Among the Birds and the Trees

Sometimes a concert can be like a walk through a beautiful garden, with gorgeous blooms, intriguingly patterned ferns, and now and then a dramatic grass tree shooting skywards. The rather unusual line-up of instruments for this program offers just such an experience for the listener: a world of glowing sounds, with something entrancing around every corner of a gently twisting path.

Creating this world are three of classical music’s acknowledged leaders. Adam Walker was appointed Principal Flute of the London Symphony Orchestra at 21; Anneleen Lenaerts became Solo Harp of the Vienna Philharmonic at 23; Timothy Ridout, youngest of the three, is that rare creature: a solo violist.

This particularly mellow combination of instruments was the brainchild of Debussy, featuring in one of his very last pieces, the cornerstone of this concert. Planted around it are the meditative beauty of Takemitsu, the intensity of Soviet-era Gubaidulina, the joyous vigour of George Benjamin, and a choice selection of other musical blooms.

"Adam Walker plays … with exquisite grace and purity of tone"

Gramophone

"Timothy Ridout is that rare kind of musician who could play a cardboard box and make it sing"

Guardian

"Anneleen Lenaerts displayed dynamic finesse, nuance in articulation and jaw-dropping skill"

Aspen Times

• Program

  George Benjamin

  Flight

  Debussy

  Jardins sous la pluie

  Telemann

  Fantasia in E-Flat Major, No. 7

  Debussy

  Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp

  Messiaen

  Le Merle noir

  Takemitsu

  And then I knew ‘twas Wind

  Debussy

  Clair de lune

  Gubaidulina

  Garden of Joy and Sorrow

• Artists

  Adam Walker

  Flute

  Timothy Ridout

  Viola

  Anneleen Lenaerts

  Harp