T3A puts county on classical map

SINCE 1945 Truro Three Arts (T3A) has been bringing leading classical performers to Cornwall, and the past three years have seen all their concerts jam-packed with admirers of the high standard musicians they have come to expect.

Now a Truro Three Arts' spokesman says that the forthcoming season will be even better and it will continue to place Cornwall on an international circuit for some of the best classical musicians the world can offer.

While the series of six concerts will begin and end with two of Schubert's most famous works, it will also introduce new works to Cornwall's audiences.

"We are expecting this to be a tremendously popular season. Last season we had a high percentage of each concert filled with subscribing members so this year we are advising our audience to save money and sign up for tickets to all concerts before the season opens," said David Fryer, T3A chairman.

The season will begin on Friday, October 3, with one of the largest ensembles to be seen in the series for many years. However, the London Concertante are not strangers to Truro Three Arts' regulars.

This will be their third appearance over the past decade but this time, the hugely popular ensemble will be adding to its compliment to perform a special realisation of Richard Strauss' famous tone poem Till Eulenspiegel.

The virtuosic violinist Adam Summerhayes will also lead the Ensemble in a programme which includes the beautiful Octet by the French composer Françaix and finishes with the most famous Octet of all by Schubert. As is now traditional for the first concert of the season will be accompanied by an art exhibition, this time provided by the Great Atlantic Galleries.

On November 14 history will be made when the Herold String Quartet from Prague performs a programme which will include a British premiere of a stunningly beautiful work by Czech composer, Vaclav Zahradnik.

The ensemble has chosen Cornwall to launch a new CD with music by this exciting composer which they are currently recording in Prague. This will be a return visit by demand to Cornwall by this quartet following their sell-out performance in March last year.

The concert on Friday, December 5, features seasonal music and prose from the 15th to the 17th century. The Musicke Companye are an ensemble with an international reputation for performing by memory. They include Paul Esswood, who was the first countertenor to sing a role at the famous La Scala Milan opera house.

The new year will be welcomed in an adventurous style on January 16 by the highly talented classical saxophonist Amy Dixon and her accompanist Catherine Milledge. Her recent CD has been acclaimed by musicians across the world.

The final two concerts of the season demonstrate that the highest quality of musicians are not afraid to keep returning to Cornwall.

On February 13 the very popular Sacconi String Quartet perform at Truro Three Arts for the first time having reached the top echelons of classical performers.

The season will conclude on March 13 with a performance given by the full Schubert Ensemble. Though they have now performed in Cornwall many times this in only the second time that they perform in their full and most recognised line-up of piano (William Howard), violin (Simon Blendis), viola (Douglas Patterson), cello (Jane Salmon) and double bass (Peter Buckoke).

The ensemble will, as usual, be working with young musicians in schools across Cornwall as part of their commitment to education. At the concert this world beating ensemble will be demonstrating the full extent of their repertoire, from a newly commissioned work to the most well-known of all chamber works, the Trout Quintet.

Thus the season begins and ends with two of Schubert's most famous works.

From experience the season is expected to be a sell-out so the organisers recommend the purchase of a seasonal subscription, which will guarantee seats at a discounted price. For more information please phone 01872 274609.

Individual tickets are available from the Hall for Cornwall box office on 01872 262466.

To promote this new season Truro Three Arts has a new website. Information on all concerts, tickets and subscription membership can be found at www.truro3arts.co.uk