Biography
The Bergamo Ensemble was formed in 1999 by Michael Downes and James Widden in order to perform programmes that cut across conventional divisions of repertoire; its programmes juxtapose new music with established repertoire and chamber music with works for directed ensemble. Its performances include concerts in the Brighton and Canterbury Festivals, at Sounds New, at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, the London College of Music and St Giles Cripplegate, with forces ranging from soloist to string orchestra and repertoire ranging from Mozart, Schubert and Elgar to Webern, Varèse, Boulez and Berio.
The ensemble is particularly renowned for its performances of new music. It has given numerous premières of work by young composers from Britain and overseas. In 2003 it gave the first performance of Tansy Davies' inside out ii, which was the 'Première of the fortnight' in Classical Music magazine and was praised by Tom Service in the Guardian for its 'irresistible energy ... at once playful and precipitous'.
The Ensemble recorded its first CD in 2007, comprising two works for soprano and instruments especially written for the Ensemble and soprano Lesley-Jane Rogers. To purchase our recording of Kane na koe by Roderick Watkins and The Pedlar of Swaffham by Jeremy Thurlow please contact james@bergamoensemble.co.uk.
Personnel
| Conductor | Michael Downes |
| Violin I | James Widden |
| Violin II | Sarah Crisp |
| Viola | Alexandra Urquhart |
| 'Cello | Alison Holford |
| Double Bass | Tim Gibbs |
| Flute | Daniel Parkin |
| Oboe | Helen Barker |
| Clarinet | Marie Downes |
| Bassoon | Molly Nielsen Gibbs |
| Horn | Charlotte Leeke |
| Piano | Mary Dullea |
| Harp | Louisa Duggan |
| Percussion | Daniel Gresson |