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The Manor Recitals Club holds five concerts a year in the beautiful Great Drawing Room of Rothamsted Manor, with a wide variety of chamber music from string quartets to classical guitar. Manor Recitals generally start at 8pm. Please contact Margaret Glendining on 01582 763133 ext 2821 or e-mail margaret.glendining@rothamsted.ac.uk Please note you MUST ALWAYS contact Margaret Glendining if you intend to come to a Manor Recital because sometimes the recitals sell out and people have to be turned away.

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Anthony Hewitt Piano

Wednesday 13th February 2013

With music by Handel, Beethoven, Scriabin, and Rachmaninov

Anthony Hewitt’s communicative and virtuosic pianism has won him many plaudits worldwide, and as a recitalist, concerto soloist and chamber musician he has performed to much critical acclaim. His diverse repertoire encompasses all styles ranging from Bach to Benjamin, and he champions contemporary composers with frequent new commissions. His enterprising projects include the founding of the Ulverston International Music Festival, now in its ninth year, which brings artists of international repute to a small Cumbrian market town.

Career highlights to date include orchestral engagements with the National Symphony and Princeton Symphony Orchestras in the USA, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Northern Sinfonia in the UK. He has given four recitals at Wigmore Hall, and appeared across the USA including at Carnegie Weill Recital Hall. His discography includes 'Protégé' (Divine Art Records), the first coupling on CD of the Liszt and Reubke Sonatas. This unique recording was described in International Record Review as "magisterial", and received a Gramophone recommendation. In May 2012 he cycled from Land’s End to John O’Groats, giving a concert at the end of each day to raise money for charity.
See http://www.olympianist.com/ for more details.

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Sarah Butcher (cello) and Andrew Brownell (piano)

Wednesday 10th April 2013

Programme to include Beethoven’s 7 variations on a theme from Mozart’s Magic Flute, and cello sonatas by Frank Bridge and Brahms (E min Op 38).

Sarah Butcher studied cello with Stefan Popov at the Guildhall School of Music and chamber music with Hans Keller and the Chilingirian String Quartet. She has played in many orchestras and ensembles in the UK and has made two recordings for the Cello Classics label, Music for Two Cellos and 'Petits Fours', music for four cellos with the other members of the London Mozart Players cello section. She is well known to Manor Recital audiences as Artistic Director of The Chamber Players who play regularly at Festivals and venues throughout the UK. She has been a member of the London Mozart Players since 1998.

Andrew Brownell was recently hailed as “potentially one of the most significant pianists of his generation” by Musical Opinion. He won 2nd Prize at the 2006 Leeds Competition and has since enjoyed an active and varied international performing career. Recent engagements have included recitals and concerts throughout Europe and North America. A native of Portland, Oregon, Andrew Brownell began studying the piano at the age of four. Also an accomplished organist, he was assistant organist at St. James’ Episcopal Church, Los Angeles, and is a fellow of the Royal College of Organists.

Tickets double as programmes and the price of £12.00 (£8.00 for Manor Residents and £6.00 for children) includes interval refreshments. Please complete the form below and send to: Margaret Glendining, CSYS, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, AL5 2JQ. Tel. 01582 763133, Ext 2821.

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The Muse Piano Quintet

Wednesday 12th June 2013

Piano quintets by Brahms (F minor Op 34) and Shostakovich (G minor Op 57)

The Muse Piano Quintet brings unique perspectives to every work it performs. Founded in 2009 by a group of internationally established musicians, the Quintet immediately secured a reputation as one of the finest chamber ensembles in the UK, receiving awards and distinctions at leading international competitions and festivals. Since 2011, the Muse Quintet has held a prestigious Richard Carne Fellowship at the Royal College of Music in London, and has given many concerts at distinguished venues across the United Kingdom.

The members of the Muse Piano Quintet hail from Russia (Ilya Movchan violin, Ksenia Berezina violin, Yulia Vorontsova piano), Poland (Ilona Bondar viola) and France (Jordan Gregoris cello). Each has achieved fame and artistic success in their home country, recognised through many significant awards. These include first prizes at international competitions and honorary stipends, as well as the full scholarships that brought each of them to one of the most significant music schools in the world – the Royal College of Music. The players were still graduate students when they formed the Muse Piano Quintet, but it wasn't long before the ensemble established a leading reputation on the world scene.

Since arriving in the UK, the members of the Muse Piano Quintet have made significant contributions to British cultural life. They have given UK premieres of many works, including the Jerôme Ducros Piano Quintet in February 2012 at the Royal College of Music. The Quintet has also participated in charity projects, as well as performing many works by British composers. We are delighted that this outstanding Quintet is making a return visit to the Manor Recitals club.

The brief Manor Recitals Club AGM will be in the interval, followed by wine and soft drinks and a chance to wander in the Manor Gardens

Tickets double as programmes and cost £12.00 (£8.00 for Manor Residents and £6.00 for children). Please complete the form below and send to: Margaret Glendining, CSYS, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, AL5 2JQ. Tel: 01582 763133 ext 2821.