18
Apr
Opera North principal string players to play one-off concert in Harrogate
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The four principal string players from the Orchestra of Opera North will play a one-off chamber music concert in Harrogate next weekend.
Pianist David Cowan, the company’s head of music, will accompany the strings at the event at the Wesley Centre on April 25.
The centre holds monthly Monday lunchtime concerts but rarely stages weekend concerts.
Sarah Devonald, who along with Andrew Hitchen organises the Wesley concert series, asked Mr Cowan if he would agree to the venture.
The programme includes Haydn's Piano Trio in G major, Ravel's String Quartet and Dvorak's Piano Quintet No.2.
Andrew Hitchen and Sarah Devonald outside the Wesley Centre.
Leader of the orchestra, Katie Stillman will be joined by principal second violin Katherine New, and viola and cello leaders David Aspin and Jessica Burroughs.
Mr Cowan said the programme featured three well-known but varied works.
The Dvorak is big and profound, the Haydn is folksy and the Ravel takes you to another world.
The acoustics at the Wesley Centre are fantastic, the piano is really nice and they do a great job organising events so we are really looking forward to it.
Ms Devonald, who had a 35-year career as a BBC Radio 3 producer and oboist, said:
“This promises to be a joyful occasion, as the group’s relationship in the orchestra pit has been forged over many performances over the years, allowing for something really special to happen when they play chamber music together.”
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