Next Concert:

Saturday February 21st 2026 at 7:30pm

St Marks Church, Harrogate, HG2 8AY

Programme

Gustav Mahler — Blumine: Originally composed in 1884 as part of incidental music for Der Trompeter von Säckingenand later included (and then removed) from his First Symphony. It opens the concert with tender simplicity—music of youthful warmth and poetic stillness, revealing the composer’s gift for heartfelt melody in its most transparent form.

Pietro Lusvardi & Gatto Marte — Double Bass Concerto:

Soloist: Pietro Lusvardi

Composed by Pietro Lusvardi in collaboration with the Gatto Marte Ensemble, this double bass concerto serves as a vibrant showcase for the ensemble’s signature eclectic sound. Since its formation in 1991, Gatto Marte has established a niche in the Italian chamber scene by seamlessly blending classical architecture, jazz improvisation and European folk motifs. Their work is celebrated for its “descriptive” quality a narrative style that is simultaneously imaginative, ironic and deeply evocative.Pietro Lusvardi is a versatile and expressive double bassist known for his fluid navigation between classical precision and jazz improvisation. With a career spanning international stages, Lusvardi has established himself as a prominent figure in the contemporary music scene, often praised for his warm, resonant tone and rhythmic ingenuity.

A dedicated collaborator, Lusvardi has performed with numerous prestigious ensembles and chamber groups, bringing a deep sensitivity to both traditional scores and avant-garde compositions. Beyond his work as a performer, he is a passionate educator and composer, frequently exploring the boundaries of the double bass as a solo melodic instrument. His artistry reflects a lifelong commitment to the "voice" of the bass, bridging the gap between its foundational orchestral role and its potential for poetic 

Elfrida Andrée — Symphony No. 2 in A minor: Composed in October 1879, with the first performance in Gothenburg in April 1893. This is a a powerful and confident work by one of Scandinavia’s most remarkable musical pioneers. Sweeping, lyrical, and boldly structured, this symphony stands as a striking testament to Andrée’s symphonic voice and enduring originality.