Excellent Music
Last Saturday evening we went along to hear the Galitzin Ensemble at St Andrew's Church, Alexandra Park Road. They play there now and then and I had heard them there before and enjoyed it immensely. (I didn't know it happened until it was advertised on this website.) They are extremely professional and polished performers, and have won a number of international prizes - the personel has changed, but the Ichinose family is their continuity. Saint Andrew's also is a wonderful venue for this kind of music, big enough to feel that strong music has room to move, but with very clear sound. Whether it was the playing or the acoustic - probably both - the music sounded amazingly crisp to a rather aging ear. It is extraordinary, really, to be able to hear such high quality music-making just round the corner for only however much you choose to drop into the plate at the door.
The programmes I've heard Galitzins do have been balanced: a classic (Beethoven/Haydn), something more light-hearted, and Shostakovitch - they seem to specialise in him. I went with someone who wasn't at all sure about Shostakovitch and went to sit near the door for that half of the concert to be able to nip out if necessary, but was still there at the end - it's such dramatic and gripping stuff. These recitals are an effortless way to discover good things you didn't expect. Try it if you haven't yet.
