A warm welcome to those joining us for the first time; we hope that you'll continue to enjoy live music with us in the future. For our February concert on Sunday 16th at 3.30pm we welcome the Callino String Quartet to Newton Abbot for the first time. From their debut in 1999 at the West Cork Chamber Music Festival Helena Winkelman, Tom Hankey, Rebecca Jones, and Sarah McMahon have developed a broad and eclectic repertoire, and collaborate with musicians and composers across a wide range of genres and styles from rock bands to jazz guitarists.
The Callino Quartet has received many awards including prizes at the Borciani and Tromp international string quartet competitions. Performing in many of the world's best concert halls including the Wigmore and Carnegie Halls, they have also toured extensively throughout Europe.
Their recording history includes works by Arvo Pärt, Valentin Silvestrov, John Tavener, Rachel Stott, Alexander Knaifel and Ian Wilson, and more recently their recording of Haydn’s “Seven Last Words” for Coro has met with critical acclaim. Their subsequent collaboration with Canadian film director, Kaveh Nabatian, performing a live score of this work, was premiered at the International Film Festival in Rotterdam in 2019, and then touring to festivals in New York, Buenos Aires, Bilbao, Montreal, Edinburgh and Moscow.
‘…The Callino Quartet’s performance of the Haydn (‘Fifths’ quartet) was as good as it gets; joyous, true to the score, wonderfully expressive and fabulously exciting. – The Irish Times
‘The third finalist (at the Tromp International Quartet competition in the Netherlands), four women from Ireland and England, the Callino Quartet, reminded us poignantly of how truly wonderful a composer Mendelssohn was! Their warm, expressive and risky performance of his quartet Opus 80 was a crowning glory to the evening.- classicsonline
Read more about the quartet here: https://callinoquartet.com/about-us/ and listen to their Haydn & Debussy here: https://callinoquartet.com/audio-visual/
Their programme for us will include
Three of these names will be familiar; Mike Greenaway hails from Buckfasrleigh and his piece ‘Mitnor Remains’ (i.e. found at a limestone cave nearby) was written for the Ashburton Festival just two years ago.
This promises to be an interesting and enjoyable afternoon with both traditional and more modern influences, so book your ticket now at https:..nadsa.co.uk/event/callino-quartet-an-evening-of-strings/ It's not too late to sign up as a member for the rest of the year and enjoy the three remaining concerts at a discounted price – email our Membership Secretary Ineke Henderson-Leer http://ineke@nadsa.co.uk and she'll tell you more.
This afternoon's concert is sponsored by Ray and Sue, to whom we are most grateful.
What else is happening locally in the music world?
This year is the 25th anniversary of Devon Baroque, and they'll be celebrating with a series of concerts, ‘Made in Britain’ . The first, ‘Music from the English Provinces’ is on Sunday 23rd February 2025 at St John’s Church, Totnes, 4pm: more information at Concerts | Devon Baroque
Then on March 8th join Exeter Bach Choir and Orchestra at Exeter Cathedral, to celebrate its 30th anniversary, for a vivid performance of J.S. Bach’s great masterpiece, the Mass in B Minor. Exeter Bach Choir and Orchestra: Bach Mass in B Minor Concert | Exeter Cathedral for more information.
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra are at Exeter University Great Hall on 27th March with their 'Fairytales and Folklore' concert - Fairytales and Folklore - Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Exeter Chamber Choir, Orchestra and Soloists present J.S. Bach’s dramatic setting of the Easter Passion according to St. John, at Exeter Cathedral on March 29th - Exeter Chamber Choir: J.S. Bach's St John Passion | Exeter Cathedral
That's all for now; don't forget to forward this to any of your music-loving friends. Meanwhile, happy listening,
John R