"Inspired concert revealed true skill"

The Innovation Chamber Ensemble

St Mary's Church, Shrewsbury

Shropshire Star - 18 Mar 2008

The Innovation Chamber Ensemble presented a programme of music for string sextet at St Mary's Church on Sunday, opening with the Prelude to "Capriccio" by Richard Strauss followed by the two sextets by Brahms. This was an inspired price of programming, as these works are rarely heard live.

"Capriccio" is Strauss' final opera and this arrangement is a distillation of his music, richly romantic yet with a hint of irony.

Here, as throughout the concert, the playing of the six musicians was beyond criticism. Their timing and ability to listen to each other is allied to techniques which were always at the service of the music.

Each pair of musicians offered interesting comparisons: violinists Richard Heard and Elizabeth Golding have contrasting tonal qualities.

This was true also of viola players Angela Swanson and Mike Jenkinson, and cellists Richard Jenkinson and Katherine Jenkinson.

Brahms' two sextets were written about five years apart. Each is a glorious work.

The moments of lyrical beauty were played with love and skill by a group of musicians who clearly relished the technical demands of the music.

A fine concert.

Andrew Fetch

Last Updated : 25/03/2008