Reiko Ichise (viola da gamba) and Yair Avidor (theorbo) play French baroque music by Ste Colombe, Marin Marais and Robert de Visee.
The viola da gamba and the theorbo were very popular instruments in 17th century France, and their warm respective timbre blend wonderfully well together.
The programme will include music for unaccompanied viol by Ste Colomobe, suites for bass viol and basso continuo by his pupil Marin Marais (including his moving Tombeau de Ste Colombe) and solo therobo pieces by Robert de Visee. Marais and Visee served as musiciens de la Chambre du Roi at the Court of Versailles, and would have played these suites together.
Tokyo born viola da gamba player Reiko Ichise is one of the most sought after musicians in the UK.
Reiko moved to the UK to study with Richard Boothby at the Royal College of Music in 1991 after reading musicology in Tokyo. As a soloist, she regularly performs with many leading orchestras including Academy of Ancient Music, English Baroque Soloists, Gabrieli Consort, Arte dei Suonatori, Britten Sinfonia, Halle Orchestra, appearing in many international festivals.
Reiko’s passion for chamber music led her to be a member of several prestigious ensembles such as Florilegium, Passacaglia, The King’s Consort, Bach Players and has made many critically acclaimed cd recordings and radio broadcasts. From 2009 for 8 years Reiko was a member of award- winning ensemble Fretwork with whom she had a privilege in performing viol consort music , old and new.
Reiko is viola da gamba professor at the Royal College of Music
Yair Avidor was born in Tel Aviv. He studied lute and related historic plucked instruments in Bremen, Milan and at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London. Yair has founded his own ensemble, the Amphion Consort, which focuses on instrumental music from the Elizabethan period, to Biber, Bach and Beethoven.
A Musical Dreame is his duo with soprano Alison Hil, with whom he has enjoyed performing Elizabethan lute songs.