Saturday 30 June at 7:30 pm, St Mary’s Church, Church Street, Maldon CM9 5HW
Haydn Symphony No. 49 ‘La Passione’
Elgar Serenade for Strings
Boyce Symphony No. 4 in F
Grieg Holberg Suite
Mozart Symphony No. 29 in A
Find out more: Maldon Festival
The Bristol Ensemble performs a concert of classical favourites as part of the tenth annual Maldon Festival, which provides music lovers with a feast of orchestras, choirs, musicians and more.
Saturday 5 March at 7.30pm
Trinity-Henleaze URC, Waterford Road, Bristol
The strings take centre stage in this programme that ranges from Mozart’s elegant Divertimento in D to Britten’s Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge. Tickets from Opus 13 Music shop on 0117 923 0164
Tea-Time Concert
Sunday 6 March at 3pm
Christ Church, Nailsworth
A performance of Schubert’s lively and lyrical Piano Trio in B flat. Pianist Yoshiko Endo performs Erik Satie’s beautiful and hypnotic work for solo piano, the Gymnopédie No.1. Tickets £10 on the door.
Sunday 3 April at 3pm
Christ Church, Nailsworth
Viv McLean made a huge impression on our audiences last year and he‘s back with us in Nailsworth to perform Gershwin’s iconic work Rhapsody in Blue, and Beethoven’s mighty Fourth Piano Concerto in an arrangement for chamber ensemble. Tickets £10 on the door.
Jools Scott
December 10, 2016, 7:00 pm
Bath Abbey
Bath
Shean Bowers conducts the world premiere of And There Was Light by Jools Scott, performed by the Boys’ and Girls’ choirs and Melody Makers of Bath Abbey and the Bristol Ensemble, with narration from Tim Delap (History Boys, Woman In Black). This 55 minute Christmas extravaganza is a fresh telling of an old story, with familiar carols and melodies, two new carols with words by Sue Curtis, framed by narrated passages from the King James’ Bible Christmas story.
Not to be missed!
Saturday 1 April at 7.30pm, Bristol Cathedral
Bristol Ensemble joins the Bristol Bach Choir and The Red Maids’ School Chamber Choir for an evening of passion, power, precision and poignancy in this performance of MacMillan’s St Luke Passion. The programme also includes Barber’s intensely moving Adagio for Strings and Tallis’ Lamentations of Jeremiah.
Saturday 22 April at 7.30pm, Trinity-Henleaze URC, Waterford Road, Bristol
We welcome the virtuosic pianist Viv McLean back to the Henleaze Concert Society series to perform a chamber arrangement of Beethoven’s mighty and majestic ‘Emperor’ Piano Concerto No. 5. The programme also includes music by Mozart and Strauss. Tickets from Opus 13 Music shop on 0117 923 0164 or online – follow link.
Saturday 6 May at 7.30pm, St Mary’s parish church, Wotton-under-Edge
The Bristol Ensemble is joined by Wotton-under-Edge local young musician Ella York, who will perform the Oboe Concerto in D minor by Alessandro Marcello. The programme also includes Vivaldi’s Concerto for Two Violins, Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No.5, Suite Antique by Rutter, a Beatles’ medley and Piazzolla’s tangos.
Friday 14th July, Cedars Hall, Wells, Wells Cathedral School, Wells BA5 2ST, 7.00pm
Bristol Ensemble
Louise Innes mezzo soprano
A special anniversary performance of Handel’s Water Music and other treats, first played to a royal audience on the River Thames 300 years ago almost to the day, and now the perfect accompaniment to a summer’s evening in sight of Wells Cathedral.
All ticket prices include strawberries and cream.
There will be a long supper interval of 45 minutes for each concert. Drinks and some light catering will be available to purchase on the night or please feel free to bring a picnic to enjoy on Cedars Lawn.
Tickets £14, £18, £23 available online or from the box office by telephone on 01749 834483 or email boxoffice@wells.cathedral.school. The box office is open from Monday to Friday from 9.30am until 12.30pm.
