JW3 celebrates its 10th anniversary with its first classical concert series

Founded in 2013, JW3, the Jewish Community Centre London, is celebrating its 10th anniversary as the only such public venue for Jewish arts, culture, learning and community of its kind in the country. The Classical Series, the venue's first classical concerts season has just been announced, curated by David Waterman (former cellist with the Endellion String Quartet) and taking place in JW3's 220-seater Howard Hall.

Things kick off on 15 November with the Jerusalem Quartet in Mozart, Mendelssohn and Beethoven, then tenor Mark Padmore and pianist Mishka Rushdie Momen perform Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, and Schumann's Dichterliebe including the extra four songs that Schumann removed from the cycle (12 December 2023).

The first concert of the new year features the trio, Alasdair Beatson (piano), Sini Simonen (violin), and David Waterman (cello), in Beethoven, Bloch and Brahms. Other artists performing include cellist Steven Isserlis in Bach's Cello Suites, with readings from Janet Suzman, the Castalian Quartet with cellist David Waterman, and the series ends with pianist Angela Hewitt in Bach's Goldberg Variations.

In NW3, near Finchley Road tube station, JW3 is well-placed to expand London's cultural offering and the 220-seater Howard Hall, where the concerts take place, seems set to be a lovely intimate venue. But I did wonder whether The Classical Series was daring enough, whether it couldn't have tried to investigate themes and composers that would fit the venue's mission as a centre for Jewish arts and culture, and explore musical ideas that are often absent from the concert world.

Full details from the JW3 website.