Preparations are underway for Ibrahim Aziz's second album, a disc of Handel Sonatas and Suites with harpsichordist Masumi Yamamoto. The date of the recording is in October. Keep a lookout for concerts and other updates of this programme on this website and in the DIARY. You can also read about the project here: THE HANDEL CD PROJECT.
Sunday 22 September 2019
The Viola da Gamba Society meeting in Pimlico was followed by the repeat of the Polychoral concert (Chelys and Amici Vocal Octet with David Crown) held last week in St John's Arts Centre Oxford. Tonight it was held in St Barnabas' Pimlico.
Wednesday 11 September 2019
Ibrahim Aziz was part of a team of musicians with Scott Woo (tenor) and YS Tang (guitarist) presenting a workshop/lecture recital at SEGI College in Subang Jaya to first year music students.
Saturday 7th September 2019
The Wicked Music People performed with Ibrahim Aziz at Macallum Connoisseurs in Georgetown Penang. The concert featured different forms of ciaconne and ground bass, and also the group's new harpsichord. Read about it here: http://ssquah.blogspot.com/2019/09/baroque-revelations.html
The summer edition of the UK Viola da Gamba Society newsletter, The Viol, described Risonanze as "an accomplished first solo album, presented with musical and technical aplomb". The favourable review was written by Patxi del Amo.
Sunday 18th - Saturday 24th August 2019
Ibrahim Aziz was part of a team of tutors led by Philip Thorby on the Irish Recorder and Viol Course. The course was held at An Grianan in the village of Termonfechin, Co. Louth.
Risonanze review in American Record Guide, Sept/Oct 2019: "A fine tone and technique, playing with feeling and power. This is a recording to be reckoned with". Full review here, page 172.
Friday 16th August 2019
Chelys Consort of Viols completed recording the entire Fantazias and In Nomines of Henry Purcell at Girton College, Cambridge. A real pleasure and privilege to be part of this project.
Wednesday 7th August 2019
Risonanze is reviewed by Lark CD Reviews: The combination of classical pieces by Bach, Abel and Schenck alongside more recent works by Rebecca Rowe and Carlos Martinez Gil add considerable frisson to the recording and the warmth of Ibrahim Aziz’ playing is never in doubt.
Thursday 1st August 2019, 3:30 pm
The first of the Handel CD project concerts with Masumi Yamamoto, harpsichord. This concert was held in the Horniman Museum's Music Gallery. The harpsichord was a 1772 Kirckman.
Risonanze review in July edition of Classical Notes: "Aziz makes his instrument sing".
Monday 29th July, 7:30 pm
Ibrahim Aziz performed with Da Camera (Emma Murphy, recorders and Steven Devine, harpsichord) at the Recorder Summer School in Bishop Burton College in Beverley, North Yorkshire. The programme consisted of Celtic arrangements interspersed with Telemann trios.
Thursday July 25th, 1 pm
Possibly the hottest day of the year at 38 degrees outside, Ibrahim Aziz performed "Risonanze" at the Music On Thursday Series in Leatherhead, organised by Peter Glyn Steadman.
Sunday July 21st 2019, 3 pm
Ibrahim Aziz performed "Risonanze" at the Plumstead Peculiars concert. The composer of Suite Estiu, Carlos Martínez Gil came from Toledo to hear the event. A reception at Ibrahim Aziz's flat followed the event, attended by a select party from the audience.
July 14th - 19th, 2019
Ibrahim Aziz was part of a team of tutors led by Alison Crum on the International Viol Summer School at Benslow Music in Hitchin. The Rose Consort of Viols performed a concert of In Nomines with 6 members and two of the course students.
Saturday July 6th, 2019
The Morley Baroque Ensemble, directed by Ibrahim Aziz, performed at St Mary at Hill in the City of London. Among the highlights were the Lamentations of Jeremiah by Joseph-Hector Fiocco, a Quantz triosonata movement , a Purcell chaconne and the choral from J. S. Bach's cantata, "Wachet Auf".
Saturday June 29th, 2019, 5 pm
Chelys Consort of Viols played their Purcell and Jenkins programme at Great Waltham Church, Chelmsford. The concert is part of a series of Purcell concerts leading up to a recording for BIS records in August this year. Strawberries and prosecco were served.
June 16th, 2019
Ibrahim Aziz's solo recital at the Hertfordhire Festival of Music was held at St Mary's, Hertingfordbury, a venue very suited to the sound of the viola da gamba. An enthusiastic crowd engaged with Ibrahim at the end of the performance to ask about the instrument. Thank you to Tom Hammond and other Festival organizers and helpers.
June 13th, 2019
Ibrahim Aziz appeared live on air on BBC Radio 3's In Tune with Sean Rafferty, prior to his solo recital in the Hertfordshire Festival of Music. Listen to the programme here: about 1 hour 29 mins after the start.
June 1st, 2019
Chelys Consort of Viols played their first practice concert in preparation for their complete Purcell Fantasias recording in August. This was the group's annual cream tea concert which is very popular and well attended. Here is Strawberries & Cream by Playford, arranged by Alison Kinder for our encore. The next Purcell concert is on June 29th.
May 25th, 2019.
The Stanesby Players (with Andrew Collis and Yeo Yat-Soon) played a programme called "The Favourites" which contained a Bach gamba sonata transcription (no. 3, in G minor) and old and new solo pieces. The concert was held in the charming setting of the Heath Street Baptist Church in Hampstead.
May 16th, 2019
Risonanze received 4 stars from the Dutch newspaper, De Volkskrant. Click here to read it (in Dutch..!): De Volkskrant review.
May 4th - May 6th, 2019
Ibrahim Aziz was with the Rose Consort of Viols tutoring in the beautiful old Abbey in Drongen, Belgium. The evening concert on the second day included old and new music for viol consort including a suite by Matthew Locke and two beautiful pieces by Roy Marks.
May 3rd, 2019
RISONANZE is now officially released worldwide and is available on all digital platforms.
April 28th, 2019
"Journeying", by Rebecca Rowe, is played on BBC Radio 3's Breakfast on Sunday with Martin Handley presenting. Listen here, about 3 mins from the start: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0004n6l?fbclid=IwAR10kQv2ZzPtt42yJ9O_4UzHqhJQ3n04B2VbfkBcsP3SOB3OWqxSmxxVyog