A SELECTION OF PREVIOUS CONCERTS AND REVIEWS.

Saturday 28th. September 2024 at 7 p.m.

 

St. Michael's Church,

Bendarroch Road,

West Hill,

Devon.

EX11 1UW

 

JOEL MUNDAY    violin

 

ALEX WILSON   piano

Saturday 15th. June 2024 at 7.30 p.m.

SIDMOUTH PARISH CHURCH

 

ISCA ENSEMBLE  

LUCAS KRUPINSKIpiano

Renowned UK Polish pianist

 

J. Strauss 'Fledermaus' overture

Beethoven : Piano Concerto No 3

Dvorak  : Symphony No 9 'From the New World'

Saturday 13th. April 2024 at 7.30 p.m.

SIDMOUTH PARISH CHURCH

 

ISCA ENSEMBLE  

with

THOMAS KELLY - piano

Renowned UK soloist

2021 Leeds International Piano Competition finalist

Mozart : 'Magic Flute' Overture

Brahms : Piano Concerto No 1

Dvorak  : Symphony No 6

 

Saturday 24th. February 2024 at 7.30 p.m.

St. DAVID'S CHURCH, EXETER

 

ISCA ENSEMBLE with

JOEL MUNDAY  violin

VANESSA HRISTOVA  viola

JOE SHARP  oboe

Saturday 16th. December 2023 at 7.30 p.m.

Sidmouth Parish Church

Christmas  Orchestral Concert

 

Isca Ensemble

with the internationally renowned South Korean violinist

JOO YEON SIR 

 

Bizet : Extracts from 'Carmen'

Mendelssohn : Violin Concerto in E minor Op 64

Schumann : Symphony No 3 'Rhenish'

 

Saturday 28th October 2023 at 7.30 p.m.
EXETER CATHEDRAL

 

ISCA ENSEMBLE with

 

BEN GOLDSCHEIDER - French horn

 

Nicolai - Overture  'Merry Wives of Windsor' 

RIchard Strauss : Horn Concerto No. 1

Mozart : Rondo from Horn Concerto No. 4

ANTON BRUCKNER : SYMPHONY No. 7

Saturday 1st. July 2023 at 7.30 p.m.

Sidmouth Parish Church

 

Summer Orchestral Concert

Isca Ensemble

with

KACPER NOWAK- cello

 

Mozart : Overture 'Marriage of Figaro'

Saint-Säens : Cello Concerto No. 1

Schubert : Andante con moto - Death and the Maiden

(arr. Gustav Mahler for string orchestra)

Mozart : Symphony No. 35 'Haffner'

 

Saturday 13th. May 2023 at 7.30 p.m.

Lympstone Parish Church

 

Lympstone Entertainments presents the

 ISCA ENSEMBLE CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

 

Joel Munday - violin

Vanessa Hristova - viola

Oxana Taylor - violin

Tirke Linnemann - cello

 

                                Handel     Concerto Grosso Op. 6 No. 9    

                                Bach      Violin concerto in A minor 

                                Haydn   Symphony No. 49 ' La Passione' 

                                Elgar     Serenade for strings

                                Mozart     Sinfonia Concertante K 364

Saturday 17th. December  2022 at 7.30 p.m.

Sidmouth Parish Church

 

Isca Ensemble Christmas Concert

 

with

THOMAS ISAAC - cello

 

Borodin : In the steppes of Central Asia

Elgar : Cello Concerto

 Dvořák : Symphony No. 7

Saturday 29th. October 2022 at 7.30 p.m.

EXETER CATHEDRAL

 

Rossini : Overture 'The Barber of Seville'

 

Schumann : Piano Concerto in A minor Op. 54

 

LUCAS KRUPINSKI - soloist

 

Rachmaninov : Symphony No. 2

 

Saturday 24th. September 2022

Sidmouth Parish Church

 

Isca Ensemble Chamber Orchestra

 

Joel Munday - violin

Joe Sharp - oboe

Oxana Taylor - violin

Tiirke Linnemann - cello

Thursday 30th. June 2022 at 8 p.m.

Sidmouth Parish Church

 

Classical guitar recital

JAMES GIRLING - soloist

 

John Dowland - Præludium P.98 & Fantasia No.7 in G
William Walton - Selections from Five Bagatelles
Agustín Barrios - La Catedral
 - Una Limosna por el Amor de Dios
Heitor Villa-Lobos - Selections from Douze Études
Isaac Albéniz - 
Suite Española, Op. 47: 
Granada
Asturias (Leyenda)
Fernando Sor - Variations on a Theme of Mozart, Op. 9

Saturday 2nd. July 2022 at 7.30 p.m.

Sidmouth Parish Church

 

Berlioz : Roman Carnival Overture

 

Rodrigo : Fantasia para un gentilhombre

 

JAMES GIRLING - soloist

‘He went on to command everyone`s attention with his virtuosity, rich quality of tone and deep understanding

of the music.’

 

Dvořák: Symphony No. 8

Saturday 23rd. April 2022 at 7.30 p.m.

Sidmouth Parish Church

 

Isca Ensemble South West

 

JOO YEON SIR

Renowned international violinist.

 

 

Elgar : Violin Concerto

Sibelius : Symphony No. 3

Brahms : Two Hungarian Dances

 

Described by The Strad as "exuberant... seductive... with bravura and oodles of personality", prize-winning violinist and composer,  Joo Yeon Sir made a welcome return

to Sidmouth to perform with the Isca Ensemble.

Thursday 16th. December 2021 at  3 p.m.

