We close out the Season with a programme centred around Schubert’s Octet, performed by renowned musicians on historical instruments. To complement this monumental work, the Bloomsbury Players present specially commissioned arrangements of Schubert’s songs that inspired his instrumental chamber music, alongside excerpts from his string quartets Rosamunde and Death and the Maiden, both composed within weeks of the Octet.
Programme
Franz Schubert, arr. Bill Thorp - new arrangements of Schubert’s songs that inspired his instrumental chamber music, alongside excerpts from his string quartets Rosamunde and Death and the Maiden
~~~ Interval ~~~
Franz Schubert - Octet in F major, D. 803
~ Bloomsbury Players ~
Katherine Spencer - clarinet, Ursula Leveaux - bassoon, Richard Bayliss - horn, Sijie Chen - violin, Will McGahon - violin, Hannah Shaw - viola, Alice Neary - ‘cello, Alexander Jones - double bass
Leighton House was the home and studio of the Victorian artist Sir Frederic Leighton, designed by the architect George Aitchison. Lord Leighton was passionate about music, holding an annual house concert
at which musicians of international renown would perform, with the most prominent figures of the day in attendance. Performers included Clara Schumann and Joseph Joachim, and audience members included Queen Victoria, John Everett Millais and Robert Browning.
Tickets: £30/40 (Under 30s £15) including a welcome drink and after-hours museum entry
Vermeer Season Pass available
Doors open at 6.00
Duration: approx. 2 hrs (including an interval)
The Bloomsbury Players
The Bloomsbury Players was formed to explore the rich chamber music repertoire from the Classical to Romantic periods and beyond, that is less commonly performed on period instruments and with a historical approach. Renowned string and wind players in the fields of historical and 'modern' performance who prioritise the shared values of chamber collaboration, they perform around the world as soloists, chamber musicians and orchestral principals with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Academy of Ancient Music and the English Concert among others. The ensemble brings a sense of joy and discovery to their interpretations, exploring performance practices of the time to re-imagine the sound-worlds that might have existed when these pieces were newly composed.