first of its 16 recordings, on its own label. Since then, they have recorded for Toccata Classics, Chandos, Harmonia Mundi and ARC Music, with a varied, eclectic and exciting range of repertoire, constantly garnering tremendous critical acclaim. Their latest recording pushes the boundaries of seminal composer, Astor Piazzolla, in a release entitled 'Piazzolla and Beyond'.
During the intervening years, London Concertante concentrated on chamber music and has performed throughout the UK for music clubs and festivals, giving around 100 concerts each year. Tours have taken them to the USA, Finland, Spain and France, and will be embarking on a tour to the Middle East in 2015.
As well as giving performances at festivals, music clubs and theatres, London Concertante also has a thriving education programme; inspiring youngsters to enjoy classical music, both as listeners and performers.
"played with silky-toned elegance....extraordinary unanimity. The London Concertante members, fine chamber musicians that they are, played with an uncanny clarity of texture...quite exquisite." The Strad
"Drum-tight. This is superb chamber playing" The Scotsman ****