Daniel Tong - piano Benjamin Nabarro - violin
Tom Dunn - viola Kate Gould - cello
Ivan Ludlow - baritone
“Sounds of unfailing beauty and warmth.” (The Strad)
London Bridge Ensemble
“They demonstrated throughout the evening an extraordinary ability to weave and sustain extended melodic lines” (The Strad)
Since making its Wigmore Hall debut in 2005, the London Bridge Ensemble has rapidly established itself as one of Britain’s most exciting and brilliant chamber groups. The concert included the premiere of a work written for the group by David Matthews. The Ensemble’s engagements since then have included St John’s Smith Square, the City of London Festival, Wye Valley Chamber Music Festival, St George’s Bristol, Leicester International Music Festival’s lunchtime series, St David’s Hall Cardiff, Sheffield Music in the Round, the Kerry Chamber Music Festival, and a return visit to the Wigmore Hall. This spring, the Ensemble presents a brand new festival in Winchester, the home town of its cellist, Kate Gould (www.winchesterchambermusic.com) and future engagements include Bridgewater Hall for the Manchester Mid-day Concerts Society (for diary click here). A CD of works by Frank Bridge, from whom the Ensemble takes its name, was released in spring 2008 as part of the Epoch series for the Dutton label. (www.duttonvocalion.co.uk)
“Ivan Ludlow was able to inject an urgency and yearning that was beautifully complemented by the instrumentalists’ responsive playing.” (Classical Source)
The Ensemble presents innovative and stimulating programmes of chamber music and song, or instrumental music alone, on occasion inviting guest artists to form larger combinations in order to explore an even richer and more versatile repertoire. The name represents the group’s belief in bringing together different musical genres and styles. It also reflects an admiration for Frank Bridge, whose music has from the outset formed an important part of the group’s varied repertoire. The name is also an affectionate homage to the bridge and station of that name in the City of London.
