Category: Reviews

It has been 6 years since I last reviewed a coffee concert by the Aquinas Trio. Then I was struck by the expressive delicacy and clarity of their playing. I noted that they play as one, not just with impeccable intonation and perfect ensemble, but in the way they interpret the music: understated but not unfeeling, emotional but not showy. That way of playing More

Ruth Rogers (violin), Katherine Jenkinson (cello), Martin Cousin (piano). Trios by Haydn (1732-1809) in E major Hob XV:28 (1797), Mendelssohn (1809-1847) No 1 in D minor Op 49 (1839), Robert Schuman (1810-1856) No 2 in F major Op 80 (1847).

Poor Robert Schumann. Having married the love of his life after enduring vindictive opposition, not from his future mother-in-law but her husband, who was his own piano teacher (intimidating or what?), he got a rough old deal More

Anyone heading for the Attenborough Centre this Sunday looking forward to the Castalian Quartet playing some old favourites – Haydn, Elgar and Brahms – would have been disappointed. A notice in the foyer warned that Daniel Roberts, second violin, was unable to play (a trapped nerve rendered him unable to lift his left arm) and that changes to the programme would be necessary. As it turned out we still got the Brahms piano quintet Opus 34, thanks to the excellent Benjamin Baker on second violin, but instead of Haydn and Elgar More

Sini Simonen (first violin), Benjamin Baker deputising for Daniel Roberts (second violin), Charlotte Bonneton (viola), Christopher Graves (cello). With Daniel Lebhardt (piano).

First half: Schubert String Trio in Bb D471, Mozart String Duo in G K 423, Beethoven String Trio in C minor Opus 9 No 3 – deputising for Haydn Quartet in C Opus 20 No 2, Elgar Quartet in E minor Opus 83. Second half: Brahms Piano Quintet in F minor Op 34.

A trapped nerve More

Word must have got out that something special was going to take place; the Attenborough Centre was fuller than we have ever seen it for a Coffee Concert. The Doric have played in Brighton before and been superb. There has been a change since the last time More

Are we in a golden era of the string quartet concert? I can’t speak for nationwide but the Brighton Coffee Concerts sound and taste even better than they smell at 11 o’clock in the morning. It’s not just the ever soaring quality of the younger quartets’ playing. It’s what they choose to programme, then deliver.

Mind you, this audience More