Sunday 23rd July, SS Great Britain, Bristol, 5.30pm
The Bristol Ensemble will take centre stage at this year’s Bristol Harbour Festival which will conclude with a 45-minute performance of Handel’s Water Music in the Floating Harbour at 5.30pm on Sunday 23 July. The Bristol Ensemble will perform on a flotilla of boats, with flares marking the finale beside Brunel’s SS Great Britain.
The dramatic performance will mark the 300th anniversary of the first legendary performance of the famous piece. In July 1717, the premiere was given in front of the King and his court aboard a flotilla of boats on the River Thames, so it is fitting that this recreation will take place on the water beside one of Bristol’s most exciting historic landmarks: Brunel’s SS Great Britain. Brunel was a great fan of Handel’s music, and requested that ‘See the Conqu’ring Hero Comes’ from Judas Maccabaeus was performed at an underwater party held inside his new Thames Tunnel during its construction in the 1820s; Brunel later had the same piece performed at an event marking the completion of the Royal Albert Bridge, Plymouth.
Bristol’s 300th anniversary performance of Handel’s Water Music is possible thanks to public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
Earlier on Sunday 23 July, children from local primary schools involved with ‘Preludes’ music project will perform a new composition on the SS Great Britain and BBC Radio Bristol stage in Brunel Square. They will work with ‘Preludes’ teachers and musicians from the Bristol Ensemble, taking inspiration from Handel’s Water Music before premiering their Bristol Harbour Festival performance.
For more information on the performance including details of the flotilla route and timings follow the link
Box office is open Monday to Friday from 9.30am until 12.30pm.
September 24, 2017 at 3:00 pm
Christ Church, Newmarket Road, Nailsworth GL6 0DQ
Bristol Ensemble continue their series of Teatime Concerts at various venues in Bristol.
For this concert at Christ Church, Nailsworth, the programme includes
Haydn Piano Trio No.44 in E major
Schubert Piano Trio No.2 in E flat major D.929
Yoshiko Endo piano
Roger Huckle violin
Alison Gillies cello
Tickets £10 on the door.
Sunday 22 October, 2017 at 3:00 pm
Christ Church, Newmarket Road, Nailsworth GL6 0DQ
Bristol Ensemble continue their series of Teatime Concerts at various venues in Bristol.
For this concert at Christ Church, Nailsworth, the programme includes
Brahms Hungarian Dances
Mozart Clarinet Quintet
Dave Pagett clarinet
Roger Huckle and Rachel Gough violins
Carl Hill viola
Juliet McCarthy cello
Mozart’s sublimely beautiful Clarinet Quintet, one of the most well-loved chamber works for its exquisitely-crafted melodic lines,
is paired with Brahms’ lively and passionate Hungarian Dances, based on traditional folk tunes.
Tickets £10 on the door.
Saturday December 16th, 2017 at 7.00pm – Tewkesbury Abbey
A performance of Handel’s Messiah with Tewkesbury Abbey Schola Cantorum, accompanied by the Bristol Ensemble, conducted by Simon Bell with soloists Kirsty Hopkins (soprano), Tom Lilburn (counter-tenor), Julian Stocker (tenor) and Julian Empett (bass).
22nd December 2017 at 7.30pm, St George’s Bristol, Great George Street, Bristol BS1 5RR
A feel-good festive evening of carols and Christmas music – come and sing all your festive favourites with members of City of Bristol Choir, accompanied by The Bristol Ensemble and led in entertaining style by David Ogden. Bring the family for a wonderful evening of singing.
Thursday 18th January 2018 at 7.30pm, Kings Place, London
Haydn Symphony No. 49 in F minor La Passione
Bach Concerto No. 4 in A, BWV 1055
Mozart Divertimento in F, K138
Bach Concerto No. 1 in D minor, BWV 1052
The Bristol Ensemble
Virginia Black piano
After a dazzling international career as a virtuoso harpsichordist, Virginia Black has turned full circle and returned to her roots as a pianist. Having played the Bach concertos on the harpsichord, Virginia has now teamed with the Bristol Ensemble, known for its work with outstanding international artists and soloists, to reprise the concertos on the piano. The Bristol Ensemble will perform as a small chamber orchestra for this concert, providing the perfect foil for the piano.
