As you know, on May 7th the Hanover Square Quartet are going to be playing us music by Emilie Mayer and Fanny Mendelssohn – along with a piece by brother Felix.
Book here for 7th May concert
But who are the Hanover Square Quartet? As a quartet they have only been around since lockdown but they are all specialist period instrument players, teachers and researchers. So….
Emma Alter – Viola
Emma studied initally at the Royal Northern College of Music, moving on to the Royal College of Music and the Amsterdamse Hogeschool voor de Kunsten where she focused on early music
She is a regular member of Gabrieli Consort, the Academy of Ancient Music and many other groups; she is principal viola with Collegium Musicum 90 and a keen player of the viola d’amore.
Emma combines her playing with teaching. Not just how to play but, using the Feldenkrais Method, teaching musicians how to play and perform with greater ease and less anxiety. She has taught at most of the UK’s conservatoires – and even the British Army at Sandhurst!
Debbie Diamond – Violin
Hailing from Toronto, Debbie received her Masters degree from the University of Toronto. She is a specialist in Historical Performance ranging from klezmer to Irish fiddle playing.
Debbie has been a regular member of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment since 1999 and appeared as soloist with Fiori Musicali, Ensemble Sonnerie, and the Sweelinck Ensemble. She teaches extensively and gives regular masterclasses on Baroque performance practic. In 2018 she was elected an Honorary Associate of the Royal Academy of Music.
Rebecca Harris – Violin
Becky studied at Wells Cathedral School and later at the Royal Northern College of Music before heading for the US, where she toured extensively as a principal with Tempesta di Mare and performed with many leading American early music ensembles. Her American collaborations include GRAMMY-winning and nominated recordings of Lansing McLoskey’s Zealot Canticles, Thomas Lloyd’s Bonhoeffer and Benjamin C.S. Boyle’s Voyages.
Since returning to England, Becky has appeared at the London and Halle Handel Festivals and led projects with Europaïsches Barokorchester Le Chardon and Norwich Baroque When she is not performing, she is an active visual artist, regularly collaborating on inter-disciplinary projects with other artists.
Poppy Walshaw – cello
Poppy read Natural Sciences and Music at Cambridge University then studied in Bremen and at the Guildhall School of Music. She has taught the Alexander Technique since 2012, including for Cambridge University Music Faculty.
As a cellist Poppy is an active soloist, chamber musician and continuo player on historical instruments working with the English Baroque Soloists, English Concert, Academy of Ancient Music, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique, and Arcangelo. Recent performances include as principal for Schubert with the Hanover Band, guest principal with the Instruments of Time and Truth and with Armonico Consort, and as continuo cellist for Rachel Podger’s Brecon Baroque at the Wigmore Hall.
On May 7th they will be playing:
Quartet in E Minor Emilie Mayer (1812-1883) 1851.
Quartet in F Minor Op. 80 Felix Mendelssohn
Quartet in Eb Major Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel (1805-1847)
Book here for 7th May concert
6.30 for drinks; 7pm for the concert; 8.15 buffet supper – all included in the ticket price of £28
Upcoming concerts
Sunday 11th June – Highgate Society Lunchtime concert – 12 noon – The Reliables
£15 to include copious quantities of Bucks Fizz – Book here
Thursday 13th July – evening – Thomas Hardy poems set to song
A new song cycle by Arthur Keegan for guitar and voice setting five of Hardy’s poems about his first wife Emma.
£28 to include buffet supper and wine – more details very soon
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