Magnus Johnston and Marije Johnston violins, Tom Hankey and Rosalind Ventris violas
Guy Johnston and Pierre Doumenge cellos, Tom Poster piano

Strauss Sextet from Capriccio Op 85
Shostakovich Piano Quintet in G minor Op 57
Tchaikovsky Souvenir de Florence Op 70

This is the Leamington debut of one of the best young string ensembles in the country, joined by their pianist Tom Poster for one of Shostakovich’s most powerful works. With the charming sextet from Strauss’s opera Capriccio and Tchaikovsky’s rousing Souvenir de Florence, this is a true Festival programme. Following its sell-out debut at St John’s Smith Square, and subsequent invitation to join the BBC’s New Generation Artists scheme, the Ensemble has maintained a busy schedule of engagements across the UK and beyond – including appearances at the Wigmore Hall, the Aldeburgh, Bath, Cheltenham and Spoleto Festivals and the BBC Proms – performing a vast range of repertoire: familiar, neglected and new. Magnus and Marije Johnston are known to Leamington audiences as one half of the Navarra String Quartet which opened last year’s Winter Season. Joining his brother and sister-in-law in the Ensemble is cellist Guy Johnston, winner of the BBC Young Musician of the Year award in 2000, and pianist Tom Poster who won the Keyboard section of the BBC competition in the same year.

Tickets: £24 and £19 reserved, £14 unreserved sides.

Concert generously supported by Margaret Goode