Orpheus Violinist

Orfeas String Quartet

Orpheus Leander - Violin
Ayako Yamazaki - Violin
Yohei Nakajima - Viola
Idlir Shyti - Cello

‘Mozart’s Dissonance Quartet was exquisite’ Ken Carter - The Archer

‘The first opening of the Quartet was specifically written with Orpheus in mind...he played it more beautifully than I imagined.‘

Denise Mangiardi - composer

The Orfeas String Quartet were formed in 2004 by students from the Royal Academy of Music, Royal College of Music, École Normale de Musique de Paris, Conservatorio di Santa Cecilia Rome and Trinity Laban Conservatoire. Their musical journey has seen them forge deep relationships with outstanding composers of today who entrust them with the premiers of their works. In their formative years they were inspired by the musical insights of Michael Bochmann, George Hadjinikos and members of the Amadeus, Alberni and Maggini Quartets.

Highlights include performing in the Royal Festival Hall, for the re - opening celebrations of St Martin in the Fields, National Portrait Gallery and Guildford International Music Festival. Their repertoire ranges from Purcell, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Dvorak, Borodin, Villa Lobos Shostakovich. They work closely with contemporary composers: Aziza Sadikova, Amir Konjani, Denise Mangiardi, Ezio Bosso and Alla Sirenko.

With funding from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea the Orfeas String Quartet have begun a programme of concerts and workshops for children, students and at care homes in the community.
They are the principal string players of the Orfeas Ensemble who have performed throughout the UK and made their debut in Vienna. Their debut CD is Colours of Europe. They are resident artists at St John’s Church Notting Hill, London.

They are forging a voice as a dynamic and exciting string quartet, with atmospheric and engaging performances of folk inspired European, Iberian and Latin American music including Skalkottas Greek Dances, Turina La Oración Del Torero, Villa Lobos, Piazzolla Four Seasons of Buenos Aires and Dvorak ‘American’ String Quartet. Their performances transport audience members to the music of different nations and evoke the rhythms, timbres and melodies of these lands.

They have had the fortune of working closely with international pianists Rimantas Vingras and Alberto Portugheis performing piano quintets by Schumann, Franck, Shostakovich and Piazzolla. Their ongoing and dynamic relationship with rising star Berlin based composer Aziza Sadikova has led to two string quartets being written for them, premiered and recorded by them ‘Kamni’ and ‘Letter Shards’, inspired by Franz Kafka’s letters.

As an Ensemble they gave the world premier of Denise Mangiardi's 'A Greek in New York' Concerto for Violin & Chamber Ensemble written for Orpheus and have given numerous performances of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and other mixed ensemble and orchestral works. They gave the world premier of Alla Sirenko’s ‘Ukrainian Fantasy’ in the Ukrainian Cathedral and to a capacity audience at St John’s Smith Square.

Future projects include collaborating with International Lutenist Andrew Maginley, performing cycles of Mozart and Schubert String Quartets and performances with the Asian Women Choir directed by Dr Selvam Thorez in France and London.

Mozart - 'Dissonance' String Quartet Finale - Allegro molto

Skalkottas 5 Greek Dances

Recording at Miloco Studios

“Orpheus and his players have on various occasions taken part in London Ripieno Society concerts both accompanying the London Ripieno Singers and playing orchestral works. I have always found them to be responsive and equal to the task. Orpheus's sunny temperament and professionalism make him a pleasure to work with.”

Geoffrey Hanson Conductor, London Ripieno Society,

Artistic Director, East Finchley Arts Festival

Music of the Spheres Ensemble

www.musicofthespheresensemble.com

Mozart Allegro Maestoso - Sinfonia Concertante K364 Excerpt

Orpheus Leander Violinist Yuri Zhislin - Violist

Music of the Spheres Ensemble Luke Cleghorn - Conductor

Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante in Eb Major - K364: ‘The lightly-scored Mozart displayed detail and Luke Cleghorn was very much at-one with the soloists. I admire Leander’s straightforward and unsentimental style and he used a little more vibrato than when he plays Bach and Vivaldi, which in St John’s helped project both soloists’ tone, Yuri Zhislin’s vibrato being of an identical nature. I liked the tendency of both players to join in tutti passages. This was direct Mozart but with a relaxed tempo for the slow movement which gave rise to unhurried and elegant answering phrases. The Finale was ideally paced and notably lively.’
Classical Source by Jens Fredriksen

Rimsky Korsakov - Scheherazade Symphonic Suite - III The Young Prince and The Young Princess

Music of the Spheres Ensemble

Yair Dalal - Oud - Composer Orpheus Leander - Orchestral Leader & Solo Violin

George Hlawiczka - Conductor

Vivaldi Summer from the Four Seasons

Allegro ma non molto - Adagio - Presto

Orpheus Leander - Violinist

Bridget Cunningham - Conductor - Harpsichord

Music of the Spheres Ensemble

Formed in 2008 by Orpheus Leander this dynamic young ensemble has been making waves on London’s vibrant musical scene and further afield. The ensemble has been an active platform to help advance the careers of talented players, soloists and conductors as they take musical steps into London’s thriving and dynamic musical scene.

Music of the Spheres Ensemble are a flexible group whose core string players are the Orfeas String Quartet, their performances are insightful, energetic and vibrant interpretations of the orchestral repertoire, string orchestra literature and chamber literature for mixed ensembles. Their programming juxtaposes contemporary composers with established masterworks.

Through diverse and inspired programming the Music of the Spheres Ensemble can be heard performing; Vivaldi’s Four Seasons on period instruments to performing Astor Piazzolla’s dynamic and captivating Cuatro Estaciones Porteñas, Beethoven symphonies, concertos and chamber works, a composer who is central to their musical credo and a ground breaking force in the Arts. They also collaborate with and premiere the music of contemporary composers of today.

Recent highlights include the World Premier of the ‘Ukrainian Fantasy’ by Alla Sirenko with Andriy Viytovych principal Violist, Royal Opera House Covent Garden and Orpheus Leander as the soloists for violin, viola and Orchestra. They have also collaborated several times with violist Professor Yuri Zhislin of the Royal College of Music in performances of Mozart Sinfonia Concertante in Eb Major K364.

Their concert appearances include St Martin in the Fields, Princess Alexandra Hall Royal Over-Seas League, St Paul's Church Covent Garden, Cadogan Hall and their residency at St John’s Church Notting Hill. They made their Austrian debut performing concerts in Graz and Vienna. Their debut CD came out in January 2019 - Colours of Europe on Jongleur.

Bridget and Orpheus with the Music of the Spheres Ensemble made a striking evening debut at St Martin in the Fields in January 2019