Festival 2012

THE 2012 FESTIVAL

Natalie Klouda, Irina Botan and Ashok Klouda take a bow after their performance of Haydn's 'Gypsy' Trio at the opening concert

Left to right, Ruth Gibson, Natalie Klouda, Priya Mitchell, Nathaniel Boyd, Alexandros Koustas and Ashok Klouda, after their performance of Brahms' Sextet No.2 at the HICMF Opening Concert

St. Anne's Church looked stunning with all its candles lit for the HICMF concerts

One of the children reads out some information about the ensemble's next piece

Ruth Gibson and Ashok Klouda finish Beethoven's 'Eyeglass' Duo with a flurry

Natalie and Ashok Klouda hand out percussion instruments to the children at the Family Concert so everyone can take part in their final performance

The Family Concert was a lot of fun for everyone - including the performers!

Some very helpful audience members aid Natalie Klouda with the concert presentation

The Family Concert offered the best chance for eager members of the audience to really get as close as possible to the action

Irina Botan rehearsing the Mozart Piano Quartet in preparation for the Saturday evening concert

Nicola Benedetti, Natalie Klouda, Ruth Gibson and Ashok Klouda in the midst of their performance of Bridge's '3 Idylls' during the festival's Gala Concert

Following their performance of Bridge's '3 Idylls' in the Gala Concert, Nicola Benedetti, Natalie Klouda, Ruth Gibson and Ashok Klouda take a bow

Left to right, Nicola Benedetti, Thomas Gould, Natalie Klouda, Michael Gurevich, Ruth Gibson, Alexandros Koustas, Ashok Klouda and Nathaniel Boyd finished the Gala Concert and the inaugural Highgate International Chamber Music Festival with a performance of Mendelssohn's Octet at St. Anne's Church

Irina Botan joins the Mendelssohn Octet performers on stage at the end of the Gala Concert

PRESS

"A Russian soul entered the room with this heartachingly nostalgic piece played by the three initiators of the festival. The crisp rhythms of Argentinean composer Astor Piazzolla's tango on the whim of the Argentine spring finally woke up the audience to just how good this music-making was."

"It was a delight to hear the Kloudas again, with Ruth Gibson on the viola and guest artist Nicola Benedetti in Three Idylls by Frank Bridge."

"After all these treats the finale was still astonishing: eight superb soloists getting together to play Mendelssohn's famously exhilarating Octet."

Lesley Chamberlain Ham & High

27th December 2012

"Nicola Benedetti's impeccable touch was evident in Frank Bridge's Three Idylls where she helped to bring out the English melancholia in one movement and friskiness in another."

Sebastian Taylor Camden New Journal

20th December 2012