The contrast between the powerful and expressive D minor concerto and the exuberant passion of the A major concerto will provide a fascinating demonstration of the power of Bach’s mastery of the concerto format. Together, they form an exquisite demonstration of Baroque ensemble music–making. The evening will also include the Bristol Ensemble playing works by Haydn, the dark hued Symphony No. 49 and Mozart’s graceful and charming Divertimento in F major.
‘Virginia Black is a communicative artist, extrovert, colourful, spontaneous but with a deep sense of poetry.’ Gramophone
‘Black’s intimate style… yields arresting results… lilting, relaxed and gorgeously inflected.’ Gramophone
Friday 26th January at 7.30pm, Colston Hall, Bristol
Bristol’s stand-out annual comedy celebration returns for a fourteenth edition at Colston Hall – a unique celebration of the best onscreen classic silent comedy, live music and guest appearances by living legends of British comedy.
The host for this year’s gala show is soon to be announced and the film programme is an incredible triple-bill of laugh-out-loud comedy classics all accompanied by world class live musical accompaniment.
Buster Keaton’s best loved and most innovative film Sherlock Jr (1924) joins Charlie Chaplin’s A Dog’s Life (1918) to headline the show with live music.
Sherlock Jr is accompanied by the world premiere of a new, semi-improvised score composed by Guenter A. Buchwald and performed by the renowned European Silent Screen Virtuosi and members of Bristol Ensemble. A Dog’s Life features Chaplin’s own composition for the film and will be performed by a 15-piece Bristol Ensemble conducted by maestro Guenter A. Buchwald.
Plus: Laurel & Hardy’s hilarious comedy short Angora Love (1929) and live performance from innovative, award-winning visual comedy performers The Kagools and with our exciting guest host this looks like being our finest and funniest Gala event to date!
£10.50 to £60.00 incl. booking fee
Gold Premium Ticket Package:
£60.00* (limited to 50)
Access to exclusive post-show VIP after show experience with complimentary drink
Gala merchandise souvenir
Commemorative VIP lanyard (for access to post-show drinks)
One premium ticket located in the stalls
Exclusive limited souvenir event poster (not for sale)
Souvenir mini-programme
*Including all booking fees
Sunday 15 April 2018, Christ Church, Newmarket Road, Nailsworth at 3.00pm
Clara Schumann Piano Trio in G minor Op.17
Felix Mendelssohn Piano Trio No. Op.49
As part of our Notes for Women project celebrating the music of female composers, April’s recital features Clara Schumann’s lyrical and elegant Piano Trio, together with Felix Mendelssohn’s well-loved first piano trio, one of his best-known works. Tickets £10 on the door.
Tuesday 12 June at 6.30pm, Bath Abbey, Bath
Bristol Ensemble
Jon Monie narrator
Shean Bowers conductor
Jools Scott and Sue Curtis When The War Came
Bath Abbey will be holding an enchanting evening of choral music sung by a massed children’s choir of 300 pupils drawn from different primary schools in Bath.
The children are all part of the Abbey’s Schools’ Singing Programme, which brings the joy of singing to thousands of school children in Bath and surrounding areas.
When the War Came tells the story of six young people from a small village whose lives are changed forever when the Great War comes to them. Words: Sue Curtis; Music: Jools Scott.
23rd September 2018, 6:30 pm, St George’s Bristol, Off Park Street, Bristol BS1 5RR
Bristol Ensemble
John Pickard Conductor
Hannah Kendall Processional [pictured]
Sadie Harrison Coretta
Andy Keenan For Boola
Graham Fitkin Ardent
New pieces by composers from the Young Composers’ Academy and shortlisted pieces from the NMSW Young Composers’ Prize 2018
The Young Composers’ Academy (YCA) and New Music in the South West help to invigorate the region’s new music scene whilst creating inspiring opportunities for its most talented young composers. Hear Bristol Ensemble performing great new music by the region’s best young composers, alongside recent repertoire classics and music specially commissioned to celebrate the life and work of Martin Luther King on the 50th anniversary of his assassination.
