“Take note of the Maxwell Quartet – they bring wit, charisma and a sense of adventure to their programmes” The New York Times
Shoreditch’s ancient church, mentioned in the nursery rhyme ‘Oranges and Lemons’, provides a very special backdrop for the English premiere of a new piano quintet – We Are Collective – by acclaimed composer Sir James MacMillan. Its tongue-in-cheek flavour is mixed with wisps and allusions of half-forgotten old Scottish songs – here performed by fellow Scots, the Maxwell Quartet – before a finale infused with jazz and blues references.
The spirit of folk music connects the Maxwell Quartet’s own re-workings of Scottish traditional music and Eleanor Alberga’s joyous and energetic String Quartet no 2, while the programme is completed by Cesar Franck’s ultra-expressive piano quintet.
James MacMillan We Are Collective (English premiere) *
Maxwell Quartet Gather (Folk music from Scotland)
Eleanor Alberga String Quartet No. 2
César Franck Piano Quintet in F minor
*Co-commissioned by the Haddo Arts, Sound, Cheltenham and Spitalfields Music festivals
Alasdair Beatson piano
Maxwell Quartet:
Colin Scobie violin
George Smith violin
Elliott Perks viola
Duncan Strachan cello
Duration: 75 minutes
With the friendly support of
and Brian Smith
Piano provided with the support of