The 2026-2027 season will see two concerts devoted to the music of Ludwig van Beethoven, (the second with the Consone Quartet falls on Good Friday next year, the actual bicentenary of his death), will welcome back our patron, Linda Nicholson playing a 1812 Fritz fortepiano. She will be joined by the Consone Quartet’s cellist, George Ross, to play three of the Beethoven sonatas for cello and fortepiano, which span the early, middle and late periods of his compositions. Whilst the Opus 5 sonatas were the first ever written for this combination with a truly independent cello part, Opus 69 reveals true equality and partnership between the cello and piano for the first time. In the latter period, Beethoven executes a new compositional innovation, when the first movement’s main theme makes its return in the second amid the darkness of the second slow introduction of the piece, a practice that had not been previously heard. Op. 102, No.1 is a landmark chamber work marking the definitive entry point into this late period, defined by unconventional musical forms, dense counterpoint, and intimate introspection.
Linda Nicholson is regarded as the foremost British fortepianist of her generation and an authority on early keyboard performance through the unique collection of instruments she has nurtured over forty years. George Ross studied for his master’s degree at the Royal Conservatory in the Hague, and has worked with such groups as the Hanover Band, the English Concert, the Academy of Ancient Music, the Dunedin Consort, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, The King’s Consort, and Arcangelo, and is cellist of the hugely successful Consone Quartet, who have been SSEMK Artists-in-Residence over the last four seasons.
Sunday 29th November 3pm
St Mary Kenardington
George Ross - violoncello
Linda Nicholson - fortepiano
Beethoven Cello Sonatas
Sonata in F major, Opus 5 no.1
Sonata in C major, Opus 102 no.1
Sonata in A major, Opus 69
TICKETS: £26.00 £24.00 £22.00
Concessions: Under 25 (in education): 50% discount
Under 12: Free
All children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult
Disabled Access: Access to the church is all on one level. However, we can make available parking spaces in the small carpark, which gives the minimum distance into the church. Please email us at ssemk@gmx.com if you would like us to reserve you a space.
When you arrive for an SSEMK concert: One of the ways we make our events possible are various tables which offer the following:Vouchers for your pre-concert and interval drinks. A voucher enables you to purchase a glass which you can refill with any of the various refreshments on offer. Please purchase your voucher on arrival and enjoy a pre-concert drink! Afternoon concerts feature interval tea and biscuits rather than other refreshments.
Programmes are on sale on arrival. If you need to purchase one during the interval , please go to the Box Office table.
Raffle tickets are also available before concerts where the event's prizes can be seen. Please try to purchase these before the start of the concert to assist helpers in preparing for the draw.
Merchandise: There is always a table selling CDs; often of the event's artists and other early music discs at bargain prices. These sales help support the ongoing success of SSEMK.