Beare's Chamber Music Festival Review: A String Supergroup Conquers Schubert and Schoenberg
A major new charity has stepped into the breach, supporting arts in the UK with a substantial donation. J&A Beare, a veteran London-based violin dealer, has founded a cultural trust to provide masterclasses, scholarships, and practical support for string players. The biennial mini festival, featuring Beare's instruments and international players, made its debut last night at Cadogan Hall, with another concert scheduled for this evening.
The line-up was nothing short of stellar: Janine Jansen, Ning Feng, Alexander Sitkovetsky, Timothy Ridout, Amihai Grosz, Kian Soltani, Daniel Blendulf, and the French quartet Quatuor Ébène all took to the stage. But it was not just individual brilliance that impressed – a supergroup of string virtuosos working together as one entity was what truly made the evening special.
The concert began with Schubert's monumental String Quintet in C major, a 1828 farewell to chamber music and life. The sheer weight of this work demanded nothing but the best from the performers. Alexander Sitkovetsky on cello anchored the quintet beautifully, providing a sense of grounding that allowed the rest of the ensemble to soar. Janine Jansen shone on violin, her tone as warm and inviting as ever.
Next came Schoenberg's Verklärte Nacht, a 1899 sextet that defies convention with its radical harmony and form. It was here that the true magic of this supergroup became apparent – each musician playing off the others to create something greater than the sum of its parts. Collegiate intimacy and precision were on full display as the ensemble wrestled Schoenberg's score into submission.
Throughout, Quatuor Ébène brought their characteristic Gallic elegance to the proceedings, while J&J's string quartet provided a beautifully understated accompaniment to the main event. The whole was a testament to the skill and dedication of this incredible group – a reminder that when the best musicians come together, something truly special can happen.
In short, Beare's Chamber Music Festival is an unqualified success, showcasing the very best in classical music. With its commitment to supporting emerging talent and providing opportunities for professional development, it is also a shining example of how arts organisations can make a positive impact on their communities.
A major new charity has stepped into the breach, supporting arts in the UK with a substantial donation. J&A Beare, a veteran London-based violin dealer, has founded a cultural trust to provide masterclasses, scholarships, and practical support for string players. The biennial mini festival, featuring Beare's instruments and international players, made its debut last night at Cadogan Hall, with another concert scheduled for this evening.
The line-up was nothing short of stellar: Janine Jansen, Ning Feng, Alexander Sitkovetsky, Timothy Ridout, Amihai Grosz, Kian Soltani, Daniel Blendulf, and the French quartet Quatuor Ébène all took to the stage. But it was not just individual brilliance that impressed – a supergroup of string virtuosos working together as one entity was what truly made the evening special.
The concert began with Schubert's monumental String Quintet in C major, a 1828 farewell to chamber music and life. The sheer weight of this work demanded nothing but the best from the performers. Alexander Sitkovetsky on cello anchored the quintet beautifully, providing a sense of grounding that allowed the rest of the ensemble to soar. Janine Jansen shone on violin, her tone as warm and inviting as ever.
Next came Schoenberg's Verklärte Nacht, a 1899 sextet that defies convention with its radical harmony and form. It was here that the true magic of this supergroup became apparent – each musician playing off the others to create something greater than the sum of its parts. Collegiate intimacy and precision were on full display as the ensemble wrestled Schoenberg's score into submission.
Throughout, Quatuor Ébène brought their characteristic Gallic elegance to the proceedings, while J&J's string quartet provided a beautifully understated accompaniment to the main event. The whole was a testament to the skill and dedication of this incredible group – a reminder that when the best musicians come together, something truly special can happen.
In short, Beare's Chamber Music Festival is an unqualified success, showcasing the very best in classical music. With its commitment to supporting emerging talent and providing opportunities for professional development, it is also a shining example of how arts organisations can make a positive impact on their communities.
just saw the most epic string fest 
at Cadogan Hall last nite 
! The supergroup 
consisting of Janine Jansen, Ning Feng, Alexander Sitkovetsky, Timothy Ridout, Amihai Grosz, Kian Soltani, Daniel Blendulf & Quatuor Ébène totally killed it 
! Their chemistry 
! I loved how each musician supported the others to create something greater than themselves 
. And Schubert's String Quintet in C major was stunningly beautiful 
! The fact that J&A Beare's Chamber Music Festival is supporting emerging talent & providing opportunities for professional development is a total win 
, I'm totally blown away by this supergroup! 
on that Schubert String Quintet - the way they blended those rich tones together is pure magic 
. And can we talk about Quatuor Ébène's Gallic flair? 
They totally brought the house down with Schoenberg's Verklärte Nacht! 
The stats are looking up for classical music - 72% of attendees reported feeling 'inspired' and 85% said they'd attend another event like this. 
The financials are looking good too - J&A Beare's trust has pledged £1.2m to support emerging artists, that's like, whoa! 
omg i think what really made this concert special was how all these amazing musicians came together as a team 
and it showed in the way they communicated with each other on stage 
janine jansen and alexander sitkovetsky were literally on fire 
The way they worked together as one entity was truly mesmerizing. And that Schubert String Quintet was absolutely breathtaking – the way the cello anchored everything was pure magic 
. Can't wait for the next concert! 
I'm not sure if I should be stoked about this or totally meh... the fact that a new charity has stepped in to support arts in the UK is awesome, but is it really necessary? 
Like, can't they just fundraise like everyone else? And don't get me wrong, the concert itself was incredible, but only if you're into classical music. I mean, who needs all that complicated harmony and whatnot? 
.
i'm just glad it's not another bland corporate sponsored event 
can't wait to see what other amazing musicians they bring together 
Quatuor Ébène added this super smooth French vibe that just made the whole thing feel fancy 
. I'm seriously loving this Beare's Chamber Music Festival - it's like a breath of fresh air for classical music lovers 
.
he anchored that Schubert quintet like a rock 
they were all so in sync it was like one organism or something 
Quatuor Ébène brought their usual je ne sais quoi 
and J&J's string quartet was the perfect understudy 
?
But honestly, it worked like a charm. Janine Jansen absolutely killed it on violin, and Alexander Sitkovetsky's cello playing brought this Schubert quintet to life in a way that made me wanna cry (in the best possible way). And then there was Schoenberg's Verklärte Nacht – I don't know how they managed to make something so complex sound so beautiful! Quatuor Ébène were on fire too, bringing that Gallic charm to every note. It was like a masterclass in classical music right before my eyes