Rediscovering George Onslow at the Bir Miftuħ Festival with the Cincievski Quintet

On Saturday 23 May, The Din l-Art Helwa’s Bir Miftuħ International Classic Music Festival with the support of the French Embassy and the Alliance Francaise de Malte will present the String Ensemble Cincievski. The Ensemble Cincievski is made up of Vincenzo Picone (violin); Matteo Colombo (violin); Matthew Fenech (viola); Mario Psaila (cello) and Gjorgji Cincievski (double-bass). All highly skilled professional musicians, they each provide their special input to give the ensemble its unique character, that of a newly founded music group focusing on the research, presentation and performance of musical pieces which have been either forgotten with time or simply neglected by other performers. Another characteristic element of this ensemble is their wish to premiere contemporary works that were originally written for them. In line with the bringing back to life of ‘forgotten pieces’ the Cincievski Ensemble will provide an exciting novel performance of George Onslow’s String Quintet opus 33 and opus 34.

George Onslow (1784-1853), certainly illustrates the fickleness of fame, a perfect example of a great composer whose works have gone into oblivion. Onslow was born to a wealthy family, the son of an English nobleman and French lady. By many nicknamed “The French Beethoven”, his vast opus of 36 string quartets and 34 string quintets were, during his own lifetime and up to the end of the 19th century, held in the highest regard, particularly in Germany, Austria, France and England where he was regularly placed in the front rank of composers. His work was admired by both Beethoven and Schubert, the latter modelling his own 2 cello quintet (D.956) on those of Onslow and not, as is so often claimed, on those of Boccherini. Schumann and Mendelssohn ranked Onslow’s chamber music with that of the same mastery as Mozart, Beethoven and Haydn.

During his lifetime, Onslow was known as the composer of string quintets for two violins, viola and two cellos. With the exception of Boccherini, all of the other major composers before him, including Mozart and Beethoven, wrote string quintets for 2 violins, 2 violas and cello. Although the first three of Onslow’s string quintets were for the standard 2 violins, 2 violas and cello, thereafter, his quintets, with the exception of his last three, were for 2 cellos and one viola.

As musical tastes changed after the First World War, Onslow’s music, along with that of so many other fine composers, fell into oblivion and up until 1984, the bicentennial of his birth, he remained virtually unknown. Since then, his music, to the delight of players and listeners alike, is slowly being rediscovered, played and recorded. Onslow’s writing was unique in that he was successfully able to merge the drama of the opera into the chamber music idiom perfected by the Vienna masters. Artists rediscovering his opus, very often place his string quintets among some of the best written in all times.

The very versatile nature of String Ensemble Cincievski has united them via the music of G. Onslow, H. Cassadesus, J. Brahms, F. Schubert, J.S. Bach, D. Shuplevski amongst many others.

For the occasion of the Bir Miftuħ festival, String Ensemble Cincievski will perform:

G. Onslow String Quintet No. 11 in B flat, Op. 33 and G. Onslow String Quintet No. 12 in A, Op. 34. This concert is one of the four that will make up the Bir Miftuħ International Classic Music Festival which this year will feature: The Conrads in Concert (piano, violin and horn) on Friday May 15, The Cincievski String Ensemble on Saturday 23 May, the Musica Nova Duo (violin-guitar) on Saturday May 30 and finally The Duo Liat Cohen, Guitar and Eyal EinHabar – Flute on Saturday 13 May. All concerts begin at 8pm at the Santa Marija ta’ Bir Miftuħ Chapel, Gudja. For reservations and more information: Din l-Art Ħelwa Tel 21225952 or info@dinlarthelwa.com

George Onslow