Celebrating 'The 80 Seasons' (1946 - 2026)
On a recent visit to Gloucestershire Archives (Heritage Hub) we were delighted to make an amazing discovery: every printed programme for every concert since 1946 – all carefully archived. We have now created a complete catalogue: the performers and the main works performed. A full history of Painswick Music Society, along with “The 80 Seasons” catalogue of more than 300 concerts, will be available at each concert during 2026. Here are some of the famous musicians, ensembles and singers who have performed at Painswick over the 80 Seasons:
Seasons 1-20 (1946-1965): Denis Matthews (piano), Pauline Juler (clarinet), Astra Desmond (contralto), Zorian String Quartet, Sir Neville Marriner (violin and later conductor), Dennis Brain (French horn), Menges String Quartet, Robert Masters Piano Quartet, George Malcolm (piano), William Pleeth (cello), Edmund Rubbra (composer/piano), Eric Gruenberg (violin), Allegri String Quartet, The Melos Ensemble, Gervase de Peyer (clarinet), Eli Goren (violin), Cecil Aronowitz (viola), Albert Ferber, (piano), Dame Janet Baker (contralto), Stephen Bishop-Kovacevich (piano), John Shirley-Quirk (bass-baritone).
Seasons 21-40 (1966-1985): The Fitzwilliam Quartet, Ifor James Horn Trio, Wilfrid Brown (tenor), Dumka Piano Trio, Trevor Pinnock (harpsichord), Kenneth Silitto (violin), Sybil Michelow (contralto), Malcolm Binns (piano), Susan Drake (harp), Jack Brymer (clarinet), Amici String Quartet, Bernard Roberts (piano), Stephen Isserlis (cello), Emma Johnson (clarinet), Malcolm Martineau (piano), Tasmin Little (violin), Martin Roscoe (piano), Lindsay String Quartet, Natalie Clein (cello), Susan Gritton (soprano), Angela Hewitt (piano), The Nash Ensemble.
Seasons 41-60 (1986-2005):The English String Quartet, Iris Loveridge (piano), Razumovsky String Quartet, Ileana Ruhemann (flute), Imogen Barford (harp), Angela Malsbury (clarinet), Coull String Quartet, De Sarem Clarinet Trio, Westminster Piano Trio, Noriko Ogawa (piano), Nicolas Daniel (oboe), Julius Drake (piano), Dame Felicity Lott (soprano), Graham Johnston (piano), Jeremy Menuhin (piano), Chilingirian String Quartet, Michael Collins (clarinet), Rebecca Woolcock (piano), Schidlof Quartet, Orchestra of the Swan, Freddy Kempf (piano), Angela Hewitt (piano), Skampa String Quartet, Wayne Marshall (piano).
Seasons 61-80 (2006-2026): Sir Thomas Allen (baritone), Nicola Eimer (piano), Kungsbacka Piano Trio, Chloe Hanslip (violin), Carducci String Quartet, Talich String Quartet, Cordelia Williams (piano), The Kings Singers, The Nash Ensemble, The Sixteen, Mark Stone (baritone), Simon Lepper (piano), Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Dame Sarah Connolly (mezzo-soprano), Jennifer Pike (violin), Benjamin Grosvenor (piano), The Endellion Quartet, Voces8, Raphael Wallfisch (cello), Heath Quartet, Sir Stephen Hough (piano), Julian Bliss (clarinet), Clare Hammond (piano), Mark Padmore (tenor), Catrin Finch (harp), Aoife Ní Bhriain (fiddle), Neoteric Ensemble, Ian Burnside (piano), Roderick Williams (baritone).
