The London Cello Society celebrates the Fine Instrument Collections of two charities, The Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain and the Stradivari Trust. Since 1738, The Royal Society has supported musicians in need. The charity also assists some outstanding musicians by the loan of stringed instruments.

For nearly 40 years, The Stradivari Trust has been helping world-class musicians to buy their own fine instruments through its unique system of syndicated instrument schemes.

This programme celebrates Mendelssohn’s close association with the royal family in Britain, and includes an innovative arrangement of Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations, performed at Bernard Greenhouse’s 90th birthday celebration in 2005. The evening finishes with a chorus of cellists performing in ensemble.

Schedule of events

4.45pm Pre-concert talk (30 minutes) by Justin Pearson
“Instruments from the Collections” – their provenance.  Includes live performances

6.00pm  Concert

Mendelssohn – Cello Sonata no. 2 in D major, Opus 58
Guy Johnston, cello | Mishka Rushdie-Momen, piano

Tchaikovsky – Rococo Variations for 4 solo cellists (arr. Douglas Moore)
Ben Hughes | Brian O’Kane | Kate Gould | Ben Tarlton

Interval

Tribute to Nigel Brown OBE, founder of the Stradivari Trust

Mendelssohn – Octet, in E-flat major, Op. 20 (2 movements)
Sacconi Quartet, including Levon Chilingirian, Alicja Śmietana, Bartholomew LaFollette

Sollima – “March” for cello quartet
Wagner – Cello Octet
Klengel – Hymnus for 12 cellos

£35 for non-members / £25 for LCS members & students