Sidmouth Parish Church

 

Lucas Krupinski

 

A special afternoon recital by this brilliant Polish artist.

Programme to include works by Scriabin and Chopin

 

Chopin:

Etude in A-flat Major, Op. 25 No 1

Nocturne in B-major, Op. 62 No 1

Polonaise-Fantasie in A-flat Major, Op. 61

Scriabin - Preludes, Op. 11 

Rachmaninov - Piano Sonata No. 2

 

Saturday 18th. December 2021 at 7.30 p.m.

Sidmouth Parish Church

 

Lucas Krupinski - soloist

Wagner : 'Siegfried Idyll'

Chopin : Piano Concerto No 2 in F minor

Mozart  : Symphony No. 40

 

Roger Hendy - Musical Director

Antony Clements - leader

 

Mahlerian triumph!

Exeter Cathedral Concert 6th. November 2021 with Luka Okros - piano

Takashi Yoshimatsu: And birds are still .... Op. 72

Beethoven :  Piano Concerto No. 1 

MAHLER : SYMPHONY no. 1 'Titan' 

Saturday 6th. November 2021 at 7.30 p.m.

 

EXETER CATHEDRAL

 

Isca Ensemble with  LUKA OKROS - piano

 

Takashi Yoshimatsu:

And birds are still .... Op. 72

BEETHOVEN :  Piano Concerto No 1

 

MAHLER :  SYMPHONY No 1 'Titan'

Sunday 7th. November 2021 at 3 p.m.

Sidmouth Parish Church

 

                 LUKA OKROS - piano

 

    A special afternoon recital

by this brilliant Georgian artist.

 

Programme confirmed
Beethoven : 'Moonlight' sonata Op 27 No. 2
Beethoven : 'Tempest' sontata Op 31 No 2
Two Chopin ballades 
 
Promoted by Roger Hendy

 

Saturday 17th. July 2021 at 7.30 p.m.

Sidmouth Parish Church

 

Isca Ensemble South West with

JOEL MUNDAY - violin

Exceptional young soloist from Devon

 

Tchaikovsky : Sérénadé Mélancolique Op.26

Beethoven : Violin Concerto in D major Op.61

Beethoven : Symphony No 2 in D major Op. 36

 

www.joelmunday.co.uk

Sunday 18th.  July 2021 at 3.00 p.m.

Sidmouth Parish Church

 

Celebrity piano recital

LUKAS KRUPINSKI

(Please note the new programme)

Beethoven

Sonata in F minor Op. 57
Franz Liszt

Années de pèlerinage I, Vallée d'Obermann 

Franz Liszt

Transcendental Étude No. 8 in C minor "Wilde Jagd"
S. Rachmaninov

Étude Tableau in A Minor Op. 39 No. 6
S. Prokofiev

Third Piano Sonata in A minor

 

 

Renowned soloist from Warsaw, Poland.

lucaskrupinski.co.uk

Review. East Devon Press July 2021.
Two rising stars shine in Sidmouth.

Last weekend audiences were treated to two exceptional concerts in Sidmouth Parish Church. We welcomed the return of the Isca Ensemble directed by Roger Hendy together with the highly gifted young Devonian violinist, Joel Munday. Following a delightful rendition of Tchaikovsky’s Sérénadé Mélancolique, a  glorious Beethoven Violin Concerto was exquisitely delivered by Joel and the orchestra. For someone as young as he, Joel’s playing was of a remarkably advanced standard. Playing with absolute conviction and assuredness, his violin sang out with a most beautiful tone. For this work, the orchestra and conductor count just as much as the violinist or rather the need for a fine ensemble and this is exactly what was achieved. Every change of mood seemed to start with the soloist and then seamlessly taken up by the players – this was an ensemble that respected the soloist allowing him to project those glorious themes. One noticeable highpoint was the Larghetto second movement. Played by Joel with real passion we were given a glimpse of a romantic Beethovenian spirit. There was also a great spirited performance of Beethoven’s second symphony.

On Sunday 18th July another audience was enthralled by the brilliant playing of pianist Lucas Krupinski from Warsaw who delivered a rich programme of Beethoven, Liszt, Rachmaninov and Prokofiev. His delivery of the Beethoven ‘Appassionata’ sonata was mesmerising and compelling. Lucas strove to get to the real heart of Beethoven's music, to cut through the veneer, to enable us to hear it as if we'd never heard it before and this he accomplished effortlessly and with impeccable precision. Two contrasting pieces by Liszt followed convincing us of the soloist’s phenomenal technique. Finally, Lucas performed the Third Sonata by Prokofiev. With well-chosen tempi and phrasing, he approached this sonata with renewed energy to conclude a truly memorable recital.

JDB.

Saturday 31st October Sidmouth Parish Church at 3 p.m.
Isca Ensemble Chamber Orchestra directed by Roger Hendy
Mozart : Symphony No 29 in A major K201
Mozart : Bassoon Concerto  in B-flat K 191 (
Lynda Edwards - soloist)
Pergolesi : Stabat Mater (
Chloé Stratta & Anna McLachlan - soloists)

-------------------oOo-------------------

Saturday 12th. December Sidmouth Parish Church at 3 p.m.
A special celebrity Recital
Joel Munday - violin  (prize-winning young artist from Devon)
Lucas Krupinski - piano (internationally renowned young pianist from Warsaw)
César Frank : Violin Sonata, other works by Bach, Schumann and Ravel

Artists' websites
https://www.joelmunday.co.uk
https://www.lucaskrupinski.co.uk

-------------------oOo-------------------

Superb Sidmouth Concert.

