Enthusiastic reception to Igor the Bird at Warwick family concert

“I JUST can’t wait for Sir Scallywag and the Golden Underpants in March,” said an excited Sophie as she danced her way to the car park on Sunday morning. With 100 young people, quite a few parents and grandparents, she had been entertained by the engaging Polly Ives and members of Ensemble 360 playing music by Vivaldi, Reade and Saint-Saëns as Igor, The Bird Who Couldn’t Sing grabbed the attention and encouraged youthful involvement - including paper dart throwing.

Another absorbing event with professionals playing a full part and seemingly enjoying the enthusiasm.

Those Ensemble 360 professionals returned on Sunday afternoon playing a work of disputed authorship – Beethoven’s Duo for Clarinet and Bassoon in C – an exhausting piece for Matthew Hunt (clarinet) and Peter Whelan (bassoon) - full of murky C minor themes before shifting to C major for the finale. Britten’s Three Divertimenti brought the string quartet on stage with Gemma Rosefield on top form with her cello lines.

When teaching at Sutton Valence School in Kent, Matthew Hunt coached a very young Charlie Piper. Now in his early 30s, his compositions attract the attention of internationally regarded ensembles. His Jacaranda, specially commissioned for Music in the Round is dedicated to the inventor of the hanging mobile and the piece is, appropriately, full of interweaving manoeuvres. Matthew took charge in the second half of the concert, leading a very measured and emotionally charged playing of Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet in A.

Butlers Marston Concert Society’s 2013 season began with a remarkable four hands evening with Lynn Carter and Eleanor Hodgkinson. Brahms loved writing piano duets and works for two pianos. His Hungarian Dances were originally written for piano playing in the inns of the day – much to the annoyance of the violinists who now claim ownership.

A packed church heard two first class musicians open up with a scintillating version of Handel’s Arrival of the Queen of Sheba from Solomon, and works by Rachmaninov, Mozart, Fauré, Grainger and Gershwin. The trek to Butlers Marston is worth every mile - this is the most welcoming of concert societies.

Clive Peacock