“London
Concertante…play well, the whole ensemble sounding far more
substantial than it is. This is stylish and sensitive” - Tom
Sutcliffe, Evening Standard
“a riveting, dramatic, even sexy listen. London Concertante demonstrates extraordinary versatility for a classical ensemble, with a sound that would feel as appropriate in a smoky jazz bar or Argentine tango club as it would in a concert hall. Their skill is summed up in Michaelangelo 70, a dramatic performance of feather-light virtuosity that is so tightly together that it would feel inhuman if there weren’t so much soul in the playing. ”
BBC CD Review (Nov 09)
“London Concertante playing with what can only be described as consummate artistry.... the players showed off their individual virtuosity as well as the warmth and sensitivity of their ensemble playing.”
Halifax Courier (October 09)
“compelling and entertaining ... wonderful playing ... This is a CD to raise the spirits, full of energy and commitment, richly expressive and inventive”
Musicweb International (March 08)
“Heady stuff ... thrilling virtuoso playing. Exciting listening”
Gramophone Magazine (April 08)
"to be relished ... they let the music show the full breadth of its textures ... all the light and shade you could wish."
Financial Times (April 08)
“Sheen and panache….refined sound….chunks of great music, played neat. Fresh, piquant sounds" - Geoff Brown, The Times
“Drum-tight. This is superb playing" - The Scotsman ****
“London
Concertante…play well, the whole ensemble sounding far more
substantial than it is. This is stylish and sensitive” - Tom
Sutcliffe, Evening Standard
"A warm welcome always awaits the London Concertante players for their programmes are inevitably laced with wit and consummate artistry .... they radiated its melancholic beauty to perfection, and for encore the London Concertante's enormous versatility sent us smiling homeward with a gypsy-band performance of Summerhayes' insouciant Five Naked Ladybirds." Bournemouth Daily Echo
Thames Concert Society - October 2002
"It was a wonderful concert. The orchestra's playing was marvellous, particularly in the Serenade for Strings." - Tony Willis, Honorary Secretary
Rochdale Music Society - October 2002
"The players showed a fine sense of collective interpretation…superb music making…. rare to hear chamber music of this calibre." - Joe Dawson, Music Critic
Weymouth Music Club - October 2002
"The London Concertante was one of the best starts to the season we can remember - I know that the members really enjoyed the concert and look forward to your next visit enormously." - Tomasa Sherwood, Honorary Secretary
"London Concertante treated Weymouth Music Club to a sparkling afternoon. All the players enjoyed themselves so much that their pleasure was infectious. Impeccable technique, perfect ensemble playing, timing and style made this a concert to remember. Full of sheer enjoyment and bright tone" Dorset Echo
Cockermouth Music Society - December 2002
"A close-knit group playing with beautiful baroque style and full sound….the sort of fizzing excitement which characterised the whole concert. Interpreted with all the expertise the group is bursting with and maintaining a wonderful excitement to the last note" - Susan Allison, Honorary Secretary
Rhyl
Music Society - December 2002
"I wanted to say how much we all enjoyed the concert - a lovely programme superbly executed. The audience response, listening to comments as the members left, was positive in the extreme." - Derek Bartley, Honorary Secretary
Milverton Music Society - March 2003
"Thanks for playing the schubert octet for us, it was a great treat. The audience response was excellent, in fact many people said it was one of our best concerts. Our thanks to all the players." - Rosie Shaw - Honarary Secretary
Keswick Music Society - March 2003
"It was a wonderful concert and the feed back was very positive. I think the favourite piece was Schoenberg. We often find this, that the piece members are a bit nervous about, comes out on top because of the passion of the players and everyone is truly enlightened. I hope that we will be able to arrange for you to come and play for us again in the future." - Gill Edmonds - Honaray Secretary
"[London Concertante] play with warmth, energy and panache and a wide range of tonal colours and dynamic contrast...performed with virtuosity and bravado by all." - Kewick Reminder
Seaton Music Society - October 2003
"A splendid performance, dedicated and beautifully moulded" - Midweek Herald
Sevenoaks Music Club - October 2004
"London Concertante was inspiring. The ensemble showed superb musicianship and their obvious enjoyment was enthusiastically communicated to their audience. The musicians played with enormous vigour and a fine esprit de corps. The ensemble's virtuoso playing was inspiring....a memorable concert!" - Sevenoaks Chronicle
Canterbury Music Club - December 2004
This concert, by six exceptional members of London Concertante, was in a class of its own...the immaculate precision and outstanding talent of the players ever obvious. It was one of the most profound musical experiences I've had in some 70 years concertgoing" - Kent Gazette
Lakeside Arts Centre, Nottingham- February 2007
"A wonderful concert. The group gave an engaging and committed performance, and the audience were really captivated ." - Catherine Hocking, Lakeside Music Officer
Welwyn Garden Concert Club - February 2007
"thank you for a lovely concert. We had SO many positive comments afterwards. It was really exceptional and also a lovely treat to have something 'different'" - Mary Anstey, Secretary
