Part of the Embassy and Cultural Institute Series
Representing the General Representation of the Government of Flanders in the United Kingdom
Programme
Frederick Septimus Kelly (arr. Decroix) – Elegy, in Memoriam Rupert Brooke
Arthur Bliss – ‘Allegro con spirito’ from Music for Strings
Elgar – Elegy for Strings
Vaughan Williams – English Folk Song Suite
Josef Suk – Meditation on the Old Czech Chorale ‘St. Wenceslas’
Performers
Two violins (Liesbeth Baelus and Kaja Nowak), viola (Diede Verpoest), cello (Wouter Vercruysse) and double bass (Bram Decroix) is an unconventional setting and thus a very versatile repertoire. Next to well known and loved pieces like the Dvorak quintet, the SGQ performs many rarely heard works from composers such as Janacek, Onslow, Bliss, F.S.Kelly, and more; has premiered and performed works of contemporary Belgian composers; has collaborated with other musicians, among them the world-renowned guitarist Roberto Aussel; co-created a music-theatre performance, and even presented their own arrangements of songs by The Beatles and Queen.
The St. George Quintet has been coached by Pavel Fischer (CZ), Donald Grant (UK) and Ursula Smith (UK).
The quintet has toured extensively throughout Flanders and performed in festivals and venues such as Midis/Minimes (Brussels), Iedereen Klassiek (Concertgebouw Bruges), Klarafestival and AMUZ (Antwerp). Abroad the St. George Quintet performed during the Grachtenfestival in Amsterdam, the Lake District Summer Music Festival (UK), the Festival of Zeeuwsch-Vlaanderen (NL) and gave a commemorative concert in London organized by the General Representation of the Government of Flanders in the UK.
The St. George Quintet is a laureate of Supernova 2016, a competition for young chamber music ensembles organized in cooperation with the Belgian classical music radio station Klara. In 2016 Pavane Records released their debut album, British Legends. In 2019 the St. George Quintet has released a second album, Bohemia Express produced by Rachel Smith (Ophelia Productions)
