In the 33rd of a series of articles, David Bird discusses the work of Redbridge Music Society and introduces the Morello Quartet, who will perform in Wanstead this month
The aims of Redbridge Music Society, now entering its 75th season, are to promote talented young musicians and to bring high-quality live chamber recitals to the borough. This month, the Morello Quartet – Ana Popescu-Deutsch (violin), Kesari Pundarika (viola), Urška Horvat (cello) and Leona Crasi (piano) – will perform Brahms’ Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor Op.25, a masterful work with an exciting Gypsy Rondo last movement. The performance will be framed with other folk-inspired works.
Redbridge Music Society began in 1949, originally as a gramophone society putting on evenings of talks, live and recorded music at the Lambourne Room, Ilford. In 2014, it transferred to Wanstead Library. Many famous musicians have visited the society in the past, including Sir Colin Davis, John Ogden and Sir Peter Pears. The society’s current president and vice-president are international soprano Lucy Crowe and distinguished local pianist David Silkoff.
The Morello Quartet was formed in 2019 and has performed at many venues around the UK. The group is passionate about performing diverse programmes that combine classical, folk-inspired and contemporary music.
Romanian violinist Ana Popescu-Deutsch graduated at the Royal Academy of Music. She has played in the European Youth Orchestra and the Southbank Sinfonia and is a keen advocate of Romanian classical and folk music. Ana teaches violin and viola and resides locally in Woodford Green.
Kesari Pundarika studied viola under the distinguished teachers Ian Jewel and Martin Outram and has played in the Southbank Sinfonia, the Britten-Pears and the London Concert Orchestra. Besides teaching viola, Kesari is a member of the Chineke! Orchestra and has performed at the BBC Proms.
Award-winning Slovenian cellist Urška Horvat studied with internationally renowned cellist David Cohen at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and has performed at many major venues across Europe and the UK. She is a member of the Avant Piano Trio whose recent CD was highly acclaimed.
Romanian-American pianist Leona Crasi (also a Woodford Green resident) graduated from the Royal Academy of Music and has performed internationally as a soloist and chamber player. She has won numerous awards at competitions across Europe and America.
Please come and experience this very special opening event to Redbridge Music Society’s 75th anniversary season.
The Morello Quartet will perform at Wanstead Library on 24 October from 8pm (tickets on the door; visitors £12; members £8). Call 07380 606 767. Redbridge Music Society is supported by Vision RCL and affiliated to Making Music.
