As JW3's classical music series returns for its 4th year, I chat to artistic director David Waterman

JW3

JW3, also known as Jewish Community Centre London, is an arts, culture and entertainment venue, an educational facility and a social and community hub in north London. It is located at 341–351 Finchley Road, London, and opened on 29 September 2013. Describing itself as "a new postcode for Jewish life", the venue's name is a wordplay on its postal address, situated in the NW3 postcode area.

Whilst this year the centre celebrates its 13th birthday, their classical music concert series returned for its four year with a season opened by Russian-Israeli pianist Boris Giltburg on 30 September 2026. The curator of JW3's classical music series is cellist David Waterman, one of the founder members of the Endellion Quartet. David explains that his brief was for a high-quality classical music series. There is no particular emphasis on Jewish artists or Jewish composers, it is the high quality that counts.

Depending on the line-up of performers, JW3's recital hall seats up to 250 people. It is an intimate space, where people can see clearly wherever they sit, and all feel near the action. The atmosphere is intimate and friendly, with an audience that is often local. David describes the audience as listening extremely well, and being very enthusiastic. David plays in around half of the concerts each season and introduces the others. He enjoys meeting the audience, and finds that artists enjoy playing there.

Having started the season with Boris Giltburg playing to a capacity audience, they follow with Schubert's Trout Quintet on 28 October. The ensemble is led by Russian Vietnamese violinist Aylen Pritchin about whom David is extremely enthusiastic, describing him as a very special performer; the two have performed together at Wigmore Hall and at Prussia Cove. Previous seasons at JW3 have featured a lot of Schubert, music that David calls moving and tragic whereas he sees the Trout Quintet as utterly joyful and festive. Also in the programme is Beethoven's String Trio in G Op 9 no 1. David feels this is as good as any of the quartets. It is full of joy and charm, and certainly not played enough. The programme is completed by another fun piece, Saint-Saëns' Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso for violin and piano which will give Aylen Pritchin a chance to shine. It is a programme that David hopes will send people home with a smile.

Then coming up on 17 November the Greek-Albanian violinist Jonian Ilias Kadesha, whom David describes as extraordinary and erudite, is joined by his wife, cellist Vashti Hunter and London-based Israeli pianist Noam Greenberg for an evening of duos and trios. The music includes Martinu's Duo no. 2 for violin and cello, Debussy's Sonata for Violin and Piano and Beethoven's Variations for cello and piano on Bei Männern from Mozart’s Magic Flute, plus piano trios from Haydn and Schumann, though the latter is the Phantasiestücke.

There are three more concerts after Christmas starting with the Aviv Quartet in Haydn, Mendelssohn and Beethoven in January 2027.

The concerts to well for audiences though David admits that occasionally a concert will surprise them and not do as well as expected. Based on his experience with the Endellion Quartet he feels that things go in fashions so the sometimes lieder or string quartets do well, and sometimes not. As a promoter he feels you have to believe in what you are doing and persist, though sometimes you cannot fight the trend. It is a tricky balance. Whilst not going bankrupt, you need a level of performance and programming that your core audience might expect. He admits that it would be easy enough to create a series that would sell out but which he would be totally uninterested in attending himself! And that is not the way he wants to go.

Full details from the JW3 website.

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