'Vanbrugh and Friends' to perform a captivating programme of classical music in Tipperary

'Vanbrugh and Friends' will bring a programme of string quintet classics to Nenagh Arts Centre on Saturday January 24th at 7.30pm, in a concert that places three cornerstones of the repertoire side by side.

The ensemble features Keith Pascoe and Marja Gaynor on violins, Simon Aspell and Ed Creedon on viola, with Christopher Marwood on cello.

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Together they will perform works by Mozart, Brahms and Mendelssohn, offering what organisers describe as a carefully contrasted selection of masterpieces for string quintet.

Mozart’s String Quintet in E flat major K.614 opens the evening. Written in the final year of the composer’s life, the work dates from the same period as The Magic Flute, the Clarinet Concerto and the Requiem.

Despite the difficulties of his circumstances at the time, the quintet is noted for its charm, elegance and wit, qualities that have long secured its place in the repertoire.

The programme continues with Brahms’s String Quintet in F major Op.88. At the head of each movement, Brahms wrote ‘in the spring of 1882’, a remark that later gave rise to the nickname ‘Spring’ Quintet.

The music is widely regarded as uplifting and fresh, marked by a sense of joy that reflects its seasonal inspiration.

Mendelssohn’s String Quintet in B flat major Op.87 completes the concert. Its virtuoso outer movements are balanced by an elegantly playful scherzo, while the funeral march stands out as the emotional centre of the work, combining anguish with profound beauty.

The concert runs for approximately 100 minutes, including a 20 minute interval, and is suitable for all ages. 

'Vanbrugh and Friends' are among Ireland’s most popular classical music groups, and the Nenagh performance promises an evening of chamber music at the highest level.

Tickets are priced at €27 and further information about the performance can be found through the following link here.

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