Malvern Concert Club: Frith Piano Quartet

Frith Piano Quartet

Benjamin Frith piano
David Le Page violin
Robin Ireland viola
Richard Jenkinson cello
with John Tattersdill double bass

Farrenc Piano Quintet No.1 in A minor, Op.30
Fauré Piano Quartet No.1 in C minor, Op.15
Schubert Piano Quintet in A, D.667, The Trout

The Frith Piano Quartet was formed in 2001 by a group of likeminded musicians who wanted to explore the wealth of wonderful music written for the piano quartet medium. The group’s founder members included the pianist Benjamin Frith and cellist Richard Jenkinson, latterly joined by David Le Page and Robin Ireland, all distinguished soloists in their own right. The quartet’s first concerts were at the CBSO’s Centre Stage, Birmingham, where they performed the complete piano quartets of Brahms, Fauré and Mozart. Fauré ‘s enchanting first quartet forms the centrepiece of tonight’s concert.

The Frith Piano Quartet has a keen interest in performing unjustly neglected works that are not so often heard in the concert hall. Together with John Tattersdill, former Double Bass Section Leader in the CBSO, they open the concert with one such work, the first Piano Quintet by the French composer, virtuoso pianist and teacher, Louise Farrenc (1804-75). Highly successful in her lifetime, Farrenc became neglected after her death until ‘rediscovered’ in recent years. With the double bass, her two piano quintets share the same scoring as one of the most popular works in the whole chamber music canon, Schubert’s ‘Trout’ Quintet, which provides a joyful conclusion to the first concert of our season.

This concert is generously supported by Vale Pianos, Pershore through the loan of a Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand piano.