 

Devon-born Joel Munday (violin) teamed up with Polish pianist Lucas Krupinski in a special concert in Sidmouth Parish Church on Saturday 12th December coordinated by Roger Hendy, MD Isca Ensemble.

 

In Bach’s Violin Sonata B1003, Joel Munday displayed an immaculately controlled technique producing clear, diligently shaped dynamics, agogics and articulation throughout with due attention to some finely crafted expression to every motif. With flawless intonation, his playing produced a serene and highly charged emotional atmosphere. 

Schumann’s Second Violin Sonata followed with great impact. The ensemble was superb and the musicians immediately conveyed the stature of this substantial piece. The urgency of the music swept onwards with Lucas Krupinski bringing out the many countermelodies and rhythmic quirks that bring this work close in style to Brahms. The emotional centre of the piece was the slow movement where poignant pianissimo pizzicato passages followed by a beautifully paced chorale theme were so lovingly developed by Joel. The performance found room for light and shade among busy energetic rhythms.

Lucas Krupinski then gave a truly outstanding performance of Ravel’s ‘La Valse’. His interpretation brilliantly set out to evoke Ravel’s aim to create ‘a dancing, whirling, almost hallucinatory ecstasy’. Playing with exceptional virtuosity, Lucas successfully projected all the extravagantly voluptuous Straussian episodes of the piece with great panache resulting in a standing ovation. 

 

César Franck’s Violin Sonata was then performed with extraordinary maturity allowing the cyclical ideas of the piece to permeate through. Playing with a warm rich tone and supported by lush flowing piano accompaniment, Joel tastefully projected the swaying opening motif. In the Allegro the performers let loose with a gutsy, powerful sound whilst the beautifully crafted, anguished theme of the third movement conveyed yet more highly charged emotion. The musicians poured out their souls in the Allegro poco mosso aiming to drain every last ounce of sound from the violin and piano thus propelling the listeners towards the radiance of the triumphant final bars. The performance deservedly received a sustained and enthusiastic show of appreciation from the audience.

 

The concert was giving in memory of the late Joyce Hall from Sidmouth. 

Saturday 19 October 2019

EXETER CATHEDRAL

 

HAYDN - THE CREATION

 

                                   Haydn - Te Deum in C 

               

               Isca Ensemble and chorus

           Exeter University Chapel Choir

          Maynard School Chamber Choir

                 Heloise West - soprano

                 Michael Graham - tenor

                    Tim Mirfin - bass

Haydn : Te Deum in C.      Exeter Cathedral Concert 19th. October 2019

Exeter Cathedral Concert Oct. 2029 ....... Haydn : Te Deum in C
01 - TE DEUM IN C.mp3
MP3 audio file [11.1 MB]

Haydn : The Creation.   Extracts from the Exeter Cathedral Concert 19th. October 2019

04 And God made the firmament.mp3
MP3 audio file [7.0 MB]
06 And God said let the waters.mp3
MP3 audio file [883.2 KB]
07 Rolling in foaming billows.mp3
MP3 audio file [5.3 MB]
11 Awake the harp.mp3
MP3 audio file [2.6 MB]
17 And God created great whales.mp3
MP3 audio file [3.0 MB]
22 At once Earth opens her womb.mp3
MP3 audio file [4.0 MB]
24 And God created Man.mp3
MP3 audio file [714.8 KB]
27 The great work is complete.mp3
MP3 audio file [1.6 MB]
29 Achieved is the glorious work.mp3
MP3 audio file [3.4 MB]
30 In rosy mantle appears.mp3
MP3 audio file [4.6 MB]
35 Sing the Lord, ye voices all.mp3
MP3 audio file [5.9 MB]

Saturday 7th. March 2020 at 7.30 p.m.

St. David's Church, Exeter.

 

Johann Joachim Quantz - Double flute concerto in G minor
Bach - St. Matthew Passion aria 'Blute nur, du liebes Herz'  
Marcello - Oboe concerto
Bach - Ascension Oratorio aria "Ach, bleibe doch'
Pergolesi - Stabat Mater
 
Chloé Stratta - soprano 
Anna Marie McLachlan - soprano
Robert Stephenson - flute  
Sophie Brewer - flute
Joe Sharp - oboe

Concert review.

ISCA ENSEMBLE AT ST. DAVID’S CHURCH, EXETER

SATURDAY 7th. MARCH 2020.

 

For its latest appearance the Isca Ensemble chose a different venue from its more usual one at Sidmouth Parish Church. Although playing in larger surroundings, it reduced its numbers to that of a chamber orchestra when it played at Exeter’s St. David’s Church on Saturday. Furthermore, there was a choice of programme to match, with a number of Baroque pieces and Pergolesi’s sensationally successful Stabat Mater in its twelve numbers.

Under Roger Hendy’s able direction the orchestra showed itself to be just as much at home as in the larger symphonic repertoire. It was the Double Flute Concerto in G minor, by Johann Quantz that opened the programme. He was well-known as a flautist in the eighteenth century and ended up in the employment of the musical Frederick II, King of Prussia. Robert Stephenson and Sophie Brewer stepped from the orchestra to take the solo parts. And this they did admirably, providing a beautifully balanced duo, with some charmingly nuanced phrasing, in their bright, incisive interpretation, while the orchestra provided well- judged support.

