Every September during the IMS Prussia Cove Open Chamber Music seminars, we perform concerts in local churches and venues around West Cornwall. The concerts mark the end of each week of the Seminar, and they are also an important way for us to take our music out to the Cornish community and beyond. 

One of the most stunning venues we perform in, is the chapel on St Michael’s Mount, the tidal island which sits majestically off the coast of Marazion, Cornwall. In today’s episode we are delighted to bring you a ‘day in the life’ of IMS as we perform one of our concerts on the Mount.

This episode was recorded on location on Saturday 25th September 2021, when Steven Isserlis and eight other IMS musicians performed in the chapel on the mount.  The music was chosen to match the dramatic location.  We hope this gives you a flavour of the special place St. Michael’s Mount and Cornwall is for the IMS and our work.

Artistic Director: Steven Isserlis  @StevenIsserlis

Contributors in order of appearance:

Steven Isserlis

Samuel West

Rosie Yeatman

Tim Crawford

Tim Posner

Gabriel Finn

Josh Sedgeman

Clare Finnimore

Tatiana Tunstall-Behrens

Deanna Bowen

David McCarroll

Music in order of appearance:

Brahms Op.111 played by the Salzburg Camerata, conducted by Sándor Végh.

Leoš Janáček, String Quartet No. 1 ‘Kreutzer Sonata’

Performed by: Maria Włoszczowska violin; Tim Crawford violin; Clare Finnimore viola; Tim Posner cello Beethoven’s String Quartet in G

Ludwig van Beethoven, String Quartet in G, Op.18, No.2

Performed by: Irène Duval violin; David McCarroll violin; Clare Finnimore viola; Adi Tal cello

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Divertimento for String Trio in E Flat, K.563

Performed by: Maria Wloszczowska violin; Blythe Teh-Engstroem viola; Steven Isserlis cello

Narrator: Samuel West

Series Producer: Melissa FitzGerald @melissafitzg

Special thanks to Capriccio for the use of the recording of the Brahms Op.111 played by the Salzburg Camerata, conducted by Sándor Végh.

Cover Artwork: Bananadesign Ltd

Follow us on Instagram @ims_pc

Facebook @internationalmusiciansseminar 

www.i-m-s.org.uk

Beloved by professional classical musicians for over 50 years, IMS Prussia Cove brings musicians from around the world to live and play together on a remote part of the Cornish coast. Narrated by actor Samuel West, this series gets inside the artistic and creative process of IMS Prussia Cove’s biannual seminars, as well as tracing it’s rich history and exploring what it has meant to generations of musicians. Made over four years, the podcast opens the door to the workings of this extraordinary organisation.

Introduced by Artistic Director Steven Isserlis, the podcast features interviews with IMS alumni including Thomas Adès, Dame Imogen Cooper, András Keller and Sir András Schiff, alongside clips from the archives and on-location recordings with others associated with the seminars including President of the Friends Petroc Trelawny (BBC Radio 3) and the late founders Sándor Végh and Hilary Tunstall-Behrens.

Across six episodes, the IMS Prussia Cove podcast explores all aspects of the IMS seminars, from the early days and the creative vision behind IMS Prussia Cove’s founding purpose, through the communities of musicians, volunteers and audiences in Cornwall and the relationship with this extraordinary place on the Cornish coast, to how IMS continues to influence a new generation of musicians. Together, it offers a wonderful oral history of the organisation.

Artistic Director Steven Isserlis introduces Open Chamber Music, one of IMS Prussia Cove’s biannual seminars. Open Chamber Music began in 1976, four years after the Masterclasses, when founder Sándor Végh invited some of the students to stay on and play chamber music with him. It has since grown into a three-week seminar taking place every September, with more than 120 musicians rehearsing and performing over 60 works of chamber music together, in ensembles that combine younger musicians with more experienced performers.

Artistic Director: Steven Isserlis  @StevenIsserlis

Contributors in order of appearance:

Stuart Arrandale

Tim Crawford

Jenna Sherry

Tim Boulton

Patrick Bailey

Millie Ashton

Laura MacDonald

Susanna Patterson

Helena Winkelman

Amy Harman

Alice Neary

Erich Höbarth

Melissa Phelps

Tom Poster

Alec Frank-Gemmell

Narrator: Samuel West @exitthelemming

Series Producer: Melissa FitzGerald @Melissafitzg

Music in order of appearance:

Brahms Op.111 played by the Salzburg Camerata, conducted by Sándor Végh.

