Donate Now
Interested in supporting the OAE?

Check out our latest Support Us video on how you can make a difference.

Donate now

The Night Shift: The Water Rats, Kings Cross

It’s the Horn Show as The Night Shift heads to the famous Water Rats in King’s Cross. Better make it a double!
Kings Cross, The Water Rats

This month we turn our spotlight on the horn… in fact, we have two of them. Join us for a classical programme featuring two horns and a quartet of strings that showcases the magnificence of this noble instrument before taking a frankly ridiculous turn.

Your MC for the evening is Roger Montgomery, our principal horn, who has put together a set list around two substantial pieces for the ensemble, by Mozart and Beethoven.

Beethoven’s Sextet for two horns and string quartet possibly dates from before his permanent move to Vienna (despite the late opus number, 81b). It calls on virtuoso technique from both horn players in its youthful high spirits.

Ein musikalischer Spaß (known in English as ‘A Musical Joke’) is a mini-symphony packed with Mozart’s trademark mischief, musical gags and digs at musicians, conductors, (bad) composers, audiences… in fact just about everyone. Its finale may also be familiar as the theme to the Horse of the Year Show on the BBC.

___

The Night Shift is our series of informal gigs featuring chamber music by some of our favourite composers. Chamber music is literally music for smaller rooms in the home (or other places where people socialise). And that’s how we like it to roll… grab a drink, enjoy the sounds and have a chat.

Spaces limited, book early to avoid disappointment.