Nash Inventions: a sonic feast for six decades

Claire Booth, Martyn Brabbins and the Nash Ensemble

By Christopher Woodley, 20 March 2025

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“Booth’s voice evoking the “bone-white” imagery in the text”

Reviewed at Wigmore Hall, London on 18 March 2025

Stravinsky, Concertino for string quartet

Holt, Acrobats on a loose wire for flute and string trio (World premiere)

Grime, Long Have I Lain Beside The Water (World premiere)

Davies, String Quintet

Carter, Mosaic

Casken, Mantle (World premiere)

Matthews C., Canon (World premiere)

Anderson, Van Gogh Blue

Nash Ensemble

Alasdair Beatson, Piano

Philippa Davies, Flute

Gareth Hulse, Oboe

Richard Hosford, Clarinet

Marie Lloyd, Clarinet

Benjamin Nabarro, Violin

Jonathan Stone, Violin

Lars Anders Tomter, Viola

Adrian Brendel, Cello

Gemma Rosefield, Cello

Graham Mitchell, Double Bass

Martyn Brabbins, Conductor

Claire Booth, Soprano

The Nash Ensemble celebrates Amelia Freedman at Wigmore Hall

Roy Westbrook, 2nd February

This Memorial Concert, given by the Nash Ensemble at Wigmore Hall, unites both the group and the venue closely associated with Amelia Freedman’s distinguished career as an arts administrator.

****1

Late night lunaire: Schoenberg's Pierrot with Claire Booth

Roy Westbrook, 21st June

A midsummer night but no moonshine for this madness in the Britten Studio.

****1

Nash Ensemble’s Inventions evoke vivid landscapes and sombre memories

Christopher Woodley, 26th March

Fine performances from Claire Booth and Nash Ensemble conjure up the dramatic landscapes of Andalusia, the Hebrides and the wilds of southern Wisconsin, as portrayed by Harrison Birtwistle and Simon Holt.

****1

A double act: Roderick Williams delivers Mahler two ways

Alexander Hall, 19th November

Robert and Clara were not the only two-composer family. So were Alma and Gustav. The Nash Ensemble's latest programme highlights Beethoven and the Romantics.

***11

Defiantly alive Dvořák and joyful Schubert from the Nash Ensemble

Nick Boston, 8th February

The Nash Ensemble performs Dvořák's Piano Quartet no. 2 at Wigmore Hall, followed by a joyful rendition of Schubert's Trout Quintet.

****1

Quality performances by the Nash Ensemble at Wigmore Hall

Chris Garlick, 3rd October

Two contrasting works from the Nash Ensemble made for a fine evening of the very best quality chamber music at Wigmore Hall, gratefully received in the hall and by many online.

****1

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Christopher Woodley

Christopher’s professional background is in the public sector, and includes a spell in music librarianship. A composer, he is a keen follower of contemporary music and has attended all but four editions of the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, including the first concert in 1978. Other musical passions include a fascination with the “bad boys” of the New Complexity fixation, particularly the god-like Brian Ferneyhough – arguably the best thing to have come out of Coventry. When not listening to Boulez, Christopher relaxes by frequenting the fields, orchards, woodlands and pubs on the Weald of Kent, where he lives.

Nash Inventions: a sonic feast for six decades at Wigmore Hall