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Phone: +44 (0) 20 7976 5041 • email: info@tashmina.co.uk
The Barbirolli Quartet
String Quartet
- 24th February 2010 - Selected to join Prussia Cove Master Classes
The Barbirolli Quartet have been selected from a high number of applicants to join this year's Prussia Cove Chamber Music Master Classes.
They look forward to studying with Erich Hobarth, who leads the Quatuor Mosaiques, and with the world-renowned pianist Andras Schiff.
- 9th January 2010 - Wigmore - 28th May 2010 - Kirckman Award Recital
Following their audition last year, the Barbirolli Quartet are delighted to have been awarded the opportunity to return to the Wigmore Hall in May 2010, supported by The Kirckman Concert Society. The Barbirolli Quartet are extremely grateful to the Kirkman Concert Society and had this to say about their choice of programme.
"For our first full recital at the Wigmore hall we wanted to present a programme that shows the diversity and development of the string quartet repertoire. We have selected a work from each of the last three centuries with the most recent, Britten’s second quartet, referencing Purcell and the 17th century.
Haydn’s Opus 20 No. 4 is full of the wit, energy and beauty for which Haydn is so famous. We have loved exploring the unusual phrase structures of the first movement, embracing the improvisatory nature in the second movement and enjoying the cheeky rhythms and Zingarese characters in the third and fourth.
Britten’s second quartet takes listener and player alike on an emotional journey of great depth which reflects the two main references of the work; a commission to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Purcell’s death and Britten’s reflections from performing with Menuhin to some of the survivors of WWII concentration camps. When choosing this quartet we were struck by the contrasting atmospheres of the first movement, virtuosity of the second and the epic proportion of the third.
The evocative score of Debussy’s only string quartet constantly provides us with inspiration and joy. The search for colours is never-ending and it is a pleasure to play such tactile and innovative music."
- 29th November 2009 - And a bit more hard work in New Zealand
..... the real hard work can, of course, be seen on their concerts and concert history pages! More information is available from ROSL NZ.
- 19th November 2009 - Radio NZ
The Barbirolli Quartet (represented by Katie Stillman and Ashok Klouda) can be heard in conversation with Eva Radich for Radio NZ's Upbeat programme here. Broadcast on Wednesday 18th November, this audio will be available on the Radio NZ website until 25th November. As part of the broadcast of this interview, recordings of some of the quartet's performances were included, but the station does not include this type of audio in their podcasts.
- 18th November 2009 - 2009 Pettman/ROSL ARTS International Scholarship
The quartet are currently on tour in New Zealand to promote the Pettman/ROSL Arts International Scholarship with a series of recitals and talks, and as members of the panel of adjudicators for this year's award. Following the nominations made by the music departments of the University of Auckland, University of Canterbury (Christchurch), New Zealand School of Music (Wellington), University of Otago (Dunedin) and the University of Waikato (Hamilton), this scholarship offers all participants performance opportunities, mentoring and career development. The winning ensemble receive a fully funded five week UK musical experience. More information is available from ROSL NZ.
- 21st October 2009 - European Rising Stars - programme preview
In three of their European Rising Stars concerts (Paris Cité de la Musique, Wien Konzerthaus Schubert-Saal and Salzburg Wiener Saal) the Barbirolli will perform Britten's String Quartet No. 2 in C major, op. 36. The above is an excerpt of the Vivace, filmed at the HSBC Cheltenham Music Festival this summer.
- 20th October 2009 - An afternoon of musical inspiration - Education
- The agency was delighted to receive this unsolicited feedback below, following the performance and workshop the quartet gave recently at St Anselm's School, Bakewell. Photos of their sessions can be found on the St. Anselm's school website here. Jon Weller, Director of Music, wrote:"You really are very, very lucky!Yesterday afternoon was a massive success. The skill of the quartet is without doubt, but their boundless energy and the superb way that they interacted with each other, and with the pupils was just superb. Non-musicians and musicians alike were inspired by their performance and question/answer session.The masterclass similarly was a real experience for the players, some of whom are only just starting out on the road, and will have undoubtedly been inspired.Please do pass on our thanks to Rakhi, Katie, Ella and Ashok."
- 12th October 2009 - Impossible to praise this performance too highly
Read yet another fantastic report following a concert given by The Barbirolli Quartet. You can find the full article which was put onto the Saffron Walden and District Music Club's website, after the quartet's concert there on the 19th September, here.
- 4th October 2009 - Live in Concert - HSBC Cheltenham Festival 2009
Plushmusic recorded the Barbirolli Quartet's complete performance of the Britten at Cheltenham this summer. It can be purchased from the Plushmusic website for £4.99, which will give you either just the recording or the film as well.
- 1st August 2009 - Ashes Octet now available from Plushmusic
In follow up to our recent news about The Barbirolli Quartet performing the Mendelssohn Octet with the Australian String Quartet at Cheltenham, Lichfield and Buxton Festivals, you might like to read the article by Lyndon Jones which appeared in yesterday's Daily Telegraph on-line – particularly if you are a cricket fan yourself!
