Rossetti Ensemble with Chris West

The Rossetti Ensemble have, since their inception in 2018, been entertaining audiences throughout the UK with their extraordinary musicianship and flair. Composed of four musicians with impeccable chamber music credentials and joined by distinguished guest performers for works requiring an addition to the standard piano quartet, the ensemble offer a wide repertoire ranging from the core works to their (new for 2025) programme ‘BATANGO!’ which intersperses Bach’s Goldberg Variations with the tangos of Piazzolla.

The Rossetti Ensemble made their first recordings in 2019 for Toccata Classics – three CDs of chamber music by Robert Fürstenthal and, more recently, another of works by Lydia Kakabadse on Divine Art. They have championed the works of other living composers especially David Matthews whose A Song and Dance Sketchbook they performed many times during 2023 in honour of David’s 80th birthday celebrations, and their recording can be heard on all streaming platforms. The group were pleased to accept an invitation from Apple Music to record short pieces and single movements from the core piano quartet repertoire. The first selection in an ongoing series, including works by Brahms, Dvořák, Schumann and Fauré, was released in April 2025. The group’s next CD recording will be for NAXOS – a pairing of two important late 19th century French piano quartets – those of Ernest Chausson and Vincent D’Indy.

The members of the Rossetti Ensemble are John Lenehan (piano) – “one of the leading chamber musicians in the world”, Sara Trickey (violin) – “simply stunning”, Sarah-Jane Bradley (viola) – “wonderfully eloquent”, and (for this concert) Tim Lowe (cello) – “passionate and energetic”. The ensemble are joined, for this concert, by Chris West on the double bass.

About the musicians…

John Lenehan

John Lenehan is described as “One of our most celebrated musicians” (Classic FM Magazine) and “Simply one of the best chamber pianists going”. (The Scotsman). He has recorded over 80 CDs, and is renowned internationally both as a soloist and chamber musician. His breadth of repertoire has led to his popularity on Spotify with a quarter of a million monthly listeners. John is also acclaimed for his work as a composer and arranger. His work has been heard at the Last Night of the Proms, under the Eiffel Tower during the Bastille Day celebrations and has been performed by artists such as Yuja Wang, Nigel Kennedy, Nicola Benedetti and many orchestras worldwide.

Sara Trickey

Sara Trickey enjoys an exciting and diverse career as a solo violinist and chamber musician. Noted for her “fiery and passionate” performances (The Strad) and her “beautifully refined tone” (Musical Opinion), she performs at many of the major UK festivals and venues, including in the Presteigne, Alwyn, Oxford May Music, York, Ashburton and Wye Valley Chamber Music festivals. She plays regularly with pianist Dan Tong with whom she has recorded the Schubert Sonatinas to critical acclaim (“Irresistible!” – Barry Millington). Her album of solo violin music, From an Empty Room recently won her a double five-star review in BBC Music Magazine.

Sarah-Jane Bradley

Sarah-Jane Bradley, “ardent and affecting soloist” (The Daily Telegraph), is well-known for her championing of new works for the viola. She has worked as soloist with the Philharmonia, Hallé, and BBC Symphony Orchestra amongst others, and her acclaimed recordings include CDs for Hyperion, Chandos, Naxos and Dutton Epoch. A founder member of the Leopold String Trio, and subsequently Sorrel Quartet, Fidelio Piano Quartet and London Soloists Ensemble, she is a sought-after chamber musician.

Chris Murray

Drawing recognition as cellist of the Heath Quartet, prizes include the 2016 GRAMOPHONE Chamber Award, the Royal Philharmonic Society Young Artist Award, and the Borletti-Buitoni Trust Special Ensemble Scholarship. Chris is a leading cellist with a busy international performing career.
Highlights include performing with Piers Lane in Brett Dean’s Wigmore Hall Celebration, collaborations with Sally Beamish at Aldeburgh Festival and with Hannes Minnaar and Magnus Johnston at Peasmarsh Festival.

For this concert, Chris is standing in for the ensemble’s Ursula Smith, who unfortunately cannot attend this event.

Chris West

Chris West was appointed Solo Bass of the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra after stepping in to perform Bottesini’s Gran Duo Concertante at less than four hours notice in 2024. He is also principal bass of the De Valette Chamber Orchestra in Malta and appears frequently as guest principal with major orchestras such as the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia, National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland and BBC National Orchestra of Wales. With his wife, the clarinettist Emma Johnson, Chris founded the Orchestra for the Environment, a chamber orchestra dedicated to raising awareness of conservation issues. He has played on iconic soundtracks such as Downton Abbey, Dr Who and two Harry Potter films and has recorded chamber music for labels including Naxos, SOMM, Hyperion and BMG/RCA. Chris is Professor of Double Bass at Trinity Laban Conservatoire. His books include Reaching the Heights: Thumb Position on the Double Bass and The Paganini of the Double Bass, a biography of Giovanni Bottesini, the greatest double bass player of all time.

The Rossetti Ensemble have a Website .