The Omega Ensemble’s final concert for 2017 came off the back of an important milestone for any ensemble – their first international tour. The group travelled to China in November – giving performances and masterclasses at the Beijing Central Conservatory, JiLin College of the Arts and Dalian University – and brought back a souvenir, Autumn Moon over a Calm Lake, which Co-Artistic Director Maria Raspopova performed as an encore at the end of Ravel Impressions. With music evoking the gentle sparkle of light on water, rippling under Raspopova’s hands, it was a tranquil end to an evening that saw the ensemble span music from the lesser-known Russian composer Anton Arensky to Ravel’s first and only string quartet.

David Rowden, Maria Raspopova and Neil Thompson in the Omega Ensemble’s Ravel Impressions. Photo © Stephen Bydder

Arensky, whose students at St Petersburg Conservatory included Rachmaninov, Medtner, and Scriabin, wrote his Piano Trio in 1894 and dedicated it to Karl Davidov, director of the Conservatory when Arensky was a student. A romantic violin melody from Catalin Ungureanu weaved its way above lush piano from Raspopova, Paul Stender soon adding his dark cello sound...