In the first concert of the new season, we celebrate the life and work of Gabriel Fauré with one of his finest early chamber works, the Quartet for piano and strings in C minor, Op. 15. This wonderful work oozes with wonderful, memorable melodies, glorious harmonies and has a particularly cheeky Scherzo. We pair it with Mozart’s equally well-known piano quartet in G minor, K. 478, a work that was not only one of the first in it’s genre, but also one of the greatest! We’re thrilled to welcome David Aspin again to play viola with Sarah, Heather and Harvey.

This series comes to a close with the little-known but beautiful Quintet for piano, violin, viola, ‘cello and double bass in F minor by Václav Jan Dusík, or Jan Ladislaus Dussek as he became better-known in England. The work is the greatest to be written for this combination of instruments in 1799 when it was first played in London and why it is not more famous is a mystery! The programme concludes with the most celebrated work for that instrumental combination, Schubert’s gorgeous ‘Trout’ Quintet.

We are delighted to be joined by the much-celebrated clarinettist Janet Hilton for today’s concert which features Milhaud’s jocular Suite and Brahms’ personal, tragic and beautiful trio for clarinet, ‘cello and piano.

We return to the rich piano trio repertoire today with Shostakovich’s famous 2nd trio and Schubert’s magnificent B flat major trio. These two masterpieces written over a hundred years apart represent the peaks (amongst a veritable mountain range of peaks!) of achievement in this genre.

Today’s programme of string trios includes Arnold Cooke’s brilliant contribution to the genre written in 1950. It still awaits a commercial recording, but received many performances in the mid- twentieth century. Sarah, David and Heather also play a trio by Pleyel, Schubert’s trio D 471 and Beethoven’s Op. 9, no. 3.

We begin our new series with two of the 19th Century’s greatest works for piano quartet, those by Antonín Dvořák (Op. 87) and Robert Schumann (Op. 47). Harvey, Sarah, David and Heather bring these two radiant works in E flat major to Mellor Parish Centre, a hall with a long-established tradition of chamber music performances.

In this concert we mark the bicentenary of the birth of virtuoso pianist Clara Wieck, later Schumann, by performing her piano trio in G minor, Op. 17. Completed in 1846 in Dresden, it is one of only two chamber works she composed and shows the influence of her husband and that of Mendelssohn. A beautiful work in its own right which deserves to be heard more often. We also play a trio by our namesake, Ignaz Joseph Pleyel, his Op. 31, no. 3 in E flat and Beethoven’s amazing first trio, his Op. 1, no. 1, also in E flat major.

We start a new season of concerts with piano quartets by Beethoven and Dvořák. Beethoven’s quartet in C major, WoO 36, was written when the composer was just 15 in 1785. Its Mozartian turns of phrase stand as testament to Beethoven’s formative influence and he must have thought well of this work as he reuses the opening of the 2nd movement in his later piano sonata in F minor, Op. 2, no. 1. Dvořák’s beautiful piano quartet no. 2, Op. 87, was written over the period of a month in the summer of 1889 and published by Simrock the following year.

We are delighted to welcome Janet Hilton, former Principal clarinettist of Manchester Camerata, to join us in an exciting programme of music by the German Romantic composer Walter Rabl and Nino Rota (famous for his music to the film The Godfather and many others). We also include Stravinsky’s classic work The Soldier’s Tale in the arrangement for clarinet, violin and piano which the composer made in 1919.

A concert of string trios by Irishman Ernest ‘Jack’ Moeran and the inestimable Ludwig van Beethoven. Moeran’s wonderful trio written in 1931 is one of his finest works and Beethoven’s in G, Op. 9, no. 1 was regarded by its composer as the best music he had written up to that point (he was 28).

Schubert’s late masterpiece, his trio in Eb, D. 929, one of the last works he completed is paired with a Haydn piano trio and a selection of the delightful Miniatures by Frank Bridge

Remember 29th July 1981? Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer were married. Welsh composer William Mathias wrote the wedding anthem for them and we play his jazzy, energetic piano trio today along with Beethoven’s unbelievable ‘Ghost’ trio, so called because of its spooky slow movement, and one more of Haydn’s trios.

