Artistic Directors: Richard Shaw & Emma Williams
e-mail: info@ensemble-lumiere.co.uk

Ensemble Lumière

Ensemble Lumière is a flexible chamber group for wind, strings, voice, harp and piano. The Ensemble’s musicians have a commitment to communicating chamber music with energy and imagination and many are also soloists in their own right. 

Their performance for Sir Malcolm Arnold's 80th Birthday Celebrations at the Wigmore Hall was described as "dazzling" in the Daily Telegraph.

The Ensemble’s recording of music by Cecilia McDowall for Deux-Elles includes their commission, Arctic Circle (for wind quintet and piano), Winter Music (for wind quintet) and Le Temps Viendra (for oboe, clarinet and piano). The CD, Piper’s Dream, was featured on LWT’s Artworks programme. This documentary showed a behind-the-scenes view of the recording process and explored the creative relationship between composer and performers.

The Ensemble’s interest in performing traditional mainstream repertoire alongside music of today’s composers has led to their Associate Composer scheme. Within the scheme the Ensemble builds a creative relationship with each composer, often featuring the composer’s music in their concerts, as well as involving them in workshops, courses and other educational work. The Ensemble’s familiarity with each composer’s music and performances prepared in collaboration with the composer give their concerts and educational programmes an added authority and dimension. Ensemble Lumière is delighted to have established strong links with the British composers Cecilia McDowall and Graham Williams, together with two of Russia’s finest composers (now resident in the UK), Dmitri Smirnov and Elena Firsova.

The Ensemble also works with artists in parallel fields, including Nicola Bealing (painter and Associate Artist) and Bob Wilkins (storyteller and Associate Artist). Nicola’s paintings provide the focus for some of the Ensemble’s educational workshops (involving student compositions and performances), and the inspiration for several projected works by professional composers.

Press Reviews

"A dazzling performance" Daily Telegraph

"Surprises littered the first of the Wigmore Hall's two birthday concerts. That Wind Divertimento [performed by Ensemble Lumière]; those songs, late and early, sung by Ian Partridge. So much to be thankful for, so much to enjoy." The Times

"Lumière shines for music society...the members of Ensemble Lumière proved sparkling performers...beautifully judged...every challenge was met with confident aplomb and complete technical security...a group at one in musical intention... The afternoon workshop at St Joseph's Primary School was most successful and provoked a delighted response from children and staff." Cockermouth Times & Star

"The undoubted skill of the players was amply displayed... a most impressive sound... beautifully played with pulsating special effects... played with superb skill and humour." Grimsby Telegraph

"The Ensemble takes pride in the fact that it champions contemporary music, and here was a programme that was not exceptionally difficult for the audience, and sent them away with expanded horizons at the end of another successful season...The pure clarity of the flute contrasting with the deep string tone of the viola and the harp adding a distinctive tone to the ensemble." David Scholar, Chairman of Hertford Music Club