DIVERTIMENTI STRING QUINTET

FRIDAY 23rd MARCH 2012 at 8:00 pm

Programme

Frank Martin - Pavane Couleur du Temps
Glazunov - String Quintet in A major Op 39
Schubert - String Quintet  in C major Op 956

Divertimenti

Paul Barritt - violin
Rachel Isserlis - violin
Jonathan Barritt - viola
Sebastian Comberti - cello
Josephine Harder - cello

Divertimenti has become widely acclaimed as one of the most exciting and innovative British chamber groups of its generation.  Established in London in 1978, the core group is a string quintet with two cellos, also expanding to sextets and octets.  Early interest was attracted by a recording of chamber music by Colin Matthews and of the Mozart Clarinet Quintet on the Meridian label.  Two further recordings on the Hyperion label - Howells and Dyson Quartets and Mendelssohn and Bargiel Octets - received unanimous praise from the critics, the latter being singled out for recommendation by BBC Radio 3's Record Review and by International Record Review.  Divertimenti has a long tradition of breaking new ground with adventurous repertoire and championing the work of lesser known composers.  A serious dedication to twentieth century compositions, together with a particular focus on the rich seam of works by British composers, has enabled the creation of attractive and challenging concerts.  Recent additions to Divertimenti's repertoire have been the Beethoven 'Kreuzer' Quintet, a transcription for string quintet with two cellos of the famous violin sonata, the Quintet by Joseph Miroslav Weber and the Brahms String Quintet in F minor, a reconstruction of the original instrumentation of his Piano Quintet Op 34.  Touring throughout the British Isles, the ensemble has appeared for music societies and major festivals such as Aldeburgh, Bath, King's Lynn and Lichfield.  Divertimenti has also given concerts in National Trust and other stately homes as well as throughout Europe.  Divertimenti are coming to Music Nairn as part of a major tour of Scotland in March 2012.