This December sees the start of a new series of 45 minute lunchtime concerts at The Atkinson.

After the huge success of the Liverpool Philharmonic events, The Atkinson is working with L’Orchestra dell’ Arte and the Liverpool String Quartet to bring high quality, but accessible classical music to the venue.

On the first Monday of each month a different ensemble will perform a 45 minute concert at 1pm. After the concert refreshments including a cup of tea and a piece of cake will be served in a relaxed and informal environment where the audience are encouraged to chat and ask questions about the pieces to the musicians.

The series begins on Monday 8 December at 1pm with Wind soloists from L’Orchestra dell’Arte, who will be playing well known melodies for you to relax with and to enjoy. Music will include works by Elgar, Sullivan, Gershwin and Mozart and will be introduced by the players.

The quartet includes Flute: Jeff Rimmer, Oboe: Howard Rogers, Clarinet: Valerie Warr, Bassoon: Sandra Downing and French Horn: Kenneth Taylor.

L’Orchestra dell’Arte returns after the Christmas break on Monday 5 January with music for strings and piano. The core piece will be Mendelssohn’s Trio No 1 in D minor, opus 49 for violin, cello and piano. This is considered to be one of Mendelssohn’s finest chamber compositions alongside his famous Octet opus 20.
The ensemble includes Violin: Andrew Winter, Violoncello: Jonathon Stone and Piano: Stephanie Howard.

The Liverpool String Quartet perform on Monday 2 February Cellist Nick Byrne, well known to Merseyside audiences, brings his friends to Southport today to play Mozart and Dvorak.

The beguilingly beautiful quartet “The American” Op.96, was written by Antonin Dvorak in 1893 during his time in the United States. It is one of the most popular string pieces in chamber music repertoire.

Frühling takes centre stage on Monday 2 March. This rarely heard but beautiful, lyrical trio for clarinet, cello and piano is opus 40, written in the Romantic style circa 1900. Short pieces by Debussy, Ireland and Bloch provide a superb introduction to this very special concert.

Ensemble includes Clarinet: Valerie Warr, Violoncello: Cathie Bunting and Piano: Stephanie Howard.

L’Orchestra dell’Arte brings the spring series to an end on Monday 6 April with Dvorak’s “Serenade”. This fantastic work for wind nonet plus cello and double bass was written in the key of D minor in 1878. It excludes the sounds and feelings of Dvorak’s Slavonic homeland and is a delight for both the players and their audiences.

This final concert will be introduced by Edward Peak, Artistic Director for L’Orchestra dell’Arte.

Tickets for all the lunchtime cake and classical music concerts are available now for £10.The price includes a cup of tea and a piece of cake. Tickets are available online at theatkinson.co.uk or by calling the Box Office on 01704 533333. They are also available over the counter during The Atkinson opening hours.

Please be advised that there is a £2 booking fee for telephone and online sales.

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Posted on 2 December 2014 under General news