Mozart: Adagio and Fugue
Bach: Concerto for two Violins in D minor, BWV1043
Shostakovich: Two pieces for Octet, Op.11
Mendelssohn: Octet in Eb, Op.20
Tyzer McAllister: World Premiere
Ensemble Reza are delighted to be returning to the Hawth for a second series of concerts following their popular Autumn debut. This concert will open with a world premiere of a new arrangement for string octet of Bach's riveting Concerto in D minor for two violins.
As well as the brooding, passionate String Octet by Shostakovich, this concert will feature music by one of Bach's greatest admirers, Mendelssohn. His string octet is a musical adventure full of lyricism and sparkling virtuosity and a musical ‘tour de force!’
There will also be a very special world premiere of music by 18 year old composer, Tyzer MacAllister performed by our Ensemble Reza musicians…
Alongside the masterpieces of Mozart, Bach, Shostakovitch and Mendelssohn, we are so excited to be premiering music by a very talented, self-taught composer, 18 year old, Tyzer MacAllister.
We met Tyler at a composing workshop we gave recently and were just blown away by the sheer imagination, scope and maturity of his music. It was such a thrill to play that we could not resist presenting it in this very special concert. There are so many strong threads between his music and what we are performing that it just made sense.
Not only do we have the connection of youth (Mendelssohn was only 17 when he wrote his octet) but as Tyzer says, he is very much influenced by Shostakovitch. Other inspirations are Stravinsky, Jazz composers of the 50s to 70s, such as Wayne Shorter and Chick Corea.
In Tyzer's own words it is a piece "intended to represent the sound of madness, achieved through the juxtaposition of dark sounds against sounds of manic joy..."
It is a piece that for us is challenging to play, but just so uplifting and energizing... a total adrenaline rush! Above all we are so happy to be able to support a young composer, but also touched and honoured that he was so willing to trust us with his music.
He has really given us the final piece to complete our jigsaw of music through the ages... Baroque (Bach), Classical (Mozart), Romantic (Mendelssohn), 20th century (Shostakovitch)… all that was missing was music representing today's composers. In Tyzer, we have found that missing link!
Pavlos Carvalho, Creative Director & Cellist, Ensemble Reza
“…an absolutely extraordinary concert. Fabulous. I felt so included.” Dame Judy Dench
Tickets: £15. Discounts: £13, Child: £5. See all three recitals: £36