Please do spread the word to anyone you feel would enjoy their highly exciting and moving performance at the 2009 HSBC Cheltenham Music Festival, which was inspired by the Ashes Cricket Series and was filmed and recorded by Plushmusic.
A download of the complete performance of the Mendelssohn octet (audio only, or video) can very easily be purchased directly from the Plushmusic site here.
- 9th July 2009 - Radio 3 In Tune on Friday 10th July
Don't miss the Barbirolli Quartet and Australian String Quartet on BBC Radio 3 on Friday evening. The quartets will perform live in the studio and discuss their forthcoming concerts at Lichfield, Buxton and Cheltenham Festivals with presenter Sean Rafferty.
The programme will be streamed live on the BBC Radio 3 website, and will be available as 'audio on demand' for seven days after the broadcast.
- 8th July 2009 - Ashes Octet at Cheltenham Festival
The “Ashes Octet” concert on the 18th July, featuring The Barbirolli Quartet and the Australian String Quartet, is the climax of Cheltenham Music Festival’s eight concert "World Quartets" series, celebrating Haydn's anniversary. To quote Cheltenham Festival's own publicity:
"As a fitting climax to the World Quartets series in this 2009 Festival, two quartets join together to perform Mendelssohn’s mighty achievement from his teens, the Octet.It is particularly apt that an Australian quartet joins a British one — the Barbirollis who made a distinguished Cheltenham debut in 2008 — on the third day of the second Ashes Test at Lord’s."
The concert will be filmed by Plushmusic and the video will be available for download via the Plushmusic website www.plushmusic.tv
Both quartets also look forward to performing at Lichfield and Buxton Festivals. Full details are available from each festival's own website and you can also refer to the Barbirolli Quartet's concert diary here.
- 3rd July 2009 - Barbican Hall this Sunday
The Barbirolli will be at the Barbican this Sunday at 6.00pm, performing the Schumann Piano Quintet with pianist Gemma Beeson. This pre-concert will also feature the Schumann Fantasiestucke (Vashti Hunter, cello and Gemma Beeson) and takes place before the LSO's concert at 7.30pm. Entry is free.
- 1st July 2009 - Kirckman Concert Society Award - Wigmore recital
Following their audition earlier this year, the Barbirolli Quartet are delighted to have been awarded the opportunity to return to the Wigmore hall next season, supported by The Kirckman Concert Society. Full details will follow once the date has been scheduled and the Barbirolli Quartet are extremely grateful to the Kirkman Concert Society.
- 16th June 2009 - Ashok Klouda joins Barbirolli Quartet
The Barbirolli Quartet are delighted to announce that Ashok Klouda has joined them as their new cellist. Ashok is a highly accomplished chamber musician who, before joining The Barbirolli Quartet earlier this month, had already performed extensively throughout the country as a founding member of the Artea Quartet. Leverhulme Junior Fellows at the Royal Academy of Music 2004-2006 and Tillett Trust Young Artists 2005, the Artea Quartet, whilst active, also won the Philharmonia Orchestra/Martin Musical Scholarship Fund Total Ensemble Award. Please click here to read about Ashok in detail.
May 2009 saw the final performances by Victoria Simonsen as cellist in the Barbirolli Quartet, including concerts at Wigmore Hall in London and St David’s Hall in Cardiff.
Victoria was a founding member of the Barbirolli Quartet and during the past six years the quartet's achievements included selection for the ECHO 'Rising Stars' series, winning a Tunnell Trust Award, a Kirckman Concert Society Award, The Countess of Munster Musical Trust Recital Scheme, 'Quartet in Residence' at Salford University, a Guildhall Artists Fellowship and engagements throughout the UK at major venues and festivals.
The quartet’s growing success and commitments has led to it becoming a full-time ensemble. Victoria continues to be represented by Tashmina Artists as a solo cellist.
- 13th February 2009 - Quartet open Harrogate International Sunday Series
The Barbirolli Quartet were delighted to give the opening concert of this high profile series recently. Review available here.
- 27th August 2008 - Guildhall Artists Fellowship Awarded
The Guildhall Artists Fellowship has been awarded to The Barbirolli Quartet, who look forward to taking up their appointment in September.
- 14th July 2008 - European Rising Stars 2009-2010
The Barbirolli Quartet has been selected by the European Concert Halls Organisation (ECHO) for inclusion in the prestigious 'Rising Stars' series 2009-2010, following their nomination by the UK concert hall members of the ECHO organisation. This important invitation means that The Barbirolli Quartet will have the opportunity to give recitals in the leading European concert halls such as Amsterdam's Concertgebouw, Birmingham Symphony Hall, Köln Philharmonie, Cité de la Musique in Paris, Stockholm's Konserthuset Grünewald Hall, Megaron Athens, Festspielhaus in Baden Baden, Bozar Salle Henry le Boeuf in Brussels, Hamburg's Laeiszhalle, Wiener Saal Salzburg and L'Auditori Chamber Music Hall Barcelona.
Previous participants in the 'Rising Stars' series have included the violinists Janine Jansen and Priya Mitchell, the singer Jonathan Lemalu and the Belcea and Pavel Haas Quartets.