Beethoven String Quartet in F major Op.135 Musicians: Daniel Phillips, David Adams, violin; Thomas Riebl, viola; Jeong Hyoun Christine Lee, cello Recorded OCM 2016, Friday 23 September, Richard Lander School in Truro

Leoš Janáček String Quartet No. 1 ‘Kreutzer Sonata’ Musicians: Maria Włoszczowska violin; Tim Crawford violin; Clare Finnimore viola; Tim Posner cello. Recorded OCM 2021, Saturday 25 September, St Michael’s Mount,

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Divertimento for String Trio in E Flat, K.563 Musicians: Maria Wloszczowska violin; Blythe Teh-Engstroem viola; Steven Isserlis cello Recorded OCM 2021, Saturday 25 September, St Michael’s Mount

‘Chicken on a Fence Post’ played by school children participating in the outreach workshops, alongside IMS musicians Lesley Hatfield, Millie Ashton, violins; Tim Boulton, violin; Laura MacDonald, cello

Shostakovich String Quartet No.8 Musicians: Lesley Hatfield, Millie Ashton, violins; Tim Boulton, violin; Laura MacDonald, cello

Helena Winkelman, Gott-Fa for Bassoon and String Quartet Musicians: Helena Winkelman, Tim Crawford, violin; Georgia Russell, viola; Tim Posner, cello;  Amy Harman, bassoon Recorded OCM 2021, during rehearsal

Schumann Piano Trio in D minor Musicians: Barbara Doll, violin; Alice Neary, cello; Anton Kernjak, piano Recorded OCM 2022 Sunday 25th September, Princess Pavilion Falmouth,

Reger String Sextet Musicians: Erich Höbarth, Corey Cerovsek, violin; Thomas Riebl, Celia Libertad Elíaz, viola; Christoph Richter, Natania Hoffman, cello

Recorded OCM 2022, Sunday 25th September, Princess Pavillion Falmouth,

Schoenberg, Verklärte Nacht (Transfigured Night) Musicians: Alessandro Ruisi, Larissa Cidlinsky, violin, Garfield Jackson, Anna Puig Torne, viola, Laura MacDonald, Bas Jongen, cello Recorded OCM 2023, Saturday 30th September – Trelowarren Chapel

Bacewicz, Piano Quintet Musicians: Jackie Shave, Kiarra Saito-Beckman, violin; Celia Libertad Eliaz, viola; Sam de Caprio, cello; Tom Poster, piano Recorded OCM 2022, Friday 23 September, St John’s Hall Penzance.

Johannes Brahms, Horn Trio in E Flat Op 40 Musicians: Arisa Fujita, violin; Alec Frank-Gemmill, horn; Alasdair Beatson, piano Recorded OCM Tour 2021, Thursday 1 October, Wigmore Hall, London

Special thanks to Capriccio for the use of the recording of the Brahms Op.111 played by the Salzburg Camerata, conducted by Sándor Végh.

Cover Artwork: Bananadesign Ltd

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The IMS Masterclasses, which take place every Spring in Cornwall, are the beating heart of the IMS. They were originally conceived by our two founders Sándor Végh and Hilary Tunstall-Behrens, over fifty years ago in 1972.  Since then, every year, we bring over 100 young musicians to Cornwall for two, 10-day courses which run over 3 weeks.

The interviews and lessons in this episode were recorded on location in Spring 2022 and we hear from just a few of the many students, professors, and class pianists we’ve hosted over the course of our rich 50-year history.

Artistic Director: Steven Isserlis  @StevenIsserlis

Contributors in order of appearance:

Vashti Hunter

Jonian Ilias Kadesha

Pablo Hernán Benedí

Rita Wagner (Recorded in 2012 with Jean-Sélim Abdelmoula, piano, performing Schubert, Sonata in B flat.)

Steven Isserlis

Sophia Rahman

Catherina Lee

Thomas Riebl

Edgar Francis

Guilherme Marques Caldas

Claus Christian Schuster

Stephanie Tang

Clarissa Bevilacqua

David Welton

Music in order of appearance:

Brahms Op.111 played by the Salzburg Camerata, conducted by Sándor Végh.

