Some scholarships and bursaries are available. www.britishislesmusicfestival.org
British Isles Music FestivalThe Amar QuartettResident string quartet at the festival this year.
The Zürich-based Amar Quartetthas made a special study of Paul Hindemith’s string quartets and has recorded all of them to great acclaim. The group of musicians we hear tonight was awarded the historic name Amar in 1995 on the occasion of Hindemith’s 100th birthday by the Hindemith Institute in Frankfurt. In the early 1920’s Hindemith himself had founded an ensemble of the same name, after the group’s first violinist Licco Amar.
The modern-day Amar Quartett combines time-honoured tradition with the conscious promotion of contemporary music in its programming. They regularly commission new works, with special consideration given to both well-known and lesser-known Swiss composers, and they engage regularly in interdisciplinary projects involving multimedia, theatre, ballet or jazz.
During its studies with the Alban Berg Quartet in Cologne from 1998 to 2001, the ensemble won numerous international awards, and had successful debuts at the Wigmore Hall, the Zürich Tonhalle, and the St Petersburg Philharmonic Hall. They have appeared at many international music festivals and often give master classes.
In a review of their Naxos recording of Hindemith’s Quartets 5, 6 & 7, Classics Today said: ‘The Amar Quartett plays this music with a proprietary gusto worthy of the name...The playing here never sounds dry or mechanical, and the sonics are first-rate. Connoisseurs will find this disc an endless source of pleasure.’
BIMF is a chamber music and master class course which aims to give young, accomplished musicians the opportunity to explore and perform main-stream and unusual repertoire in a number of concerts, some of which are open to the public. Charterhouse is one of Britain's most prestigious public schools, offering excellent practise and performance spaces, including the Music School with a Recital Hall and many practise rooms, and the main Hall with it's spacious platform, Steinway piano and terrific acoustic. The accommodation and catering is superb and the many acres of grounds are a delight. There is also a fitness centre with swimming pool.
Course Professors
Strings The Amar Quartett, Switzerland www.amarquartett.ch Violin Anna Brunner Founder of the Amar Quartett Violin Igor Keller Concertmaster of the Symphony Orchestra of St. Gallen Viola Hannes Baertchi Co-Principal Viola of the Basel Symphony Orchestra Cello Christopher Jepson Co-Principal Cello of the Basel Symphony Orchestra Woodwind Flute Susan Milan Former Principal Flute Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Professor RCM Asst. Flute Nina Robertson Freelance orchestral player and teacher Oboe David Theodore Former Principal Oboe London Philharmonic Orchestra, Professor RCM Clarinet Mark Van de Wiel Principal Clarinet Philharmonia Orchestra, Professor RAM Bassoon Martin Gatt Former Principal Bassoon London Symphony Orchestra, Professor RCM Horn Timothy Jones Principal Horn, London Symphony Orchestra, Professor RCM Voice and keyboard Voice Patricia Rozario International soloist, recitalist and Professor RCM Piano Ian Brown One of UK's most celebrated collaborative pianists. Harpsichord Robert Costin. Director of Music, Ardingly College.
There are four resident pianists who play for the classes and concerts.
Some scholarships and bursaries are available. www.britishislesmusicfestival.org
