Endymion News

As part of a new concert series at Milton Court (a new performance space at the Barbican), Endymion will be teaming up with the BBC Singers this October to play Steve Reich’s cantata ‘The Desert Music’. This thrilling five-movement cantata, based on texts by William Carlos Williams, takes centre stage in a concert devoted to american choral music. The concert is on October 15th, and tickets are available here. Keep up-to-date with all Endymion news via the Endymion website.

Endymion is taking part in “Brahms Unwrapped” at Kings Place in just a few weeks, bringing their celebrated programme of the Brahms Trio for Clarinet, Cello and Piano in A minor, Op.144 and the Horn trio in E flat, Op.40. We’re happily augmenting our regular short programme with both of his Clarinet Sonatas, Op.120.

The Horn Trio is by far the earliest work in the concert, written in 1865 after the death of Brahms’ mother. It’s full of childhood memories of woodland and countryside, as well as “a sense of enigma, turbulence, serenity, deep sorrow, exuberant joy,” according to our violinist Krysia Osostowicz.

Another frequent performer at Kings Place, Daniel Tong, joins us to perform the much later Clarinet Trio. Towards the end of his life, Brahms had pretty much decided to give up composing, but ended up exploring the potential of the clarinet as a chamber instrument like no one had since Mozart. A contemporary musicologist and friend of Brahms’ said his trio was “as though the instruments were in love with one another”. As well as the trio (from 1891), he wrote two Clarinet Sonatas in 1894, which are regarded as masterpieces for the instrument. At our concert, they’ll be performed by Mark van de Wiel with Daniel Lebhardt.

Tickets are already on sale here. Kings Place has its £9.50 Internet Savers, and then tickets start from as little as £13.50. This concert really is full of Endymion’s core repertoire, and not to be missed!

Endymion’s recent concert with the BBC Singers went fantastically well last week,  at Cheltenham International Music Festival.  The concert was recorded by the BBC, and included world premieres of pieces by John Tavener and Judith Bingham, performed by Endymion and the BBC Singers, conducted by David Hill.

The edition of Hear and Now will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 90-93 FM on Saturday 21st July, starting at 22:30.  You can tune in live online or listen again for seven days after the broadcast, here.

Endymion has a busy few weeks ahead, with performances at Cheltenham Festival, Temple Church and Wigmore Hall.

They will be joined by the BBC Singers for a Radio 3 broadcast concert on 5th July at Cheltenham International Music Festival, with a world premiere by Judith Bingham and a piece by John Tavener.   Tickets can be bought here.

On 11th July Endymion will be performing one of their most popular programmes at Temple Church, featuring the Mozart and Brahms Clarinet Quintets, featuring clarinettist Mark van de Wiel.  A perfect Summer evening’s entertainment!   Tickets for that are available here.

On 15th July, they’ll be making their first ever appearance in the prestigious Wigmore Hall Coffee Concert series, performing Brahms’ sumptuous Clarinet Trio and Horn Trio.  Don’t miss it!  Tickets for that concert are only £12, with concessions available.  They are selling very well, so book quickly to avoid disappointment.  Tickets available here.

A video of Endymion performing Brahms’ Clarinet Quintet at King’s Place a few weeks ago. Enjoy!

Mark van de Wiel, Michael Dussek and Krysia Osostowicz from Endymion

Endymion revives one of their favourite programmes this Friday evening at the Brickwall Music and Arts Society in East Sussex.  This wonderful rural concert society has been going for over 40 years, and Endymion are delighted to be presenting some of their favourite repertoire there for clarinet, violin and piano.  Mark, Krysia and Michael will be playing Bartok’s Contrasts, Mozart’s glorious Kegelstatt K498, Ravel’s Violin Sonata in G and Brahms’ Clarinet Sonata in F minor.