Henry Purcell, Three Fantasias in Three Parts. Performed by the Caerus Ensemble: Jonian Ilias Kadesha, violin; Pablo Hernán Benedí, viola and Vashti Mimosa Hunter, cello.

Ernest Chausson, Poème. Performed by Catherina Lee, violin and Sophia Rahman, piano.

Benjamin Britten, Lachrymae. Performed by Edgar Francis, viola and Eglė Staškutė, piano.

Rebecca Clarke, Sonata for Viola and Piano. Performed by Guilherme Marques Caldas, viola and Eglė Staškutė, piano.

Fritz Kreisler, Recitativo and Scherzo Caprice.  Performed by Clarissa Bevilacqua, violin.

Ludwig van Beethoven, Sonata for Cello and Piano in G minor.  Performed by Tim Posner, cello and Sophia Rahman, piano.

Narrator: Samuel West. @exitthelemming 

Series Producer: Melissa FitzGerald  @Melissafitzg

Special thanks to Capriccio for the use of the recording of the Brahms Op.111 played by the Salzburg Camerata, conducted by Sándor Végh.

Cover Artwork: Bananadesign Ltd

Follow us on Instagram @ims_pc

Twitter @ims_pc

www.i-m-s.org.uk

Steven Isserlis explores the rich and varied community at IMS Prussia Cove. With contributions from some of the people who are associated with the many aspects of the music seminars, including Jonathan Gaisman, Peter Greiner, Bridget Hugh-Jones, Mark Jennings, Alexander Maund, Petroc Trelawney, Samuel West and Rosie Yeatman.

Artistic Director: Steven Isserlis  @StevenIsserlis

Contributors in order of appearance:

John Antonaki

Petroc Trelawney

Viv Shield

Rosie Yeatman

Nik Anikitou

David Sommer

Sam Hewson

Arlex Martinez

Eleanor Mumford

Tim Bickersteth

Bridget Hugh-Jones

Alexander Maund

Hannah Morrow

Peter Greiner  

Mark Jennings

Amy Norrington

Samuel West

Jonathan Gaisman

Music in order of appearance:

Brahms Op.111 played by the Salzburg Camerata, conducted by Sándor Végh.

Webern, Six Bagatelles for String Quartet, IMS Concert St Bunyan Church, 24.9.05 - Ida Levin & Susie Park violins, Lila Brown viola, Kari Ravnan, Cello.

Mendelssohn Octet, Open Chamber Music 1978, St Michael's Mount - Sándor Végh, Sachiko Nakajima, Ola Rudner, Erich Höbarth, violin, Kim Kashkashian, Michel Rouilly, viola, Marcy Rosen, Steven Isserlis, cello.

Schubert String Quartet in D minor, IMS Concert St Martin & St Meriadoc Church, Camborne, 2006 – Pekka Kuusisto, Fenella Humphries, violin, James Boyd, viola, Richard Harwood, cello.

Schubert B-Flat Piano Trio, IMS Concert, 1978 - Sándor Végh, violin; Johannes Goritzki, cello; Peter Pettinger, piano.

Brahms String Sextet in G Major Op.26.

Kurtág, Carenza Jig, performed by Scott Dickinson.

Haydn Sting Quartet Op.50 No.1 in B Flat, IMS Concert Wigmore Hall, 26.11.22 – Krysia Osostowicz, violin, Lesley Hatfield, violin, Tim Boulton, viola, Amy Norrington, cello.

Narrator: Samuel West @exitthelemming

Series Producer: Melissa FitzGerald @Melissafitzg

With thanks to Chris Doggett for the archive digitisation.

Special thanks to Capriccio for the use of the recording of the Brahms Op.111 played by the Salzburg Camerata, conducted by Sándor Végh.

Cover Artwork: Bananadesign Ltd

Follow us on Instagram @ims_pc

Twitter @ims_pc

www.i-m-s.org.uk

This episode is dedicated to the loving memory of Tessa Gaisman, IMS Prussia Cove's Chairman from 1996 - 2022. 

Cellist and IMS Artistic Director Steven Isserlis explores the creative vision behind IMS Prussia Cove. With contributions from some of the many musicians who are associated with the creative spirit of the music seminars: Thomas Adès, Adrian Brendel, Dame Imogen Cooper, Robin Ireland, András Keller, Ulrika-Anima Mathé, Krysia Osostowicz, Charles Owen, and András Schiff and Yuuko Shiokawa.

