‘The Cartref Collective’s founder members include the pianist Lizzie Bonsell, the clarinettist Ellie Kershaw and the violist Mungo Everett-Jordan. The three met during their undergraduate study at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama where they all graduated with first class honours degrees in 2023. Having moved away from Cardiff, Ellie and Mungo are currently second year postgraduates at the Royal College of Music and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and Lizzie has forged a career as a chamber musician, repetiteur and teacher.
This afternoon concert is comprised of two of the romantic era’s giants, Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms. With two offerings from Schumann, the first being selections from the Dichterliebe, we can explore the versatility of his song writing (arranged for combinations of clarinet, viola and piano), the format which cemented his prowess as a must have romantic composer. The second, his Märchenerzählungen meaning ‘fairy tales’ is an original work for clarinet, viola and piano and beautifully exploits the song like qualities of these instruments and combines work by Schumann’s two compositional personalities, Florestan and Eusebius, each with vastly contrasting approaches! Finally, we have two songs by Brahms, originally for viola, voice and piano but arranged for the clarinet to replace the voice. These were written for Brahms’ close friends Joseph and Amelie Joachim and combine the ultimate romantic duo writing with themes from medieval Christmas carols and poetry. It’s easy to see why these songs became some of Brahms’ most beloved works!’
