PROGRAMME

J S Bach    Suite No.3 in C for solo cello, BWV.1009

Steven Isserlis cello

Carl Stamitz    Quartet in F for bassoon, violin, viola & cello

Rachel Isserlis Family: Rachel violin, William Bond bassoon, Isabel & Natasha Bond viola & cello (daughters)

Mozart    Arias from The Magic Flute arr. Les Quatre Violons for 4 violas

Ken Aiso, Annette & Rachel Isserlis & Natasha Bond

Mozart    Theme and Variations for violin & viola from Duo in B flat, K.424

Martinu    Sonata No.2 for cello & piano

Steven Isserlis cello, Connie Shih piano

Anne Dudley    Goldiepegs and the Three Cellos for narrator, violin, 3 cellos & piano (text by Steven Isserlis)

Steve Isserlis narrator/cello, Ken Aiso violin, Gabriel Isserlis cello, Natasha Bond cello, Annette Isserlis, Connie Shih piano

Barnes Music Society is delighted to announce a very special event at the Wathan Hall, St Paul’s School on Saturday 7 July 2012. This is to celebrate the 95th birthday of long-term Barnes resident George Isserlis and is being presented by his remarkable family, including the world-famous cellist Steven Isserlis, CBE.

George was the Chairman of the Society for five years, and Steven is currently our President.  This is the first time that Steven has, amongst all his other engagements around the world, secured his appearance in Barnes where he was born.

The programme will include Steven performing Bach’s Suite No.3 for solo cello, a Cello Sonata, and the UK premiere of ‘Goldiepegs and the Three Cellos’ for which Steven has written the text!  The concert also includes performances of works by Mozart, Stamitz and birthday tributes by other members of the talented Isserlis family. It promises to be an unforgettable occasion!

George and his family have nominated FiSH, our wonderful local neighbourhood care scheme, as the charity to share the net proceeds from this event with Barnes Music Society.

All tickets are £30.  They can be purchased, subject to availability, from the ATG Box Office on 0844 8713092 (plus £2.50 booking fee).

A limited number of tickets with no booking fee can be purchased locally on 020 8876 1563 or 07931 730009.

George’s family has an astonishing history. His own father, Julius Isserlis, was a brilliant pianist and composer, who was one of a select group of just twelve artists allowed out of the Soviet Union by Lenin two years after the Russian revolution, with the aim of promoting Russian culture. None of them went back. Julius sought refuge in Vienna and this is where George was raised from the age of 6 until he was 15. By this time, Vienna had become very unsafe for Jewish families but an opportunity came for Julius and his family to escape to London through a concert tour, only just in time in 1938.

George had a distinguished career as a metallurgist, becoming an acknowledged expert on corrosion, but  as a keen amateur violinist his real love has always been for music. He and his late wife Cynthia brought up three children in Barnes with prodigious musical talents – Annette a viola player, Rachel a violinist and Steven. They, together with Annette’s husband, the professional violinist Ken Aiso and some of the next generation will give this family concert in honour of George.

We hope that you can join us with the Isserlis family for this unique local celebration!