Artistic Director: Steven Isserlis  @StevenIsserlis

Contributors in order of appearance:

Charles Owen

Ulrika-Anima Mathé

Imogen Cooper

Robin Ireland

Krysia Osostowicz

Adrian Brendel

András Schiff

Thomas Adès

András Keller

Yuuko Shiokawa

Music in order of appearance:

Brahms Op.111 played by the Salzburg Camerata, conducted by Sándor Végh.

Schubert Piano Sonata in A, played by Charles Owen, 2013/4 at the Wigmore Hall.

Rachmaninov's second Trio Élégiaque in D minor, Op. 9, played by Steven Isserlis, with Sini Simonen and Charles Owen, IMS Prussia Cove, St Hilary Church, 12th September 2020.

György and Marta Kurtág playing ‘Dirge’ from 'Games', by Kurtág, IMS, April 2004.

Bach-Kurtág transcriptions played by György and Marta Kurtág, IMS, April 2004.

Brahms Quintet Op. 34 Sandor Végh; Keiko Wataya; Garfield Jackson; Marcy Rosen; and András Schiff, recorded at an Open Chamber Music concert in St Ives, Cornwall, 22 September 1979.

György and Marta Kurtág playing ‘Bells. Hommage a Stravinsky’ from ‘Games’ by Kurtág, IMS, April 2004.

Bach Violin Partita No. 3 in E Major, Gigue played by Sándor Végh.

Haydn String Quartet No. 26 in G Minor, Op. 20 No. 3, Minuet: Allegretto played by the Végh Quartet.

Narrator: Samuel West @exitthelemming

Series Producer: Melissa FitzGerald @Melissafitzg

With thanks to Chris Doggett for the archive digitisation.

Special thanks to Capriccio for the use of the recording of the Brahms Op.111 played by the Salzburg Camerata, conducted by Sándor Végh.

Cover Artwork: Bananadesign Ltd

Follow us on Instagram @ims_pc

Twitter @ims_pc

www.i-m-s.org.uk

Founded in 1972 by Hungarian violinist Sándor Végh and Hilary Tunstall-Behrens, the International Musicians Seminar held at Prussia Cove in Cornwall has become one of the world’s most respected classical music institutions.  In this episode, cellist and IMS Artistic Director Steven Isserlis looks back at the beginnings of IMS. We hear from the founder Hilary Tunstall-Behrens, his nephew Peter, and some of the musicians who came to Cornwall in the early days to immerse themselves in music and the landscape: Lesley Hatfield, Krysia Osostowicz, Daniel Philips, Christoph Richter, Susan Tomes and David Waterman. 

Artistic Director: Steven Isserlis  @StevenIsserlis

Contributors in order of appearance:

Hilary Tunstall-Behrens, Co-Founder

Peter Tunstall-Behrens

Susan Tomes

Krysia Osostowicz

Christoph Richter

Daniel Phillips

David Waterman

Lesley Hatfield

Featuring IMS recordings:

Haydn Sting Quartet Op.50 No.2, Open Chamber Music 2020, St Mary's Church, Penzance - Krysia Osostowicz, Juliette Roos, violin, Hélène Clement, viola, Christoph Richter, cello

Mendelssohn Octet, Open Chamber Music 1978, St Michael's Mount - Sándor Végh, Sachiko Nakajima, Ola Rudner, Erich Höbarth, violin, Kim Kashkashian, Michel Rouilly, viola, Marcy Rosen, Steven Isserlis, cello.

Fauré Piano Quintet No.2, Open Chamber Music 2021, St Pol de Leon Church, Paul - Lesley Hatfield, Grace Park, violin, Robin Ireland, viola, Madelyn Kowalski, cello, Antoine Préatk, piano.

Narrator: Samuel West @exitthelemming

Series Producer: Melissa FitzGerald @Melissafitzg

With thanks to Chris Doggett for the archive digitisation.

Special thanks to Capriccio for the use of the recording of the Brahms Op.111 played by the Salzburg Camerata, conducted by Sándor Végh.

Cover Artwork: Bananadesign Ltd

Follow us on Twitter @ims_pc

Follow us on Instagram @ims_pc www.i-m-s.org.uk