The Fitzsimmon Ensemble
Tue July 21, 2026 12:00 pm
Sarah Brandwood-Spencer – Violin
Catherine Yates – Violin
Raymond Lester – Viola
Alexander Holladay – Cello
Benjamin Powell – Piano
In the first of their two concerts at the festival this year, the Ensemble will premier a composition by Conwy composer, Hazel Sturt, commissioned as part of the 200th anniversary celebrations for Telford’s bridge, as well as bringing us two stunning works of the chamber music repertoire, one well-known, and the other deserving to be better known. Mozart’s String Quartet No. 19 in C major, K.465, nicknamed the ‘Dissonance’ Quartet from the unusual harmonies in its slow introduction, will open the programme. One of Mozart’s most analysed compositions, its unusual harmonies are often seen as a precursor to Wagner and his enigmatic Tristan Chord. Then will follow Josef Suk’s Piano Quintet in G minor, Opus 8, written early in his career in 1893. The Quintet shows the influence of Brahms, to whom it is dedicated, but the work is far more than a youthful homage to Brahms and other composers, such as Suk’s fellow Czech, Dvorak; many of the aspects of the melodic style are typical of Suk throughout his career.
## Note this concert was previously arranged for 1pm, but is now at 12 noon. ##
Yn eu cyngerdd cyntaf yn yr ŵyl eleni, bydd yr Ensemble yn perfformio gwaith newydd gan Hazel Sturt, cyfansoddwr lleol, gomisynwyd fel rhan o ddathliad pen-blwydd 200 mlynedd Pont Telford. Dont hefyd â dau waith syfrdanol o gerddoriaeth siambr, un adnabyddus ac un a ddylai fod yn fwy adnabyddus. Agorir y rhaglen gyda Phedwarawd llinynnol Mozart, Rhif 19 yn C fwyaf, K.465, sydd â’r llysenw y Pedwarawd Anghytgord o achos yr harmoni anghyffredin glywir yn y cyflwyniad araf. Ystyrir y gwaith yn ragflaenydd i Wagner â’i Gord Tristan. Yna, Pumawd Piano Josef Suk yn G leiaf, Opus 8, ysgrifenwyd yn fuan yn ei yrfa, ym 1893. Gwelir yma ddylanwad Brahms ac iddo ef y cysegrwyd y gwaith, sy’n fwy na chyflwyniad llencyn i Brahms a chyfansoddwyr eraill, megis ei gydwladwr Tsiecaidd, Dvorak. Mae nifer o agweddau’r dull melodig yn nodweddiadol o Suk trwy gydol ei yrfa.
## Noder bod y cyngerdd hwn wedi’i drefnu ar gyfer 1yp yn flaenorol, ond mae bellach am hanner dydd. ##
Sponsored by/Noddwyd gan Catrin and Wyn Hobson.
There are no set admission charges to festival concerts. Audiences are invited to contribute to a collection at the end of each performance towards the very considerable costs involved in running the festival. We very much appreciate the generous support which we receive from our sponsors in making this arrangement possible and allowing access to the festival to everyone, irrespective of their financial means. Any profit accruing is carried forward to ensure that the festival continues to flourish in the years ahead.
Ni chodir tâl mynediad i gyngherddau’r ŵyl. Gwahoddir cyfraniadau gan y gynulleidfa ar ôl pob perfformiad tuag at y costau sylweddol o redeg yr ŵyl. Gwerthfawrogwn yn fawr gefnogaeth hael ein noddwyr sydd yn gwneud y trefniant hwn yn bosibl ac yn golygu fod pawb sydd eisiau yn cael mynychu’r ŵyl beth bynnag yw eu moddion byw. Trosglwyddir unrhyw elw a wneir i gronfa arbennig i sicrhau llwyddiant yr ŵyl yn y dyfodol.