The Gaudier Ensemble have performed with much success in the past for the Richmond Concert Society, and it is always a pleasure to welcome back such a distinguished collection of musicians. They come together, this body of European musicians, to perform and record the chamber music repertoire for wind, strings and piano and, being true Europeans, bring with them an international outlook and style to their playing.

It was in 1998 that the ensemble made their first appearance, a resounding success, at the Wigmore Hall. Soon afterwards they recorded Schubert’s Octet which was recommended as first choice in BBC Radio 3’s “Building a Library”.

Their regular tours include appearances in major concert halls and festivals throughout Europe. In the UK they have appeared at the Edinburgh Festival and the Cheltenham Festival.

For their performance of the Quartet for the end of Time, one of the most moving chamber works of the 20th century, composed by Messiaen when he was in a German prison camp during the Second World War, the important clarinet part will be played by Richard Hosford, the principal clarinettist of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Richard is also a member of the Nash Ensemble of London and with them has recorded the complete chamber works of Poulenc and also a CD of the chamber music of Mark Anthony Turnage.

Susan Tomes, the pianist in the Messiaen and the Schubert, has been described as “one of the brightest jewels in Britain’s cultural crown”. Susan was the first woman to study music at King’s College Cambridge which had been an exclusively male college for 400 years. She was a founder member of Domus and is now well known internationally as part of the Florestan Trio. Susan has also published a number of books including Beyond the Notes.

The cellist of the ensemble is Stephen Marks who was born in Germany and is the principal cellist of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe.

Iris Juda (viola) was born in Holland and now lives just outside Salzburg. She is a founder member of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and has played several times for the Richmond Concert Society when she performed with the Hanson String Quartet and the Gaudier Ensemble.

Lesley Hatfield (violin) read music at Clare College, Cambridge and then continued her studies at the Royal Academy of Music. For four years she played with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and is now the Leader of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.

Marieke Blankestijn (violin) was born in the Hague and studied with Sandor Vegh in Salzburg. At the age of 21 Marieke won the International Mozart Competition. Since 1985 she has led the Chamber Orchestra of Europe.

For the performance of Schubert’s “Trout” quintet Stephen Williams (double bass) joins the ensemble. Stephen was a founder member of the Britten Sinfonia. He studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and has played with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the English Chamber Orchestra.