For a couple of Bach arias Isca brought in a two of fine young sopranos with experience in both the operatic and oratorio world. Chloé Stratta chose as her contribution. Blute nur, du liebes Herz! (Bleed out you loving heart!)  from Bach’s St. Matthew Passion. This well-known aria was sung with the requiste depth of feeling, and the orchestra provided a perfect foil. It was the turn of Anna Marie McLachlan to sing the second Bach aria. From the Ascension Oratorio, it is essentially a trio sonata, with the voice and unison violins taking the two melody parts, supported by the continuo. This difficult form was nicely handled by singer and orchestra under Roger Hendy’s capable helm.

Joe Sharp, again showing the quality of the orchestra’s members, undertook the solo part of the popular D minor Oboe Concerto by Alessandro Marcello, and it was given a stunning delivery with playing of real confidence and panache.

It was the turn of the two ladies to face the limelight for the Pergolesi Stabat Mater, one of the greatest works ever written in praise of Mary who stood at the foot of the Cross during her son’s agony.  And all this, by a young composer who died at 26. The two worked together perfectly with the Ensemble, bringing the poignant inner parts of the work well to the fore. 

All in all, this was a delightful professionally presented concert with quality playing and singing throughout.

© John Dalton – March 2020  

Saturday 21st. December 2019 at 7.30 p.m.

Sidmouth Parish Church

 

A special Christmas Concert

 

Isca Ensemble

Joel Munday - violin

 

Handel : 'Arrival of the Queen of Sheba' from 'Solomon'

Delius : La Calinda from 'Koanga'

Mozart : Violin Concerto No 3 in G major K 216

Mendelssohn : Symphony No 3 'Scottish"

Saturday 23rd. November 2019 

at 7.30 p.m.

Sidmouth Parish Church

 

Raddon Stephenson - trombone

Robert Millington - organ

Alex Wilson - piano

 

Copland : Four Dance Episodes from Rodeo

David : Trombone concertino

Saint-Saëns : 'Organ' Symphony

Recordings of the David Trombone Concertino with Raddon Stephenson as soloist.

Saturday 8 June 2019 at 7.30 p.m.

Sidmouth Parish Church.

 

Isca Ensemble

Roger Hendy MD

LUKA OKROS - piano

 

Programme 

*Beethoven : 'Coriolan' overture

Mozart : Piano Concerto No 21 in C major K 467

Tchaikovsky : Symphony No 4.

 

Special guest concertmeister SERGEI EMELYANOV violin

State Symphony orchestra of Tatarstan

 

Review

ISCA HITS THE HIGH NOTES.

 

Two visiting musicians from eastern Europe helped to bring a sparkle to the latest concert by the Isca Ensemble, in Sidmouth Parish Church on Saturday evening.

The young Georgian pianist Luka Okros was the brilliant soloist in Mozart’s C major Piano Concerto, K.467. Familiarly known by its nickname Elvira Madigan, from its use in that film, it was already a favourite with the capacity audience, and the careful and charming way in which Mozart’s phrases were explored in each of the three movements gave Okros’ performance that extra brilliance. After the classical reserve of the Mozart, an encore with a completely different character was chosen. It seemed almost impossible to believe that just two hands could play so many notes in the Fourth Prelude of Rachmaninov, which Okros despatched with such aplomb.

Sergei  Emelyanov, the guest leader, had travelled from Tatarstan, where he is highly regarded as a musician, and holds the post of concertmeister of the state’s symphony orchestra. Under his leadership the strings of the orchestra achieved an extra ‘bite’ and there was a lively response in all sections. This was especially so in Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No.4 in F minor, so inextricably bound up with the composer’s emotional state at the time of its composition in 1876-77. The horn players excelled themselves in declaiming the opening Fate motif, and from there the whole orchestra was in brilliant form, even the difficult pizzicatos of the third movement passing without a noticeable botched note.

Opening the concert was Beethoven’s Coriolan Overture, getting the event off to a fine start with those three loud, unison chords which immediately suggest the fierce pride of Coriolanus.

Conductor Roger Hendy kept his forces under tight control throughout and helped to make this one of the very best performances the Isca Ensemble has given, much to the delight of the very appreciative audience.

John Dalton.

Saturday 16 March 2019 at 7.30 p.m.

Sidmouth Parish Church.

 

Isca Ensemble     Roger Hendy MD

JAMES GILBERT - clarinet

 

Programme

Wagner : Rienzi overture

Walton : Spitfire Prelude and Fugue

Weber : Clarinet Concerto No. 2

Shostakovich : Symphony No 1

Saturday 2 February  2019 at 7.30 p.m.

Sidmouth Parish Church.

     

Musical Directors

Roger Hendy    Alfie Pugh 

 

LIGHT ORCHESTRAL CONCERT

 

Soloists:

CHRIS GRADWELL - tenor sax

 ANDREW DALDORPH - piano

                                          JIM RINTOUL - bass

                                    STEVE DOUGLAS - percussion

                                            JOE SHARP - oboe

 

Spectacular programme featured Shostakovich's Second Jazz Suite,

popular pieces by Leroy Anderson, Robert Farnon, Ronald Binge, Johann Strauss

and Eric Coates 'Knightsbridge March and 'Dambusters March' 

'Gabriel's oboe' by Ennio Morricone from the film 'The Mission'

Plus an exciting newly commissioned work by Alfie Pugh

'Journey through the Feline Mind'

Saturday 22 December 2018 at 7.30 p.m.

Sidmouth Parish Church.

 

Supported by The Joanna Leach Foundation.

 

       Classics for Christmas

 

           Emmanuel Bach - violin

           Joel Munday - violin

 

Handel : Water Music (extracts) 

Bach : Concerto in D minor for two violins BWV 1043

Vivaldi : Violin Concerto for 2 violins in A minor Op 3 No 8 RV 522

Corelli : 'Fatto per la Notte di Natale'  -  'Christmas Concerto' Op. 6 No 8

Mozart : Symphony No 41 'Jupiter' K 551.

