Free with a retiring donation
60 minutes
The Hearn Recital Room
Mon 10 Jun 2024, 1.10pm

Music

Lunchtime Recital: Countess of Wessex’s String Orchestra

Free with a retiring donation
60 minutes
The Hearn Recital Room
Mon 10 Jun 2024, 1.10pm

Mozart Flute Quartet No. 1 in D. K285
Mozart Flute Quartet No. 4 in A. K298

CSgt Rachel Smith flute
LCpl Katie Davies violin
Musn Edwin Podolski viola
LCpl Helena Simpson cello

Beethoven Piano Trio in D Opus 70 No.1 “The Ghost”

Musn Osian Dafydd violin
Cpl Adrian Calef cello
Musn Callum Hilton piano

Coming to Blackheath Halls for the very first time, in the 80th Anniversary year of the D-Day Landings,  the Countess of Wessex’s String Orchestra (CWSO) is comprised of musicians from The Royal Corps of Army Music and is one of 14 Regular Army Bands in the British Army. Based in Woolwich, its main roles inclued performing for investitures and ceremonies at the Royal households, including state banquets and dinners.

Although string playing can be traced back as far as 1762 with the Orchestra of The Royal Artillery, the CWSO is taking this genre forward with the inclusion of electronic string instruments and small ensembles specialising in modern genres, appealing to audiences of all ages.