Classical and Jazz: Latest News > September 30
Published: 30 September 2010
by SEBASTIAN TAYLOR
CHAMBER music concerts are getting under way again this Sunday evening at Conway Hall in Red Lion Square, Holborn, and at Kings Place, Kings Cross.
The South Place Ethical Society arranges the Conway Hall concerts while the London Chamber Music Society arranges the ones at Kings Place.
Rivalry for audiences is fierce. That’s because the LCMS held its concerts at Conway Hall before defecting to Kings Place two years ago. Since then, the South Place Ethical Society has resumed control of the Conway Hall concerts that started 100 years ago.
There are significant differences in ticket pricing at the two venues. At Kings Place, the concerts are primarily run for LCMS members. After a £20 membership fee, online tickets can be purchased at £8.50, whereas most online tickets for non-members are £16.50.
The Wihan Quartet opens the LCMS season on Sunday with a lovely programme of Schubert, Schumann and Dvorak works. Other performers range include violinist Tamsin Waley-Cohen and pianist Simon Crawford-Phillips, Fibonacci Sequence, and Allegri Quartet (19/12).
At Conway Hall, there’s no preferential pricing for members. Tickets are priced at £8 each, or £4 for under-18s and full-time students. The low prices continue the South Place Ethical Society’s 100-year-old policy of putting on affordable concerts. Audience numbers have recovered well since the concerts were taken back in-house two years ago and a gala fundraising concert in May raised £2,500 to underpin the series.
The Barbirolli Quartet opens the Conway Hall season on Sunday with a strong programme of Hayden, Janacek and Beethoven. Other musicians this autumn include the Maggini, Badke and Sacconi quartets.