Coffee Concert 20th February 2022 – Joanna MacGregor Piano & Brighton Philharmonic Chamber Ensemble – Strings Attached Review by Helen Simpson and Guy Richardson

Brighton Philharmonic Chamber Ensemble with Joanna MacGregor

Ruth Rogers and Nicky Sweeney Violin, Jon Thorne Viola, Peter Adams Cello, Joanna MacGregor Piano.

On a very stormy weekend it was particularly pleasing to see a large audience for this concert and with two very attentive young children in our complement. The concert was led by Joanna MacGregor who introduced the first half as American and the second European.

George Gershwin’s Lullaby certainly sounded American. It is catchy, rhythmic and sinuous and beguilingly simple on first hearing; however Continue reading Coffee Concert 20th February 2022 – Joanna MacGregor Piano & Brighton Philharmonic Chamber Ensemble – Strings Attached Review by Helen Simpson and Guy Richardson

Newsletter #67 – February 2022

The next concert will be held on 20 February at 11 am at the Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts (ACCA) at the University of Sussex. It will be given by Joanna MacGregor and the Brighton Philharmonic Chamber Ensemble.

George Gershwin  Lullaby for String Quartet; Summertime
Amy Beach  Piano Quintet in F sharp minor Op.67
Schumann  Piano Quintet in E flat major  Op.44

Continue reading Newsletter #67 – February 2022

20th February 2022 – Joanna MacGregor & Brighton Philharmonic Chamber Ensemble – Programme notes by Chris Darwin

George Gershwin (1898-1937) Lullaby for String Quartet (1919); Summertime (1934)Print/PDF

Music only started to impact on George Gershwin’s life when he was 12 and the family bought a piano for his elder brother Ira. Ira (the future lyricist) wasn’t interested, but George was. His piano teacher took him to concerts and at 15 he dropped out of school and worked as a Continue reading 20th February 2022 – Joanna MacGregor & Brighton Philharmonic Chamber Ensemble – Programme notes by Chris Darwin

Coffee Concert 23rd January 2022 – Maxwell Quartet – Strings Attached Review by Helen Simpson and Guy Richardson

Maxwell Quartet
Colin Scobie violin, George Smith violin, Elliott Perks Viola, Duncan Strachan Cello.

Today’s concert was the first of the new year, in a difficult winter with uncertainty over the pandemic continuing. However, the commitment of the large audience was obvious and there was a real sense Continue reading Coffee Concert 23rd January 2022 – Maxwell Quartet – Strings Attached Review by Helen Simpson and Guy Richardson

Coffee Concert 23rd January 2022 – Maxwell Quartet – Other Reviews

 

Do you get more for your money at a Maxwell Quartet concert? Plenty of evidence here. Three extra unbilled pieces: an arresting Scottish Lament for a husband who, riding away from his own wedding feast, fell off his horse and died in the mud – plus two reels Continue reading Coffee Concert 23rd January 2022 – Maxwell Quartet – Other Reviews