- 6th June 2008 - Barbirolli Quartet to join panel of adjudicators
The quartet have been invited to travel to New Zealand in November 09 where they join the panel of adjudicators for the Pettman/ROSL Arts International Scholarship and give a series of recitals.
- 2nd June 2008 - Wigmore Hall debut - recording available
You can now listen to extracts of the live recording made of the quartet's recent Wigmore Hall debut (ROSL Arts). We are very pleased to be able to make this new audio available. The recording was made by RMR - Remote Music Recording
- 23rd May 2008 - Quartet in Residence - Highgate School, London
The Barbirolli Quartet are delighted to have been appointed String Quartet in Residence at Highgate School in London. More
- 22nd April 2008 - Wigmore Debut 7th April
The Barbirolli Quartet gave their Wigmore debut to a packed Hall earlier this month. The atmosphere was electric and the quartet are extremely grateful to ROSL Arts for inviting them to perform as part of this concert which was shared with Zephirus (Saxophone ensemble). Not surprisingly, we received a huge amount of very positive feedback, including the following unsolicited comment the next day from a promoter who had come to listen to the Barbirolli:
“Thank you so much for the tickets to the Barbirolli Quartet concert. They were superb. The range of sound, the vitality and the musical intelligence was palpable.”
Dr. Julie Sadie, Cossington Concerts
- 2nd January 2008 - Live on Radio 3 on Tuesday 8th January 2008
The Barbirolli Quartet have been invited to the "In Tune" studio on Tuesday 8th January at 6.15pm to talk about their Purcell Room concert (part of the prestigious Park Lane Group "Young Artists" New Year Series) which is on 9th January (again, at 6.15pm). Full details of the concert can be found on their concerts page. You can hear them in conversation with Sean Rafferty, and listen to their live performances of the Maconchy Quartet no. 13 (2nd and 3rd movements) and an extract from Berio's Notturno, via the Radio 3 website for seven days after the broadcast. Alternatively, please email us if you would like us to post you the recording of their interview and live performances.
- 28th October 2007 - Purcell Room and Wigmore Hall debuts in 2008
There are two opportunities to hear this exciting young quartet when they perform in London early in 2008:
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The Purcell Room 9th January 2008 at 6.15pm, Park Lane Group
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Wigmore Hall 7th April 2008 at 7.30pm, Monday Platform ROSL Arts
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- 8th October 2007 - Tunnell Trust Award
It has recently been announced that The Barbirolli Quartet is one of the joint winners of this year’s Tunnell Trust award. Katie Stillman, Rakhi Singh, Ella Brinch and Victoria Simonsen are thrilled that the quartet has been given this important award and they very much look forward to touring Scotland in 08-09. The nine concerts have been organised by The Tunnell Trust and full details can be seen on the quartet's diary page. The quartet would be more than happy to discuss possible additional concerts in the area. If you are a promoter and this might be of interest please let us know; please also see the Scottish Tours Book p136.
- 21st August 2007 - Countess of Munster Musical Trust Recital Scheme
The Barbirolli Quartet are delighted to have been invited to join this prestigious recital scheme in 2008 and are extremely grateful to the Countess of Munster Musical Trust.
- 29th June 2007 - Maconchy Festival
The Barbirolli Quartet has been invited to perform in the opening concert of the Maconchy Festival taking place at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama on October 22nd 2007.
- 28th June 2007 - The Barbican
If you are in London and would welcome an opportunity to hear the Barbirolli Quartet perform live, you might like to join the quartet when they provide the Barbican Centre Foyer Programme (6.15pm-7.15pm) before the Mostly Mozart Festival concert on the 27th July 2007.
- 8th May 2007 - Young Artists New Year Series 2008 - Purcell Room
Following their selection by the Park Lane Group, the Barbirolli Quartet look forward to playing in the New Year Series 2008 and are delighted to have been chosen for such an important series. This is an excellent opportunity for people in the London area to hear this exciting young string quartet.
- 21st April 2007 - Quartet takes on new name
By kind permission of Lady Barbirolli, the quartet are very pleased to announce that they have taken on a new name: The Barbirolli Quartet. The quartet met whilst studying at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and (individually) were recipients of several RNCM awards named after world-renowned conductor Sir John Barbirolli. He was principal conductor of the Hallé orchestra between the years 1943 and 1958 and a very important figure in Manchester's musical life; the quartet are delighted to be able to reflect their ties with the RNCM and the greater area by way of this association.
Lady Barbirolli wrote (8/4/07):
"A little while ago the Stillman Quartet asked a friend of mine if they could change their name to the Barbirolli Quartet. They were told that I (Evelyn Barbirolli) would be delighted for them to do so provided that I could hear them play well enough - I am quite crippled at present and cannot move at all - The Quartet most kindly arranged to come to my house and play to me, including, at my request, part of a Haydn Quartet. They came and played and I was truly delighted. Obviously the members of the quartet are all individually expert players, but what gave me such pleasure is that they really played as a Quartet and all seem to want to continue to do so.
I have told them that I am very happy for them to use my husband’s name. I wish them well in what is not an easy start. I shall look forward to hearing them again and give them my warmest wishes."