Concert Reviews 2025
Silja Trio
13 September 2025
A capacity audience filled St Cuthbert’s church in Allendale for the second of two concerts organised in 2025 and were rewarded with astonishingly mature performances by members of the Silja Trio –
Georgia Bloomfield, violin, Cillian Hennessy, cello, and Hanna Csermely, piano, all students at the Royal Northern College of Music.
A charming arrangement of Fauré’s well-known song ‘Après un Rêve’ opened the concert, and this was followed by the rarely-heard piano trio by the 18 year old Debussy, (‘a great many notes accompanied by a great deal of friendship to his teacher’ says the composer!). The trio is perhaps not wholly typical of the composer of one of the 20thcentury’s greatest string quartets and numerous orchestral masterpieces, but its romantic melodies were refreshing and nevertheless ensure its place in any programme.
‘Inverno Porteño’, a colourful piece by the Argentinian king of Tango, Astor Piazzola, ended the first part of the concert.
The second half was devoted to the music of Shostakovich -five of his tuneful and characteristically witty encore pieces and then the great E minor Trio, Op.67. The three musicians rose to the technical and musical challenges of this historically significant masterpiece with awe-inspiring ease, the piece was a reaction to the horrific events of WW II and in particular, the Holocaust. The Silja’s performance created an heart-felt, emotionally charged atmosphere inside St Cuthbert’s, fully justifying the rapturous standing ovation which followed their performance.
We even had a member of the appreciative and musically well educated audience who had met Shostakovich.
A truly memorable, great evening, rounded off as usual by the now almost legendary suppers provided by the Music in Allendale committee.
(Silja, incidentally, is the old German spelling of Cecilia, patron saint of Music-
she would have been thrilled by this evening of high-class music-making!).
Dov Goldberg and the Frankland Quartet
26 April 2025
Our concert in April was a huge success, the fine acoustic of St. Cuthbert’s Church echoing to the glorious sound of the The Frankland Quartet, with Dov Goldberg, clarinet, who attracted a large audience.
Sarah Roberts and Sophie Appleton, first and second violins, Tom Rathbone, cello and James Slater, viola, longtime colleagues in the Royal Northern Sinfonia, with Dov Goldberg, clarinet, brought music of an international standard to the village of Allendale.
Their programme included masterpieces by Haydn, Arthur Somervell and Mozart.
The concert opened with their bright, full-blooded dispatch of Haydn’s G Major Quartet, Op 77, No 1 with its delightful Allegro moderato opening movement skillfully and finely developed by this talented Quartet. The Adagio was rendered with a tender melancholy between the duetting violin and cello. The short, 3rd movement Minuet played with pace, the trio interjected lending a more vibrant folk-dance feel, before returning to the opening theme. The Presto finale playfully brought the piece to a momentous conclusion.
Too seldom is an audience treated to the music of English composer, Arthur Somervell, born in Windermere, his only chamber work was a fine choice, reminiscent of Brahms, but in no way imitative. The clarinet playing was touching in its richness and romance, a treat for all present to hear this exquisite English lamentation.
Both performances were characterized by a combination of elegance, charm, and energy.
After an interval full of bonhomie and slaked thirsts, the atmosphere was one of electric expectation with the audience returning to the beautiful and elegant melodies of Mozart's Clarinet Quintet in A major, K. 581.
Dov Goldberg and the Frankland’s performance was beautifully inflected, giving a rich, soothing and seamless performance with the audience lifted by their sublime musical ability, bringing the Quintet to a joyous conclusion. The players' ability to give even familiar works a sense of revelation, left our souls enriched.
Audience feedback was overwhelming, praise was given for their emotional engagement and sense of spontaneity, so the standing ovation after the lively encore was indeed well deserved.
The evening’s icing on the cake was the chance to mingle with the musicians during the lavish supper provided by the hard-working committee of Music in Allendale.
Sarah Roberts and Sophie Appleton, first and second violins, Tom Rathbone, cello and James Slater, viola, longtime colleagues in the Royal Northern Sinfonia, with Dov Goldberg, clarinet, brought music of an international standard to the village of Allendale.
Their programme included masterpieces by Haydn, Arthur Somervell and Mozart.
The concert opened with their bright, full-blooded dispatch of Haydn’s G Major Quartet, Op 77, No 1 with its delightful Allegro moderato opening movement skillfully and finely developed by this talented Quartet. The Adagio was rendered with a tender melancholy between the duetting violin and cello. The short, 3rd movement Minuet played with pace, the trio interjected lending a more vibrant folk-dance feel, before returning to the opening theme. The Presto finale playfully brought the piece to a momentous conclusion.
Too seldom is an audience treated to the music of English composer, Arthur Somervell, born in Windermere, his only chamber work was a fine choice, reminiscent of Brahms, but in no way imitative. The clarinet playing was touching in its richness and romance, a treat for all present to hear this exquisite English lamentation.
Both performances were characterized by a combination of elegance, charm, and energy.
After an interval full of bonhomie and slaked thirsts, the atmosphere was one of electric expectation with the audience returning to the beautiful and elegant melodies of Mozart's Clarinet Quintet in A major, K. 581.
Dov Goldberg and the Frankland’s performance was beautifully inflected, giving a rich, soothing and seamless performance with the audience lifted by their sublime musical ability, bringing the Quintet to a joyous conclusion. The players' ability to give even familiar works a sense of revelation, left our souls enriched.
Audience feedback was overwhelming, praise was given for their emotional engagement and sense of spontaneity, so the standing ovation after the lively encore was indeed well deserved.
The evening’s icing on the cake was the chance to mingle with the musicians during the lavish supper provided by the hard-working committee of Music in Allendale.
Our second concert on 14th September, was a sell out recital by the Cypriot pianist, Martino Tirimo. Among other notable achievements he has recorded the complete piano works both of Beethoven and of Chopin
