PRESS RELEASE: Beethoven Explored Concert Series

What Makes a Musical Genius?

Jessica Coleman (Chair sponsored by Alistair & Liz Milliken)

New Appointment – Jessica Coleman as Violin 1, No.3

We’re very excited to announce that Jessica Coleman has been appointed as LMP Violin 1, No.3.

Born in Aberdeen, Jessica was fortunate enough to grow up in a musical household. Her first orchestra tour was to China when she was 9 years old, and it would seem she never looked back! Now, Jessica enjoys performing and touring with groups such as London Philharmonic Orchestra, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and BBC Symphony Orchestra.

After attending Chetham’s School of Music, Jessica spent some time in Oslo studying with Stephan Barratt-Due, then went on to complete her undergraduate degree at the Royal College of Music with teachers Detlef Hahn and Gaby Lester. Whilst at RCM, Jessica formed a successful string quartet with friends. The quartet performed together for five years at venues such as Wigmore Hall, Kings Place, Conway Hall and the Elgar Room at the Royal Albert Hall.

Jessica feels her passions for both orchestral playing and chamber music come together in her work at LMP, and she is delighted to continue her journey with us.

The Ages of Mozart: Angela Hewitt

Mendelssohn and The Schumanns

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Prize

Four World Seasons

New appointment – Christine Anderson as Viola No.2

We’re very excited to announce that Christine Anderson has been appointed as LMP Viola No.2.

Glaswegian violist Christine joined the viola section of the Hallé Orchestra in 2015, shortly after graduating from the Royal College of Music, where she studied with Simon Rowland Jones. Last year, she moved to London, where she enjoys a varied freelance career as an orchestral and chamber musician. Her orchestral work includes performing with Aurora Orchestra, the Philharmonia, and the RPO. She recently joined the Gildas Quartet, and also regularly plays with ground-breaking chamber ensembles such as Manchester Collective, Twelve Ensemble, the United Strings of Europe, and Her Ensemble. Christine is passionate about the importance of the classical music world being a place where everybody can feel included and represented.

Christine plays on a beautiful English viola, made by David Milward in 2011.

Industry Insights Webinars

Stories of the folk

Stan-Mabel

Antonia Kesel

New appointment – Antonia Kesel as Principal Second Violin

We’re very excited to announce that Antonia Kesel has been appointed as LMP Principal Second Violin.

Antonia graduated from the Royal Academy of Music with a First Class honours degree in 2015 having studied with International Soloist, Jack Liebeck for 4 years. Since her graduation, she has been a chamber music fellow at the Royal Academy of Music and has won many prizes as a chamber musician, including the St Martin-in-the Fields chamber music competition and the Malta International Music Competition. 

Antonia enjoys working in the West End as a member of the band at Phantom of the Opera as well as being a freelance Violinist in London playing for commercial recording sessions and for orchestras such as the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Royal Opera House and Britten Sinfonia.

 Antonia plays on a Francois Fent violin from Paris, circa 1780.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Mozart: The Mixtape

Protected: 100 Faces of Croydon FAQs

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

A chat with Isata Kanneh-Mason and Jonathan Bloxham

Beethoven and Mendelssohn with Isata Kanneh-Mason at St John’s Smith Square

Friday 3 November 2023

Isata Kanneh-Mason piano
Jonathan Bloxham conductor
Ruth Rogers leader
London Mozart Players (LMP)
Arvo Pärt Cantus in Memorium Benjamin Britten
Anna Clyne Stride
Mendelssohn Piano Concerto No.1
Beethoven Symphony No.5

Before our concert together at St John’s Smith Square, we sat down with our soloist Isata Kanneh-Mason and conductor Jonathan Bloxham to talk about the concert, the music, and pre-concert rituals…

Isata Kanneh-Mason

  1. Can you tell us about your favourite moment in the Mendelssohn Piano Concerto?
    It’s the opening.  It’s so dramatic and exciting and I like the way the piano states its presence. Actually I also have another moment in the second movement where the piano is playing slow chords and there is a solo cello line – the harmonies there are so incredibly beautiful.
  2. We performed the Mendelssohn two years ago with you at Cadogan Hall. How does it feel to be playing this piece together again?
    It’s really lovely to perform this piece with the same group of people.  I feel I have developed as a musician over the last two years so it will be nice to be able to bring something different to the performance.
  3. Do you have a pre-concert ritual, and if so, what is it?
    I try not to stick to a specific pre-concert ritual in case I don’t have time. I always make sure I stretch, warm up my fingers and drink water. I don’t tend to eat too much before going on stage as I don’t want to feel full. And I also put away my phone quite a while before a performance as well, so there are no distractions!

Jonathan Bloxham

  1. In your role as Conductor in Residence and Artistic Advisor of LMP, you developed the programme for this concert. Can you explain how you chose the pieces and put them together?
    Programming is one of the great joys of my work as a conductor, and devising each programme comes with its own intellectual or emotional journey. The inspiration for this concert began with Mendelssohn. Not only a prodigious composer, he was also a virtuosic pianist, and as a young boy he discovered and formed a deep appreciation of Beethoven’s piano sonatas. From then on Beethoven’s music had a huge influence on his own compositions, and Mendelssohn continued to perform the master’s works throughout his life. In 1847, the year of his death, he took his final visit to Britain and performed Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4. This ties in themes of London, Mendelssohn, the piano and Beethoven. Taking the second two of these we arrive at Anna Clyne’s wonderful piece – Stride – a piece for strings based on the themes from Beethoven’s Pathetique Sonata. And finally, our opening piece, Pärt’s Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten is not only one of the most atmospheric openings of a concert, but it is also a little nod to the 110th Anniversary of Britten’s birth. This is a programme I adore.
  1. Beethoven’s Symphony No.5 is such an iconic work. How do you take on the challenge of conducting it?
    It is of course an iconic work to play as well as conduct! Even just the opening is an infamously treacherous moment for us all. But what an honour it is to have the chance to perform this majestic piece with LMP. For me personally, it was in the second half of the very first symphonic concert I conducted as a student and so brings back many memories. This piece has taught me a great deal about the craft of conducting.
  1. You’re also conducting Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto, which will be played by Isata Kanneh-Mason. What’s the relationship like between the conductor, soloist and orchestra when performing this piece?
    Every player in the LMP is a fantastic chamber musician. And every time they perform, be it with or without a conductor, they are making chamber music. And so it is no different when a soloist joins. As a conductor in this scenario I feel my role is to help focus all our listening, to facilitate the connection between soloist and orchestra and to be a conduit for the flow of ideas between them…and adding a few of my own now and then too!

LMP, conducted by Jonathan Bloxham, play Beethoven and Mendelssohn with Isata Kanneh-Mason on 3 November 2023. Tickets can be purchased here.

Beethoven and Mendelssohn

Tasting Notes Auction Lots