Saturday 10 November 2018 at 7.30 p.m.

Sidmouth Parish Church.

 

Supported by the Joanna Leach Foundation.

Autumn Concert

Bartok: Adagio from Divertimento for strings

Butterworth : The Banks of Green Willow

Haydn :  Cello Concerto in D major

Prokofiev : Symphony No 1 'Classical'

Brahms : St. Antony Variations

 

International cellist PAL BANDA

Saturday 30 June 2018

Beehive, Honiton

East Devon Music Festival Concert

 

Special light orchestral concert.

 

Newly commissioned work by Alfie Pugh

'Journey through the Feline Mind'

 

Music by

Richard Rogers, Poulenc, Shostakovich, Leroy Anderson.

 

Soloists - Chris Gradwell, Andrew Daldorph and Kate Walker.

 

Saturday 23 June 2018 at 7.30 p.m.

Sidmouth Parish Church.

 

Special Summer Concert

Final classical concert of the 2018 East Devon Music Festival
sponsored by the Tillett Trust
 

Isca Ensemble with Roger Hendy (MD)

 

LUKA OKROS - piano

 

 

Prokofiev : Romeo and Juliet Suite No 2.

Dvorak : Slavonic Dances from Op. 46

Rachmaninov : Piano Concerto No 2 in C minor

Saturday 25 November 2017 at 7.30 p.m.

Sidmouth Parish Church.

Special Concert supported by

the Joanna Leach Foundation.

 

Isca Ensemble with Roger Hendy (MD)

with

Emmanuel Bach - violin 

 

SIBELIUS : VIOLIN CONCERTO

Brahms : Academic Festival Overture

Brahms : Symphony No. 4

 

A capacity audience enjoyed a superb concert featuring the violinist, Emmanuel Bach

who received a standing ovation.

Review - East DevonPress.

Packed church hears great programme of music.

 

Sidmouth Parish Church was well packed with concert-goers on Saturday evening last to hear a terrific programme of music delivered by the ISCA ensemble, enlarged to cope with the increased orchestration of the pieces played. Music Director Roger Hendy programmed three excellent and popular works for this event aimed at providing additional funds to Hospiscare through a retiring collection.

 

The jubilant and cheerful Academic Festival Overture by Brahms opened the proceedings. The orchestra worked through the more stately opening themes to revel in the boisterous subsequent sections. Worthy of mention were the fanfares and good contributions from both brass and percussion. The piece raised academic eyebrows at its premiere but has been a firm concert favourite ever since.

 

Emmanuel Bach has become a regular visitor to Sidmouth through the ISCA ensemble and we have seen his confidence and ability grow thanks to coaching from top flight ensembles and workshops with famous conductors and players. In Sibelius’ Violin Concerto therefore, not an easy piece to cope with, he gave a strong and commanding performance, enough to have a good proportion of the audience on their feet at the end. He and the orchestra built up the power and drama of the opening well, made an eloquent slow movement and, with good support from the lower strings, a strong and confident finale.

 

After the interval Roger and his orchestra concluded with more Brahms; his ever popular 4th Symphony. Perhaps we can see why Brahms might have thought he would not surpass this in any other symphonic work for it to be his final symphony.

 

The strings created a lyrical opening to the first movement and continued in building up to its grand climax. In the slow second movement the brass and wind drew out the heroic and romantic nature of the folk idioms written in it. The third movement is another full blooded affair with ebullient cascades from brass and wind sections.

 

The players did not fail in the finale, maintaining their momentum to bring this fine piece to a triumphant conclusion.

SHS.

Saturday 13 May 2017 at 7.30 p.m.

Sidmouth Parish Church.

The 2017 Joanna Leach Memorial Concert.

 

Isca Ensemble with Roger Hendy (MD)

 

ANDREAS BOYDE - piano

 

Mozart :  Overture 'Marriage of Figaro' K 492

Beethoven : Piano Concerto No 4, Op 58

Haydn :  Symphony No 102 in B flat major

Dvořák : Czech Suite Op. 39. 

 

Sponsored by the Joanna Leach Music Foundation.

Review.

 

ISCA CLOSE SEASON ON A HIGH.

 

The ISCA Ensemble, with musical director Roger Hendy, gave the 2017 Joanna Leach Memorial Concert last Saturday in Sidmouth Parish Church, closing their current season and producing over £500 from the retiring collection for the work of Hospiscare.

 

The Ensemble started their programme enthusiastically with a vigorous performance of Mozart’s Overture to the Marriage of Figaro. The popular tumble of tunes poured out with great jollity.

 

The main work was Beethoven’s piano concerto no 4, featuring pianist Andreas Boyde, who has built his reputation with electrifying performances for many of London’s leading orchestras. Pianist and orchestra were excellent together, Boyde’s articulate keyboard work producing a crisp and clear performance throughout the piece; the ensemble showing they had the mastery of the necessary gradations of light and shade in their playing.

 

Each of the three movements had its high points. Boyde’s cadenza playing was a consummate display of technical skill in the first. It was probably he also who set the more measured pace of the andante second which, with sympathetic orchestral support, gave it an added measure of gravitas to great effect. The lively third went at a good brisk pace, finishing with a flourish of great exuberance from both pianist and orchestra.

