Past Concerts
Spring Concert - Holy Trinity Church 26th March 2010
What a great concert from our ensemble this term! I was very impressed with the dedication from everyone involved, especially given the technical and musical difficulty of the three contrasting works in the programme.
Undoubtedly it was the best we have played the Stravinsky. The relaxation of the ensemble throughout most of the performance allowed for us to perform the work accurately and sensitively. As I have said all along, a performance of this work by an amateur ensemble is something to be proud of: it is difficult! Not only are the rhythms and the "togetherness" of the piece challenging, but the combinations of notes and the patterns required of the fingers are unusual. I am pleased with the positivity with which the work was approached. I know that a performance of this piece will enable us to continue to develop the overall ability of the ensemble.
We gave a very respectable performance of Barber's Adagio for Strings. I was pleased with the development that we have made in terms of phrasing and conveying a musical line. The area most in need of our attention in the future, however, is projection. In this performance we didn't maximise the dynamic variation required to inspire great emotion in our listeners. Up close to an instrument it is sometimes not easy to gauge how loud a sound is from the audience's perspective. This is even more difficult when playing within an ensemble. Very often amateur musicians don't realise just how loud a professional orchestra needs to play in order to sound loud to the audience. This effect is achieved by every individual maximising the projection of their sound. In order to do this it is important to play without tension and to use as much bow as possible. Whilst this kind of commitment to sound quality is demanding, the rewards are worth it! We will endeavour to achieve more in this area.
I was particularly impressed with the Mendelssohn. Undoubtedly we achieved some of our finest playing to date in the performance of this work. The style and character of the music were conveyed brilliantly. And the enjoyment of the ensemble when playing the piece was evident throughout. The melodies sang out and the accompaniment bounced along excitedly. Importantly, the performance felt like a journey. I am certain that, throughout the piece, the audience was full of anticipation as to what may happen next. Inspiring an audience to respond in this way to a performance is a truly high level of music-making. Congratulations!
Scott WilsonConductor - Imperial College String Ensemble
ICSE's latest concert was another triumph, not only because of the technical difficulty of the pieces but also for the effort and dedication shown by the members in putting on such a show so near to the end-of-term deadlines.
The evening opened with Stravinsky's Concerto in D: a sombre, textured first movement was brought to life with balance and polish; the second, a calming Arioso, and third, a stirring Rondo, highlighting the technical aptitudes of the flourishing ensemble, proving that ICSE are capable of the challenge they had set themselves.
A clear favourite of the audience and ensemble alike, the first half was brought to a close with Barber's enchanting Adagio for Strings. Holy Trinity Church proved to be an ideal location for such a work, the remorseful, tortured notes of the celli particularly clear beneath the cavernous architecture. The final phrases were especially fine – sculpted expertly by Scott Wilson – bringing the much-loved piece to a harrowing close; an extended silence was observed as the audience collectively took a moment to breathe.
The second half comprised a colourful and vibrant rendition of Mendelssohn's String Symphony No. 8, a thoroughly enjoyable and spirited performance. The first movement was playful and light and the frolicsome Menuetto was a particular favourite; altogether more relaxing than the first half. The final Allegro Molto was played with exactness and feeling and a lively finish, with that wonderfully singular pizzicato, brought a delightful evening to an end.
Nathan March - Audience MemberWinter Concert - Holy Trinity Church, Prince Consort Road, Saturday the 12th of December, 2009
Our first performance for this academic year was a tremendous success. The performance was without doubt the finest the Ensemble had played all term, and it showed that each member of the orchestra had put a great deal of effort into learning the challenging repertoire. Very impressive indeed!
At the request of several members of the Ensemble, we undertook learning Elgar's Introduction and Allegro. With the piece requiring a solo string quartet and (for much of the piece) nine different string sections –each of the violin, viola, and cello sections are split into two – it presented a unique opportunity for the Ensemble to test its skills. Whilst I must say that I was initially against performing such a difficult work in the first term – of course, we had many new members and a new conductor – I am very pleased that the committee and other members of the Ensemble managed to convince me that ICSE was up to it. And they were right: it was an excellent performance!
Performing Benjamin Britten's Simple Symphony and Fauré's Morceau de Concours (with solo flautist Sarah Bennington) provided a nice balance in the programme. In particular I must congratulate the orchestra for the variety of character which they were able to convey in the performance of the Britten. Lighter music such as this can be deceptively easy, yet it is so difficult to do well. Fortunately we managed to pull off a very respectable performance of both these works.
I am very much looking forward to the year ahead. A masterpiece by Mendelssohn – his Sinfonia no. 8 completed when he was only twelve or thirteen years old – and Stravinsky's Concerto in D. Both works will be challenging, but both are truly excellent compositions and are well suited to the future development of the Imperial College String Ensemble.
Scott WilsonConductor - Imperial College String Ensemble
ICSE's winter concert was a fantastic performance. The Imperial College String Ensemble, conducted by Scott Wilson, undertook, with true enthusiasm, a program as charmingly light-hearted as deeply heartfelt.
The program began with Simple Symphony; a whimsically humorous yet sophisticated work of Benjamin Britten's youth. ICSE successfully conferred a variety of character to a composition, where ingenious articulation of musical fragments of manifold meaning prevails. The Boisterous Bouree was robust and mischievous in character whilst the Playful Pizzicato was delivered with refreshing caprice. ICSE's performance of Britten's work certainly climaxed in a very enjoyable Sentimental Saraband. A duality of intense yearning and tender reverie sustained the emotional pathos throughout, making it a truly compelling and moving experience. The Frolicsome Finale was played with inherent vivacity and brought the piece to a pleasant and playful close.
ICSE's performance of Edward Elgar's Introduction and Allegro for strings was vibrant and picturesque. This melodious yet exuberant work is a display of masterly composition for strings where a fine balance between imbedded solo string quartet and orchestra promises great musical landscape. The performance enjoyed vivid contrasts between episodes of melodic softness, fragments of nervous stutter and cascading descents. The calm sentimentality of a lyrical folk tune came over particularly well and progressively gained much expressive fervour as extended to the whole orchestra. Whilst it is dazzlingly ordered and balanced, the vitality of Elgar's work lies seemingly in its overall freedom and imaginative sweep. At any rate, from the enthusiastic first note of the Introduction, through to the final thrilling return of the melody, ICSE impressively sustained sheer dynamic energy and drive.
The Audience also enjoyed a beautifully phrased piece for solo flute (Sarah Bennington) and orchestra; Gabriel Fauré's Morceau de Concours, as well as a very respectable performance of Schubert's and Glazunov's String quintets. The chamber ensemble (Jonathan Silver, Hannah Nepilova, Rae Leaver, Andrew Hopper, Chloë Clifford-Frith) engaged in a very challenging repertoire indeed!
All in all, it was wonderful evening. ICSE played with panache, sentimentality and conviction, and undoubtedly left the Audience with Great Expectations for future performances!
Ines Rheinberger - Audience Member