Tickets £12, £8 concessions
NMSW Season Finale & the St George’s Young Composers’ Academy Showcase
Thursday 11 October at 7.30pm, Redmaids’ High School, Bristol, BS9 3AW
Nicola Benedetti violin
Leonard Elschenbroich conductor
Bristol Ensemble
Mendelssohn – Violin Concerto in E minor
Beethoven – Symphony No. 7
Maria Walpurgis – Sinfonia from Talestri
Redmaids’ High School, Bristol, is delighted to be welcoming renowned violinist Nicola Benedetti to perform in October. She will be joined in concert by the Bristol Ensemble and conductor Leonard Elschenbroich for a programme including Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 and Maria Walpurgis’ Sinfonia from Talestri.
This performance will be the inaugural concert given by the Bristol Ensemble in Redland Hall as Redmaids’ High School’s Orchestra-in-Residence.
Tickets £30 BOOK ONLINE
Sunday December 9th at 3.00pm, Christ Church, Newmarket Road, Nailsworth
Franz Schubert Quintet in C Major D. 956
Amy Beach Quartet for Strings Op. 89 [composer profile]
Bristol Ensemble’s popular series of Sunday afternoon tea-time chamber recitals continues with works for string ensemble.
Recognised as America’s leading woman composer in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Amy Beach belonged to the Second New England School of composers. Her one-movement Quartet for Strings, completed in 1929, is a lean yet lyrical work of great originality, incorporating Alaskan Inuit melodies as thematic material.
Written just two months before the composer’s death, Schubert’s string quintet is regarded by many as his finest chamber work. The Adagio second movement is tranquilly sublime, and is so treasured that it has become one of the most requested pieces on Desert Island Discs.
Tickets £10 on the door.
Saturday 15th December, at 7.30pm, Clifton Cathedral, Bristol
Handel composed his most famous piece in 1741, continuing to work on it after its initial performance, to arrive at the version we know today in 1754. It tells the story of Jesus’s birth, life, death, resurrection and victory over sin and death, through impressive solo arias interspersed with compelling choruses.
Since the 1740s Messiah has been sung annually by many choirs and remains one of the best-known and most frequently performed choral works in Western music.
February 17, 2019, 3:00 pm at Christ Church, Newmarket Road, Nailsworth
Fauré Piano Quartet in No.1 C minor, Op.15
Franck Violin Sonata in A major
There’s a Gallic feel to February’s concert, with music from across the Channel. César Franck’s romantic work is regarded by many as the finest violin sonata in all French music. Gabriel Fauré’s Piano Quartet was written at a time of emotional turmoil in the composer’s life, but is predominately positive and uplifting in mood. Tickets £10 on the door.
March 8, 2019, 7:30 pm at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, BA15 1DZ
Programme to include excerpts from In a Time Lapse, Devenire and Elements
The Bristol Ensemble performs some of the most famous pieces composed by Ludovico Einaudi to the backdrop of beautiful images of nature. Scored for piano and strings, the ethereal works create a meditative atmosphere, creating waves of emotion to engulf the listener.
Tickets £25 (half price for students and under 18s)
Saturday 13 April, 7.30pm at St Swithin’s Church, Bath
Bath Minerva Choir
Bristol Ensemble
Conducted by Gavin Carr
Mozart Vesperae solennes de Confessore, KV 339
Mozart Serenata notturna, K239
Haydn Missa in Angustiis (‘Nelson’ Mass)
Bath Minerva Choir presents two beautiful works to mark this spring – the Haydn Missa in Angustiis – also known as the Nelson Mass – is widely known and is happily contrasted with one of Mozart’s loveliest pieces – the Vesperae Solennes de Confessore. A beautiful programme of music from the classical era performed by the Bath Minerva Choir and Bristol Ensemble under the direction of Gavin Carr.
Saturday May 11, 2019 at 7:30 pm, Trinity-Henleaze URC, Waterford Road, Henleaze, Bristol BS9 4BT
Pre-concert talk with David Bednall at 6.45pm
Beethoven Piano Concerto No.3 (reduced orchestration)
Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody No.2
Brahms Hungarian Dances
Bartók Romanian Folk Dances
Monti Csárdás
Viv McLean piano
Roger Huckle violin
Music inspired by passionate and romantic Hungarian folk melodies features in this programme, alongside Beethoven’s dark and brooding Piano Concerto No.3, in a reduced orchestration arrangement. We’re delighted to welcome back the pianist Viv McLean for a fifth year as soloist, completing the set of Beethoven piano concertos, and also performing Liszt’s dramatic Hungarian Rhapsody in an arrangement for piano quintet.