 

After the interval came Haydn’s symphony no 102. The orchestra developed the vigorous main section in exemplary fashion, as they did with the intricate and elegant adagio movement which followed.  The minuet movement danced playfully as it should before the almost unexpectedly jaunty finale brought the piece to an end.

 

The final work was Dvorak’s Czech suite, a set of pieces inspired by the folk music of his homeland. The orchestra excelled here too. The prelude was a smooth and graceful pastoral setting reminiscent of the gentle drone of bagpipes. In the polka the players developed the dance from its slow beginning to a lively end. The minuet presented rounds of happy country dances. The beautiful Romance gently led to the finale, a furiant which built up to an energetic and boisterous conclusion to the work, the concert and a very successful season.

 

SH-S.

Saturday 11th. March 2017 at 7.30 p.m.

Sidmouth Parish Church.

Special Concert supported by

the Joanna Leach Foundation

 

     Beethoven : Romance in F  for violin and orchestra

     Bruch : Kol Nidre for viola and orchestra

     Mozart :  Sinfonia Concertante K 364

     De Falla :  Suite El sombrero de tres picos

               (The Three-Cornered Hat  Suites 1 & 2)

     Bizet : Carmen (extracts).

 

    Amarins Wierdsma - violin          Christoph Slenczka - viola

                   from the Netherlands                                           from Germany

Amarins Wierdsma - violin.

 

Amarins born in 1991 to conductor Oane Wierdsma and clarinetist Nancy Braithwaite, began playing the violin at the age of two. After studying with Coosje Wijzenbeek and Vera Beths in the Netherlands she is now pursuing an Artist Diploma at the Guildhall School of Music and drama with David Takeno, having completed her Master’s degree there with distinction.

 

Amarins has taken part in many masterclasses including the International Music Seminar Prussia Cove, The International Holland Music Sessions, London Masterclasses, Keshet Eilon, and Imuse Enghien among many others. She is also lucky to have been invited to participate in the East Neuk Festival in Fife and Open Chamber Music Prussia Cove. In April 2013 Amarins was awarded the third prize at the Dutch national violin competition Oskar Back. The jury complimented her on her large stage presence and personality and on her interesting playing full of temperament and spirit. Other prizes include first prizes during the Iordens Viooldagen, the Davina van Wely violin competition and the Princess Christina Competition and the Young Music Talent of the Year prize of the Netherlands.

 

In October 2012 Amarins was awarded the Kersjes Scholarship, a Dutch scholarship awarded to a promising young violinist or violist every year. Amarins is the first violinist of the London based Barbican String Quartet. The Quartet is part of the ProQuartet Scheme in Paris and the Belcea Quartet Scheme. They have taken part in IMS Prussia Cove, where they worked with Rita and Ferenc Rados. Upcoming performances include recitals at Wigmore hall, supported and organized by the Musicians Company and Masie Lewis Trust. Amarins is not only very active as a chamber musician , she has also performed as soloist with orchestra in concertos by Bruch, Bach, Vivaldi, Brahms, Mendelssohn and Sibelius among others. During the final of the Oskar Back competition she was the soloist with the orchestra of the conservatory of Amsterdam in Brahms’ violin concerto.

 

After winning the Westbourne Concerto Competition this fall, Amarins will perform Brahms’ violin concerto twice in Bournemouth this summer. Other concert appearances include concertos by Mendelssohn and Prokofiev among others. In April of the year 2011 Amarins went on tour with pianist Didel Bish and soprano, Nikki Treurniet, to The United States on invitation of the Netherlands-America Foundation. Amarins traveled to Porto, Portugal twice. Once with her piano trio, Strings Attached, and in 2015 with the Barbican String Quartet to represent the Conservatory of Amsterdam and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama at Harmos Festival. Representing the International Holland Music Sessions, Amarins performed together with Victor Alsén and Ole Christian Hagenrud for the Dutch Queen Beatrix in March 2013.

 

Together with Sophiko Simsive, piano, Amarins went on a tour to Indonesia, organized by the Dutch Erasmus Huis and she has recently been selected for the TIHMS Masters on Tour, bringing her to the Concertgebouw Amsterdam and Bratislava Concert halls in May 2017. Amarins has participated in masterclass from many musicians , including Herman Krebbers, Gyorgy Pauk, Mark Lubotski, Emmy Verhey, Philippe Graffin, David Takeno, Krzysztof Wegrzyn, Petru Munteanu, Patinka Kopec, Mi-Kyung Lee, Isabelle van Keulen, Gerhard Schulz, Nikolaj Znaider, Viviane Hagner, Ferenc Rados, Andras Keller, Pierre Amoyal, Ivry Gitlis and Anner Bijlsma, from whom she often receives lessons on works by J. S. Bach. Amarins plays on a violin which she has on loan from the National Music instrument foundation.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Christoph Slenczka - viola.

 

Christoph was born 1992 in Germany and began playing the violin at the age of 5. He has studied the violin with Prof. Conrad von der Goltz as a fellow of the Bayerischen Frühförderklasse, a program for gifted young musicians. In 2010 he decided to change to the Viola and started to studying with Prof. Thomas Riebl in the University Mozarteum Salzburg where in his second yar won the 3rd prize In the Mozarteum international competition. He has participated in master classes with Hariolf Schlichtig, Barbara Westphal, Ivry Gitlis, Tatjana Masurenko, Hartmut Rohde and Nils Mönkemeyer and has received further guidance from Rainer Schmidt and Reinhard Goebel.