Just two works grace today’s programme: written just 16 years apart but utterly different in style and approach, we play quintets with double bass by Johann N. Hummel and the glorious ‘Trout’ Quintet by Schubert. We are delighted to welcome Susie Mészáros on viola and Mike Escreet on double bass.

We are delighted to present our rearranged Baroque concert after having had to cancel due to the bad weather in March. Music will include J. S. Bach’s astonishing and ravishingly beautiful Sonata for violin and keyboard in E and music by Telemann and Scarlatti.

Today’s musical offerings from Sarah, Heather and Harvey include the 2nd Piano Trio by Dmitri Shostakovich, Op. 67. The composer was 38 years old and writing during the 2nd World War, which has undeniably left its mark on this extraordinary work. Sarah and Heather will also play the Duo for violin and ‘cello by Maurice Ravel – dedicated to the memory of the composer’s friend, Claude Debussy, who had died in 1918, the piece was composed between 1920 and 1922.

Winter’s nearly out! An appropriately spring-like programme of Baroque music by Telemann, Handel and Bach. The trio is joined by the flautist Jonathan Rimmer, a former BBC Young Musician finalist, for a programme to include Bach’s E major sonata for violin and keyboard.

Only a month until Christmas, so get in the spirit with more beautiful chamber music. This time it’s Mozart’s uplifting Piano Quartet in Eb major, K. 493, Mahler’s one movement Quartet of 1876 and Brahms’ powerful Piano Quartet in C minor, Op. 60. Sarah, Heather and Harvey are joined again by the fabulous Susie Mészáros on the viola.

Autumn is here so lift the spirits with some chamber music and cakes! A programme of music including Beethoven’s mighty Bb major trio, Op. 97 – the ‘Archduke‘. For complete contrast, we present Martinu’s quirky and fun Variations on a theme of Rossini for ‘cello and piano, an audience request! Sarah Ewins, Heather Bills and Harvey Davies are today’s performers.

A programme of piano trios including Schubert’s wonderful Bb major trio and a beautiful work by the Danish composer and friend of Mendelssohn and Schumann, Niels Gade. Spring has arrived in Chapel-en-le-Frith so come and celebrate it with Sarah, Heather and Harvey!

It’s a delight to welcome the Northern Chamber Orchestra’s Principal horn Naomi Atherton to join us to play the Brahms Horn Trio, Op. 40 with its tragic and beautiful slow movement written in memory of the composer’s mother.  Naomi and Harvey will also play the Sonata for horn and piano by Beethoven, Op. 17, an early work written for himself and the finest horn player of his day, Giovanni Punto. The programme is completed with Mozart’s wonderful Sonata in Bb for violin and piano, K. 454.

The first concert of 2017 includes trios by Haydn and Mendelssohn, his turbulent and glorious Trio in C minor, Op. 66. A tour-de-force for the pianist, this virtuosic work is some of Mendelssohn’s best chamber music. Also includes Martinu’s Variations on a Slovak Theme for ‘cello and piano. Sarah Ewins: violin  Heather Bills: cello and Harvey Davies: piano.

Music for string trio by Beethoven, romantic Hungarian composer Ernö Dohnanyi and Czech composer Bohuslav Martinu. Sarah Ewins: violin.  Susie Mészáros: viola.  Heather Bills: cello.

We present another programme of piano trios with a WW2 work composed on a ship in the Channel between 1941 and 1944 by the English composer Arnold Cooke alongside Mozart’s heavenly trio in Bb, K. 502 and Beethoven’s youthful trio in G, Op. 1, no. 2.

Haydn’s best known trio, the Gypsy Rondo, John Ireland’s 2nd piano trio written during WW1 and Dvorak’s folk-inspired Dumky Trio, Op. 90, complete an exciting programme for our first visit of 2016 to Chapel.

We begin with a work by our namesake, Ignaz Pleyel, the sparkling piano trio in G major, continue with Elgar’s extraordinary and poignant violin sonata written at the end of WW1 and conclude with Mendelssohn’s gorgeous 1st trio in D minor, Op. 49.

Schumann’s intimate and special Fantaisiestücke, Op. 88 for piano, violin & ‘cello, Mozart’s brilliant piano & violin sonata in C, K. 296 and Arensky’s luscious piano trio, Op. 32 completes our first programme.