Cygnus Arioso presents Mendelssohn Octet

Sometimes music asks to be played. When that happens, the only sensible response is to make space for it.
This program exists because we believe it deserves to be heard.
At the heart of the evening is Mendelssohn's magnificent Octet—one of the great masterpieces of chamber music. Written at just sixteen years of age, it radiates youthful imagination, brilliance and joy, while demanding extraordinary trust and conversation between eight musicians.
The concert will open with a work drawn from the repertoire explored through our July Chamber Sessions, reflecting Cygnus Arioso's belief that performances are not isolated events, but part of a continuing artistic journey. The music we study together becomes the music we share, creating a deeper relationship between musicians, repertoire and audience.
Rather than following what is most familiar or immediately appealing, we are committed to nurturing works that continue to reveal themselves over time. We believe great music deserves the opportunity to be lived with, revisited and shared across generations.
We look forward to welcoming you to another chapter of that journey.
Members
Akiko Miyazawa - Violin
Andie Mendham - Violin
Siobhan Makinson - Violin
Anika Collins - Violin
Alix Hamilton - Viola
Noah Furtado - Viola
Finlay Labuschagne - Violoncello
Emma Luckley - Violoncello
Oakley Paul - Double Bass