Mature Times, Eileen Caiger Gray
Built around Fantasias, Ensemble 360’s unusual programme, with plenty of dreamlike, soothing meditation on offer, brought music of pleasing variety, interest and beauty. Two of the seven pieces featured special contributions from Robert Plane’s enthusiastic clarinet while all offered opportunities for cello (Gemma Rosefield) viola (Rachel Roberts) and violins (Benjamin Nabarro and Natalie Klouda) to sing their hearts out.
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…a relaxing, contemplative visit to Eilean Shona, a beautiful, un-spoilt Scottish Island to which composer Joseph Holbrooke (1978-1958) had the good fortune to be invited by its rich owner.
“In this short work, the clarinet and string quartet evoke yet another calm, dreamy day as, with gentle sensitivity, Robert Plane’s calling clarinet reflects the beauty of the landscape in rich, deep tunefulness and in soaring notes and trills.”
The clarinet returned in the second half for Pamela Harrison’s 1956 Clarinet Quintet, written for friend and renowned clarinetist, Jack Brymer. It’s a wonderful piece, yet few have heard of Pamela Harrison (1915-1990). Thank goodness, then, that Robert Plane, enthusiastic champion of her chamber works, has made the very first recordings of her chamber pieces…
The finale, the pinnacle of any programme, brought Vaughan Williams’s The Lark Ascending, based on George Meredith’s 1881 poem and completed in 1920…
“Benjamin Nabarro’s beautiful, magical performance… left everyone flying high.”
Lots of restful meditation tonight, then, all delivered in beautiful music – and we can all do with some of that.
