Aug 23 min read

Spiritual concert experience of Haydn, Beethoven and Ailsa Dixon by Nottingham Chamber Music Festival

By Marysia Zipser

We recently attended a spectacular, and spiritually uplifting concert at St Mary’s Church, in the historic Lace Market area of Nottingham. So I just had to write about it here.

Carla Chiericallo and I had spent a leisurely hour at the Pitcher & Piano, High Pavement (converted church, originally built 1876) and then walked up to the Nottingham Chamber Music Festival "The Spirit of Love". I had last been there in July 2023 during the festival and experienced their Beethoven concert and Byron recital.

We so enjoyed the atmosphere and ambience of this lovely medieval church sited at the heart of the Anglo-Saxon borough for well over a thousand years.

Click to enlarge all photos

The Villiers Quartet comprises Katie Stillman, violin I, Tamaki Higashi, violin II, Carmen Flores, viola and Leo Melvin, cello. They perform all over Britain and are the Quartet-in-Residence at the Jacqueline Du Pré Music Building at Oxford University.

On this particular evening, the first performance was by Franz Josef Haydn (1732-1809) "Emperor" Quartet in C Major, Op 76 No 3 (1797);

The second was supporting Emma Walshe, soprano, who wonderfully sang Ailsa Dixon's (1932-2017) "The Spirit of Love". Three songs for Soprano and String Quartet (1987-88). Friday was the Nottingham premiere of ‘Spirit of Love’, and Ailsa Dixon's family had come especially to the city to celebrate the occasion;

And finally by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) String Quartet No 14 in C# minor, Op 131 (1826). All seven movements were played without pause, incredible.

Here are several quotes about this particular evening…

“At NCMF, we are very lucky to have such a diverse range of venue hosts for the Festival. St Mary’s in the Lace Market always provides a special atmosphere – the history and beauty of this venue always provides a dramatic backdrop for our Festival concerts.” - Carmen Flores

“Beethoven’s op.131 is an absolutely astonishing piece of music. Being one of Beethoven’s famous ‘late’ quartets, it is without doubt among his greatest works. Beginning with one of the most profound fugues ever written, it then takes us through a magical world comprising seven movements, without pause, bursting with more variety than one could possibly hope for.” - Leo Melvin

“Performances of my mother’s music are always special, since she had so little recognition in her lifetime, but to hear The Spirit of Love so beautifully realised by Emma Walshe and the Villiers Quartet was truly spine-tingling. They captured perfectly the transcendent quality of these songs, and left the audience holding their breath as the last shimmering note soared into the vaulting of St Mary’s in the Lace Market.” – Josie Dixon

Well done to all the performers, it was such a wonderful magical evening concert we will remember for a long time. Thank you Villiers Quartet, Emma Walshe, the Nottingham Chamber Music Festival for promoting this special event and to the beautiful St Mary’s Church. And of course to all the audience who were equally and joyously uplifted by the Spirit of Love concert - a very special evening indeed. We applaud you all.