Valentine's day may be next Thursday, but Leatherhead Theatre's classical concert this weekend promises to have a romantic atmosphere to it, as the English Mozart Ensemble (EME) play one of their Concerts By Candlelight.
The ensemble will be playing to a programme of Vivaldi, Bach and Mozart as the auditorium is converted into the sort of electricity-free venue that the pieces would have been originally performed in.
Ensemble director Philip Aird says: "We have been doing the candlelit concerts for about 5 years now and this is our third or fourth in Leatherhead Theatre. Right along the front we have about 100 little tea lights which makes it very intimate and we manage to lose almost of the aritifical lighting.
"The musicians have lit music stands as well so it is all subdued and quite fulfilling for the musicians."
To probe the programme further, Vivaldi's Four Seasons will open up proceedings, followed by the Bach Concerto for Two Violins. To finish will be a real treat for classical enthusiasts - the rarely-performed Grande Sestetto Concertante by Mozart.
The EME's version is a scaled-down sextet version of a larger work - the symphony concertante for violin and viola - and Philip adds that even some profesisonals are not even aware of its existence.
Soloist David Le Page provides even more pull for the evening. "He is a regular collaboarator with us and one of foremost solosits in the UK," says David. "He studied at Yehudi Menuhin school, where only very few gifted students get to go, and his musical direction is much sought after."
The 1986 BBC Young Musician of the Year has also been soloist and director for the London Baroque Ensemble and Vivaldi Camerata.
London Mozart Ensemble; Leatherhead Theatre, 7 Church Street, Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 8DN; Saturday, February 9, 7.30pm, £16, call 01372 365 141 or visit leatherheadtheatre.co.uk for booking.
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