Tea-Time Concert – Schubert & Sirmen

Schubert Octet D.803
Maddalena Laura Sirmen String Quartet in B flat

Schubert’s celebrated masterpiece, the Octet for wind and strings, enjoys enduring popularity for its sumptuous melodies and harmonic twists and turns. Commissioned by a famous clarinettist of the day in 1824, it is considered to be one of the greatest chamber works ever composed.

As part of the Bristol Ensemble’s Notes for Women series, the recital also includes Maddalena Laura Sirmen’s spirited String Quartet in B flat. Born in Venice in 1745, Sirmen studied violin with the violinist and composer Giuseppe Tartini and became a virtuosic performer in her own right, as well as becoming well known as a composer (view profile). Throughout the year marking the 100th anniversary of women being given the vote in Great Britain, the Bristol Ensemble is programming works by female composers in its concerts, and is giving a series of three concerts at St George’s Bristol devoted solely to music by women. The first of these takes place on 28 April, exploring music from plainsong to the Baroque.

Tickets £10 on the door.