ABOUT
Photo: Patrick Allen
THE ZOFFANY ENSEMBLE
The Zoffany Ensemble performs many of the greatest works in the chamber music repertoire by Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Schumann and Brahms, and also music by more neglected composers such as Louise Farrenc and Anton Arensky. From time to time other players, with whom Manon has a close affinity, are added to the group as the repertoire demands.
Select an image to find out more about each member of the ensemble.
JOHANN ZOFFANY 1733 - 1810
The ensemble takes its name from the German-born, neoclassical artist and founding member of the Royal Academy, Johann Zoffany, whose paintings, as well as portraying eminent actors such as David Garrick, often depicted the nobility in their pursuit of musical entertainment. Zoffany came to London in 1760, and from around 1770 - 1800 produced work of exceptional quality, much of it now displayed in the National Gallery, the Tate Gallery and the Royal Collection.
MICHAEL DUSSEK specialises in chamber music and song accompaniment. For more than thirty years he has performed in the world’s major concert halls with internationally acclaimed singers such as Bernarda Fink, Ian Partridge, Joan Rodgers and Vassily Savenko, violinists Cho-Liang Lin, Anne Akiko Meyers and Antje Weithaas, cellists Ofra Harnoy and Gemma Rosefield. Since 2006 he has undertaken four major recital tours of Japan with violinist Ryu Goto, with whom he has also played at Carnegie Hall and recorded five CDs for Deutsche Grammophon.
As a member of several outstanding chamber ensembles such as the Dussek Piano Trio, Endymion, Primavera and the Zoffany Ensemble, Michael performs regularly at Britain’s major venues, including London's Wigmore Hall and Kings Place. His discography is extensive and includes 23 CDs in Dutton Epoch’s highly acclaimed series of recordings of 20th century British composers, including York Bowen’s first three Piano Concertos with the BBC Concert Orchestra. His recording of Edmund Rubbra’s Violin Sonatas with Krysia Osostowicz was nominated for a Gramophone Award.
Michael Dussek is Head of Piano Accompaniment at the Royal Academy of Music. In January 2014 the USA’s prestigious Fanfare magazine described his playing as “nothing short of amazing”.
Photo: Patrick Allen