 

As a chamber musician he performed with musicians such as Enrico Bronzi, Giovanni Gnocchi, Esther Hoppe and Wolfgang Redik. He performed several times in the Salzburger Kammermusik Festival and was invited to play alongside Nicolas Altstaed, Pekka Kuusisto, Ilya Gringlots, James Boyd, Benjamin Schmid and others at the Kammermusikfest Lockenhaus. In 2014 Christoph performed the Tabula Rasa by Arvo Pärt as Soloist with the Sinfonieorchester der Universität Mozarteum Salzburg.

 

He is currently studying in the masters programme with Prof. David Takeno at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Christoph plays a Viola made by the German luthier Bernd Hiller. He is also a member of the Barbican String Quartet based in London.

Review.

ISCA CONCERT HELPS RESTORE VICTORIA WINDOW.

Visit by the Bishop of Crediton.

 

With every concert in Sidmouth Parish Church the ISCA Ensemble seems to go from strength to strength under the tireless guidance of Musical Director Roger Hendy. Saturday last was no exception in an enthralling programme with two visiting and very fine soloists, Dutch violinist Amarins Wierdsma and German violist Christoph Slenczka. The special guest of honour was Revd Dame Sarah Mullally visiting the church as the new Bishop of Crediton.

Beethoven’s Romance for violin and orchestra was Amarins’ opportunity to shine, opening as sweetly as one could wish. She excelled in her solo role but, what a refreshing change, she also played along with the orchestra between her solo spots; this was sheer enjoyment for her. The audience clearly appreciated the close integration between soloist and orchestra.

Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante for violin, viola and orchestra introduced Christoph. From the start the two again played in with the orchestra. In their solo roles they showed excellent co-ordination passing phrases back and forth between themselves. Their complete awareness of each other, from their experience as players in the Barbican String Quartet, added to the joy of the exuberant first movement which earned appreciative applause before moving on to the gracefully spiritual slow movement. The finale returned to more joyous mood with the lighthearted themes passed between soloists and orchestra.

Rector Philip Bourne then explained the benefit of this and other Isca Ensemble concerts in helping meet the church’s £6,000 outstanding burden from the restoration of the Victoria window. This also provided a window of escape for Amarins who had to travel to play in the Amsterdam Concertgbouw the next day! 

The first half closed with the familiar theme of Bizet’s Carmen Suite enthusiastically introduced by the percussion, setting the tone for the hugely enjoyable mix of pieces from the opera.

After the break Christoph returned to the platform for Bruch’s Kol Nidrei, a hauntingly beautiful piece drawn from Jewish tradition. He got exactly the feel of the work, his viola singing clearly and sweetly through the long beautiful phrases.

Roger and his players brought the evening to a resounding conclusion with de Falla’s suites from The Three Cornered Hat. From the opening fanfare of brass and timpani they caught the jaunty, swaggering, swaying Spanish rhythms of the work right through to the triumphal end; a thoroughly enjoyable performance.

Stephen Huyshe-Shires.

Saturday 26th. November 2016 at 7.30 p.m.

Sidmouth Parish Church.

Special Concert sponsored by the Joanna Leach Foundation

 

Copland - Appalachian Spring

Bruch - Violin Concerto No 1

SIBELIUS - Symphony No 5

 

Joo Yeon Sir - soloist

 

Winner of the prestigious The Arts Club Karl Jenkins Classical Music Award 2014 in association with Classic FM and The President's Award presented by HRH The Prince of Wales, Korean-born British violinist Joo Yeon Sir has performed as a soloist, recitalist and chamber musician at major venues across the UK including Wigmore Hall, Manchester Bridgewater Hall, St. Martin-in-the-Fields, St James's Piccadilly, Fairfield Halls, Victoria and Albert Museum, National Gallery and St James's Palace in the presence of HRH The Prince of Wales. In 2006, aged sixteen, Joo Yeon was overall Grand Prix Laureate at the Nedyalka Simeonova International Violin Competition in Bulgaria, where her gala performance was broadcast on Bulgarian National Radio. Since then, she has won numerous competitions and awards across Europe including the Making Music Philip & Dorothy Green Award for Young Concert Artists, Tillett Trust Young Concert Artist Platform, Royal Philharmonic Society Emily Anderson Award and Isolde Menges Prize. Joo Yeon has twice won the prestigious Concerto Competition at the Royal College of Music, where she currently studies with Dr. Felix Andrievsky on the Artist Diploma programme as Constant & Kit Lambert Junior Fellow 2014-2015 awarded by The Worshipful Company of Musicians.

Saturday 30th. April 2016 at 7.30 p.m.

Sidmouth Parish Church.

 

Bach plays Bach

 

Emmanuel Bach - violin

 

Strings of the Isca Ensemble directed by

Emmanuel Bach and Roger Hendy.

 

A very special chamber concert for HOSPISCARE.

Vivaldi : 'The Four Seasons'

Bach : Violin Concerto in A minor

Bartok : Romanian Dances

Elgar : Chanson de matin

Walton : Touch her soft lips and part 

             Passaglia Death of Falstaff

Respighi : Airs and Country Dances No. 3

Saturday 5th. March 2016 at 7.30 p.m.

Special Concert sponsored by the Joanna Leach Foundation.

 

This Concert was in aid of HOSPISCARE

The programme included

Glinka : Overture : Ruslan and Ludmilla
Paul Hindemith - Symphonic Metamorphosis on Themes by Carl Von Weber

RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS  - A LONDON SYMPHONY

Review. Archant Press 2016.

