Posted:
6:00 a.m. November 29, 2021

Following his recent epic and successful Mahler concert in Exeter Cathedral, the enterprising Isca Ensemble returns to its home port, Sidmouth Parish Church, to continue its ongoing concert series.

The first event of the new year includes a light orchestral concert on February 5 featuring popular works by Richard Rogers, Anderson, Khachaturian and more, as well as the premiere of an exciting work by Exeter composer Alfie Pugh, specially commissioned by the orchestra.

The March 19 concert will see the return of renowned South Korean violinist Joo Yeon Sir in a performance of Sir Edward Elgar’s exquisite violin concerto. A summer concert on July 2 features classical guitarist James Girling in a performance of Joaquin Rodrigo’s Fantasía para un gentilhombre for guitar and orchestra. A versatile performer, improviser, arranger and composer, James is a 26-year-old guitarist currently based in Manchester.

The Ensemble’s next concert will take place at Sidmouth Parish Church on Saturday December 18 and will feature extremely talented Polish pianist Lucas Krupinski. Recently returned from another successful tour of Germany and Poland, Lucas will perform Frederick Chopin’s idyllic Second Piano Concerto. Lucas is a Steinway artist, represented by the association Ludwig van Beethoven and Madame Elzbieta Penderecki.

Wagner composed Siegfried’s Idyll as a birthday present to his second wife, Cosima, after the birth of their son Siegfried. It was first performed on Christmas morning, December 25, 1870, by a small ensemble of the Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra on the stairs of their villa in Tribschen, Switzerland. Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll and Mozart’s Symphony No.40 complete the December 18 program.

Tickets can be obtained in advance online at www.iscaensemble.org.uk or from Paragon Books, Sidmouth.

Prior to this concert, Lucas Krupinski will also present a recital in the church on Thursday December 16 at 3 p.m. with works by Chopin, Scriabin and Rachmaninoff. A limited number of free tickets are available for this recital from Roger Hendy roghendy@gmail.com. There are no other points of sale for this recital. Visit www.iscaensemble.org.uk for more details.