26th July at 7.45pm – Tewkesbury Abbey
James MacMillan Seven Last Words from the Cross
Judith Weir Ave Regina Caelorum
Dobrinka Tabakova Alma redemptoris mater
James MacMillan Miserere
Arvo Pärt Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten
Gabriel Jackson Countless and wonderful are the ways to praise God
Choir of Merton College, Oxford
Bristol Ensemble
Benjamin Nicholas conductor
As part of the Three Choirs Festival, Bristol Ensemble joins forces with the acclaimed choir of Merton College, Oxford, to celebrate Sir James MacMillan’s 60th birthday year with a performance of his spellbinding masterpiece Seven Last Words from the Cross, an immensely moving account of the final moments of Christ’s crucifixion. A selection of reflective works from some of Britain’s finest choral composers opens the concert, with the first half culminating in Gabriel Jackson’s vivid and jubilant motet Countless and wonderful are the ways to praise God.
Friday October 18, 2019, 7:30 pm at Malmesbury Abbey, Gloucester Road, Malmesbury SN16 9BA
Bristol Ensemble
Director/ Soloist – Roger Huckle
Elgar Serenade for Strings
Vaughan Williams The Lark Ascending
Delius Two Aquarelles
Haydn Symphony No.83 ‘The Hen’
A concert of English and nature inspired music with master works by Elgar and Vaughan Williams alongside the wonderful ‘The Hen’ Symphony by Haydn. The Lark Ascending forms the centre of this programme and remains one of the UK’s most popular classical piece. Elgar’s Serenade for Strings is a timeless masterpiece and the Two Aquarelles by Delius are perfect for an Autumn serenade.
Tickets £18 for adults, £5 under 18s available to buy online, over the counter at the Malmesbury Abbey shop, or by phone on 07766 105491.
Wednesday November 13, 2019 at 7:30 pm, St George’s Bristol, Great George Street, Bristol BS1 5RR
Bristol Ensemble
Adrian Chandler violin soloist and director
Johann Christian Bach Quintet in G Op.11 No. 2
Francesco Geminiani Concerto Grosso in G minor after Corelli
Nicola Matteis Ground After the Scotch Humour
Nicola Matteis the younger Trio Sonata in G minor
Antonio Vivaldi Concerto Alla Rustica RV151
Antonio Vivaldi Autumn from The Four Seasons
Antonio Vivaldi Concerto in D RV210
The Bristol Ensemble unveils its Baroque specialist ensemble for the first time, under the directorship of Adrian Chandler.
Adrian will be familiar to St George’s audiences from his performances with La Serenissima and takes over the leadership of Bristol Ensemble Baroque in what will be a vibrant, energetic and thoroughly engaging performance exploring some known and less familiar composers of the Baroque period.
The programme will include works by Johann Christian Bach, Francesco Geminiani, Nicola Matteis and violin concertos by Antonio Vivaldi performed by Adrian Chandler.
Tickets £25, £22, £18, £14, available HERE
Saturday, 25 January, 2020, 7:30pm at Trinity-Henleaaze URC Waterford Road, Henleaze, Bristol BS9 4BT
Tchaikovsky Souvenir de Florence Op.70
Mozart String Quintet in G minor K.516
Pre-concert talk with David Bednall at 6.45pm
Tchaikovsky’s string sextet Souvenir de Florence was written following a trip to Italy, during which the composer visited the historic city and sketched one of the work’s principal themes there.
The music exhibits an abundance of Russian passion and fervour, combined with Italian lyricism and brilliance. Scored for two violins, two violas and two cellos, it is symphonic in its sonority and texture, with plenty of opportunity to display the players’ virtuosity. Mozart’s String Quintet is written in his ‘tragic’ key of G minor and is scored for string quartet plus a second viola, giving a rich and melancholic quality to the texture.
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