Welcome to Malvern Concert Club - Malvern Concert Club

Welcome to Malvern Concert Club

Ever since its first concert on 31 October 1903, Malvern Concert Club, founded by Sir Edward Elgar, has been a cornerstone of musical life in Worcestershire. Over one hundred years later, today’s Concert Club is proud to continue that tradition of bringing the best chamber music to this part of the country. Whilst grounded in the tradition of the string quartet, each season brings a varied selection of music for small ensemble, with and without keyboard, and voice. Our performers are British and overseas musicians of international standing, with a balance of established artists and promising newcomers.

116th Season 2018-19

Malvern Concert Club's 116th season brings another regular series of six Thursday evening concerts in The Forum, Malvern Theatres. We also present the third, and last, of our President's Sunday afternoon recitals devoted to the three major song cycles of Schubert.

The Club's 116th season is a special one, as it celebrates the centenary of our founder's three major chamber works. Elgar's String Quartet, Piano Quintet and Violin Sonata were all composed in 1918 and received their premieres in 1919. All three are being performed at our final concert of this season on 2 May 2019.

We also continue our regular coach trips from Malvern to afternoon concerts in Symphony Hall, Birmingham

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An Introduction to The Met Season – Talk by Joseph Brand

Friday 25 January – 2.00pm Malvern Theatres Vice President Joseph Brand, will complete his... more»

Ernie Kay MBE 1 April 1931 – 4 January 2019

With the death of Ernie Kay, Malvern Concert Club has lost one of its most loyal supporters, one... more»

Tickets now on sale for trip to Birmingham Symphony Hall Concert 20th March 2019

Booking is now open for the trip to THSH on 20th March 2019. The programme for the concert... more»

Danny Driver and Dorothy Howell

One of the most gratifying experiences to witness at our concerts is when audience members come... more»

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Malvern Concert Club

6 days ago

Many thanks to Iain Burnside and Roderick Williams for their splendid recital of Schubert Song, including Schwanengesang, this afternoon. The encore of Gerald Finzi's setting of 'Fear no more the heat of the sun' from Shakespeare's Cymbelline in honour of our former Publicity Officer, Vice President and benefactor Ernie Kay (1 April 1931- 4 January 2019) to whom this concert was dedicated, was entirely fitting, and very moving.

These three Sunday afternoon recitals have been full of beauty, fear, joy, sadness, and humour. Most of all they have been an extraordinary musical collaboration between one of the most able composers of song and two excellent communicators of his work. Thank you again for enriching three February afternoons for the members of Malvern Concert Club, and other admirers of Schubert's songs. ... See MoreSee Less

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Malvern Concert Club

3 weeks ago

Here is Peter Johnson's review of last Thursday's recital by Tasmin Little and Martin Roscoe:

Malvern Concert Club
Review: 24th January 2019

Tasmin Little, Martin Roscoe: Beethoven Sonatas for Piano and Violin, Part 2.

This was the second of three concerts devoted to Beethoven’s twelve sonatas ‘for piano and violin’. Tonight, Tasmin Little and Martin Roscoe presented three shorter, three-movement sonatas – No. 2 in A major, No. 4 in A minor, and No. 8 in G major – and the more substantial Spring Sonata, Op. 24, which they sensibly placed at the end of the programme. In the two earlier sonatas (Nos. 2 and 4), the piano is definitely the dominant partner, and Roscoe responded with sensitivity and wit, sustaining the musical line whilst always alive to the twists and turns of Beethoven’s quixotic musical imagination. The tricky figurations in the Allegro vivace of the A major Sonata were perfectly balanced, more elegant than virtuosic, while the almost Schubertian melody of the second movement was warmly lyrical with no trace of indulgence. Little clearly enjoyed her role as accompanist, weaving her arpeggiated figures into the piano texture and performing her soloistic lines with gentle tones that never challenged the piano’s authority.

In the two later sonatas the piano and violin are more equal, and here I sometimes missed a more characterful style of violin performance. The opening of the Spring Sonata was lovely, but the dynamic contrasts later in the movement might have been more marked in the violin (they were very clear from the piano). Similarly, the theme of the slow movement was gorgeously played by both pianist and violinist, but the violin’s arabesque-like figures towards the end surely have something to say beyond mere decoration. But all in all these were delightful performances that were duly appreciated by the packed audience. The encore, the slow movement of Op. 30 No. 1, offered a glimpse of the musical treasures that await us next year.

Professor Peter Johnson ... See MoreSee Less

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Malvern Concert Club

3 weeks ago

Thank you very much indeed to Martin Roscoe and Tasmin Little for the second magnificent recital in their Beethoven Sonata series, which was performed before a large and suitably enthusiastic audience. Their encore of the slow movement from the Op.30 No. 1 sonata gave us a glimpse of the delights in store for their third concert next January. We also look forward to Martin's return on 2nd May with the Brodsky Quartet and Daniel Rowland for our Elgar Chamber Music Centenary Concert. ... See MoreSee Less

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