A regular feature of London concert life: Fidelio Cafe announces its September/October programme

Fidelio Cafe, Clerkenwell

The Fidelio Cafe has managed to have quite a busy 18 months, during July 2020 it was able to relaunch its live events, employing musicians whose livelihoods had been severely affected as a result of cancelled engagements during the pandemic. During the second half of 2020 there were over 70 events with 38 artists and an audience of 2000. And doors reopened this year in May, and the less formal, more intimate approach to classical music experiences are proving successful.

Now, the venue has announced its September and October concerts, each combining music from major artists with dinner in a relaxed way.

Angela Hewitt opens things on 1 September with a programme of Bach and Mozart, then on 7 September the cafe's founder, pianist Rafaello Morales is joined by clarinettist Anthony Friend from Brahms' two late clarinet sonatas. Other artists performing include pianists Emmanuel Despax, Gabriele Carcano, Julia Hamoś, Vanessa Benelli Mosell, and Julien Libeer, violinists Annabelle Traves and Hélène Clément, London Mozart Players, and United Strings of Europe, and duos of pianist Peter Donohoe and violinist Fenella Humphreys, violinist Alina Ibragimova and pianist Cédric Tiberghien, pianist Alasdair Beatson and violinist.

Music ranges from Bach and Beethoven to Britten and Bridge, Schubert and Schumann to Strauss and Stravinsky, not to mention Medtner, and there Bach arranged by both Eugen d'Albert and Busoni.

Concert-only Intermezzo tickets including one drink are £30pp, full price three-course dinner packages are £100pp, with 50% discounts for under-30s and restricted view options at £75pp. The events begin on 1 September, full details from the cafe website, but before then there is still time to catch the Up Close and Musical festival at the cafe.