BDP Music Society - October 2006
"Your evening with us at BDP was a resounding success and I have had many comments in confirmation of that. You are another happy memory of the wonderful evenings we have spent with supremely talented musicians." Keith Scott, BDP Music Society
Holmes Chapel Music Society - September 2006
"Thank you all for the really wonderful feast of music you played at Holmes Chapel last night. It was such a wide variety of music for all tastes and played with brilliance and sensitivity." - Sue Hudson, Honorary Secretary
Elmbridge
Music Society - April 2006
"On behalf of the members of the Elmbridge Music Club, may I thank you and the other members of the ensemble who played for us yesterday most warmly for a truly excellent concert that brought our 61st season to an appropriately climactic conclusion. The Schubert was a great delight - you play with an energy and enthusiasm that is infectious but always with fascinating attention to detail. I thought I knew the Octet quite well, but you brought out things that I had never noticed before. For me, yours is the definitive performance." - Tony Rogers, Honorary Secretary
Minehead Music Society - March 2006
"On behalf of the Society I would like to thank you and your colleagues for a wonderful concert last Friday. It was even commented from one member of the audience that it was the best concert ever!." - Eileen Ann Moore - Secretary
Nicholas Yonge Society - October 2005
"Everyone thoroughily enjoyed the concert - lovely programme - beautifully played." - Michael Marwood- Honaray Secretary
Music in Leamington Hastings - May 2008
"Thank you all so much for a great concert, we all enjoyed it enormously and it was a splendid programme. Your interaction with the audience was delightful. As an ensemble you make a big impact, passionate, lyrical and haunting - with the added extra of a light-hearted and entertaining commentary which the audience loves." - Mary-Grace Ogilvie
Mayfield Festival - April 2008
"Thank you and your colleagues for three terrific concerts. - fantastic feedback!" Neil Mackie, Artistic Director
Hull Chamber Music Concerts - April 2008
"It was an excellent concert, and I've heard nothing but praise from the audience. They are a very discriminating bunch, what's more!" - Peter Sproston, Secretary
Maidenhead Music Society - March 2008
"I thought your evening with us was truly wonderful, and I got lots of good feedback including letters asking for your return some time in the future." Brian Johnson
Broxbourne Arts Forum - June 2009
"Thank you so much for the wonderful concert on Thursday. The programme and performance were outstanding and you created a lovely atmosphere for our small, but appreciative audience. Apart from the comments made immediately after the performance, several people took the trouble to telephone and register their pleasure.." - Leone Rayner
Seaton & District Music Club - October 2009
"Thank you also for another wonderful concert - quite outstanding! It absolutely came up to expectations and there were some really complimentary remarks from the audience as they were leaving the hall. The programme worked very well and it was such a treat to hear the less familiar Francaix and the amazing Strauss arrangement as well as the more popular Schubert octet." - Hilary Juster
Just some of the many comments we get from audience members via our web site or mailing list subscription cards.
· Excellent performance - more soon I hope
· The Performance lived up to billing expectations. I will definitely come again. Bach by Candlelight was magical
· Great! · I loved the intimacy and emotion of the performance - such energy, enthusiasm and joyous commitment to the scores
· Fantastic
· Excellent performance
· Your performance was wonderful. It has been a number of years since I have heard such fine music played by such skilled artist. Bravo!
· Brandenburg 3 superb - likewise 4 seasons.
· Excellent concert
· I attended your concert at St Martin in the Fields, and absolutely loved it.
·
I attended one of your concerts on 27 Dec at St
Martin's-in-the-Field. You guys did the performance brilliantly and
your group certainly lives up to the reputation of being one of the
best in the UK.· Beautiful concert. Loved every minute of
it
· Have just returned home from your concert.
Honestly, it was just tremendous. Clarity, sound, colours, perfect
intonation. So I'm just writing to say YOU WERE WONDERFUL - and Thank
you Very Much!
·
Wonderful concert - please come again
· The musicians
themselves appeared to be enjoying playing and the soft creamy tones
of their instruments contrasting with the energetic vigour of the
music drew me into a delightfully intimate performance
·
Superb
· Beautiful
· What a super
evening
· Excellent well presented - professional
·
A truly exhilarating performance! Adam Summerhayes' virtuosity was
quite outstanding. One of the best if not the best chamber orchestras
I have heard.
· Excellent, brilliant performance.
Overwhelming. More, much more, please.
· Wonderful!
Classical music made accessible to all. The setting was glorious.
·
A most delightful performance. The music simply flowed through the
musicians. They enjoyed the performance as we did.
· A
truly magical evening - wonderful!
· Great music -
wonderful musicians
· Last evenings concert was pure
magic and it seemed obvious from performers expressions you were all
having a great evening too.
· Wonderful performance,
really enjoyed it.
· The orchestra was as good as
anything I've ever seen.