As seems to be the norm in the staging of its full-scale Sidmouth orchestral concerts, the Isca Ensemble under its regular conductor, Roger Hendy presented an extremely ambitious and exciting programme on Saturday 5th. March in the Parish Church for Hospiscare. This is the fourth time I have heard this local orchestra whilst visiting Devon and on Saturday the Ensemble was on top form. Its players and MD must have put in hours of practice to prepare for such a rich and extremely challenging programme only to succeed in accomplishing it with considerable aplomb. Glinka's magical Overture 'Ruslan and Ludmilla' opened the programme amply displaying the versatility and skill of all sections of the orchestra. Taken at a brisk pace, it was performed with enormous confidence and accuracy with the strings managing those exposed and difficult passages with comparative ease, thus contributing to a delightful starter.

Roger Hendy then introduced the next piece to the audience, the Symphonic Metamorphosis on themes by Carl von Weber, allowing them to listen to a preview of some of the thematic material of this rarely heard but stunning piece. Although by its thematic material it belongs squarely in the European tradition, it was composed with the virtuosity of American symphony orchestras in mind. Fortunately, I was one of very few in the audience sufficiently familiar with this work and therefore knew in advance what the Isca players had taken on. It is quite remarkable that a local amateur orchestra can even attempt to play such a complex work which I know some leading London orchestras would have problems with! Isca pulled off a most magnificent performance which had the audience buzzing during the ensuing interval. From the opening bars, the Ensemble was out to show what it could really achieve captivating our attention with the music's pulsating and intoxicating rhythms. The resonance and vibrancy the orchestra achieved in this beautiful church was something really special. The complex Turandot which followed utilising an admirable full percussion section, fully explored the rich harmonies and hypnotic qualities of Hindemith’s unique orchestration. Roger Hendy admirably steered his players through the concluding finely-shaped graded crescendo with all sections building to create a rich and very satisfyingly intense sound. The beautifully crafted slow movement with exquisite flute obligato followed which allowed only temporary respite before the final boisterous March which was rounded off with great panache and memorable strong string and brass contributions. The final extremely fast-moving triplet passage accompaniment by the woodwind for the swooping horns was also most enjoyable.

As if to underline the versatility of the orchestra, the final chosen work in the concert was the famous and programmatic 'London Symphony' by Ralph Vaughan Williams written in 1913 just before the outbreak of World War I. Right from the very opening pianissimo bars in the strings with the eerie harmonic Westminster Chimes of the harp, the performance was a highly charged and very emotional experience. The long and very intense, often sinister opening movement was well developed - the woodwind and brass uplifting the sections depicting the growing boisterousness of the great metropolis. The idyllic slow movement which, as the programme notes suggested, is arguably some of VW's finest writing, was again very well blended by the Ensemble with some nice contributions by the strings, solo horn and other woodwind instruments.  After a bustling and exciting scherzo, the performance of the final movement reached another terrific high with great attention to dynamics and tempi. The final Epilogue gradually wound down to a most exquisite and soft conclusion as the sun set over London. The performance received a well deserved long reception by a most appreciative audience.

I hope to travel from London again, return to Sidmouth and catch another performance by this admirable band of players. I see from the programme that the orchestra next performs in Sidmouth on 30 April when the strings team up with the violinist, Emmanuel Bach from London. I must make the effort to attend.

Sponsored by the JOANNA LEACH FOUNDATION.

28 Saturday 2015 November at 7.30 p.m.

in Sidmouth Parish Church.

 

EMMANUEL BACH - violin

 

SIBELIUS : 'VALSE TRISTE'

TCHAIKOVSKY : VIOLIN CONCERTO

BEETHOVEN : SYMPHONY NO. 3 'Eroica'

 

 

Tickets are obtainable in advance from Paragon Books, Sidmouth 01395 514516, by post using the booking form (on the left) or direct email roghendy@gmail.com

 

This Concert was in aid of HOSPISCARE

Concert Review.

 

ISCA MAGIC WORKS AGAIN.

 

 Music Director of the ISCA ensemble, Roger Hendy, worked his magic again with his orchestra and a repeat visit by solo violinist Emmanuel Bach in Sidmouth Parish Church. The concert last Saturday evening was an opportunity for this rising star to shine, and within the orchestra Roger had also recruited young players to gain experience in performance which they all did commendably well. The concert attracted a full house.

 

The concert opened with Sibelius’ Valse Triste, a piece written to accompany the play Kuolema (Death). The strings were rich and mournful in the delicate opening, the eerie dance rhythms reinforced as the full orchestra took the piece to its tragic conclusion. The pianissimo playing was exceptionally fine and wonderfully crafted.

 

From its first writing Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto has presented a mountain for all to climb, but Emmanuel Bach showed no fear as he launched authoritatively into the challenge with the orchestra confidently backing him up. He sensibly took a measured pace and had the audience spellbound in his cadenza before the first movement closed triumphantly to a spontaneous outbreak of applause. The second was an absorbing movement, Emmanuel finding the right soulfulness in the melody. Moving straight into the finale where the vigorous gypsy dance was confidently executed, the wise choice of pace enabled soloist and orchestra to form a tight and measured ensemble and work up the frenzy bringing the piece successfully to its whirlwind ending.

 

Players and audience all drew breath during the interval before the orchestra presented its final work, Beethoven’s Eroica symphony. The ensemble got off to a bright and fulsome start, catching the triumphal mood of the first movement. The funeral march was suitably sombre, woodwind here making an expressive contribution as they had throughout the performance. The scherzo was bright and brisk, with the horns adding rusticity to the hunting theme. The pizzicato opening to the finale was nicely tight, and the whole movement was very well managed particularly the crescendo build up to the driven ending.

S.S.