On the eve of their 20th anniversary, the string, wind and piano players of much-loved Ensemble 360 return to Portsmouth. Their programme includes captivating charm and wit in George Onslow’s Nonet. This is a chance to hear one of the finest and largest-scale chamber works by the composer, nicknamed the ‘French Beethoven’, whose five movements move through an expressive array of moods from turbulence to a jubilant conclusion.

EPSG:4326

Mozart, Onslow & Watkins

Portsmouth Guildhall

Created with Wigmore Hall’s Director, John Gilhooly, the chamber ensemble comprises a roster of outstanding musicians led by Michael Collins and Isabelle van Keulen. Here it takes up the cause of the neglected Anglo-French George Onslow, alongside the German Louis Spohr (1784-1859) and the Italian double bass virtuoso Giovanni Bottesini (1821-89).

Wigmore Soloists

Wigmore Hall

Onslow and Farrenc

Naples Philharmonic

The French composer George Onslow, composing in the shadow of Beethoven, was grappling, like his famous contemporary, with deafness. His was caused by a stray bullet to the head during a walk. Onslow translated his experience from his sickbed into music, giving evocative titles to his string quintet such as Fever and Delirium, Convalescence, and Cure. The listener seems to witness a story unfolding through sounds; this is pure program music. The same applies to Beethoven’s Horn Sonata in F, one of the key works in the chamber music repertoire for the horn arranged for string quintet.

Chamber music: Beethoven's shadow

AMUZ (Festival van Vlaanderen Antwerpen)

May Chamber Series

Praxis Fiber Workshop

David B. Waters Trust artists-in-residence from the Tulsa Symphony Gina Davis and Jennifer Sherman, violins; Jeff Cowen, viola; Kari Caldwell, cello; and Marc Facci, bass, will be presenting a recital featuring:

George Onslow

Events

Upcoming events

May 15, 2025

Beethoven and Onslow · Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center

Oct 16, 2025

Hummel & Onslow · Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center

Past events

Dec 2, 2024

Mozart, Onslow & Watkins · Portsmouth Guildhall

Oct 30, 2024

Wigmore Soloists · Wigmore Hall

About

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