The Bloomsbury Players explore the romantic chamber repertoire on gut strings with a historically informed perspective. For their Conway Hall debut they are joined by clarinettist Katherine Spencer in a programme of much loved alongside lesser-known works. The UK premiere of Brahms’ Clarinet Quintet in 1892 cast a long shadow. The audience included the composer Sir Charles Villers Stanford who challenged his pupils at the Royal College of Music to write a clarinet quintet, with the winner being Samuel Taylor-Coleridge whose quintet premiered in 1895. Alongside these two major works there will be the opportunity to hear chamber arrangements of two beautiful songs by renowned musician and arranger, Bill Thorp.

Clara Schumann | Arr. Bill Thorp: Ich stand in dunklen Träumen Op.13/1
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor | Clarinet Quintet in F sharp minor Op.10
Brahms | Clarinet Quintet in B minor Op.115
Brahms | Arr. Bill Thorp: Wie Melodien zieht es mir Op.105/1

Katherine Spencer • clarinet
Sijie ‘Susie’ Chen • violin
Will McGahon • violin
John Crockatt • viola
Orlando Jopling • cello