Ahead of their Lunchtime Concert on Friday 23rd, Karen shares Ensemble Fioritura’s story and plans for their performance…
Can you tell us about your ensemble and how you met and came to play together? “We are myself, Karen Wong, playing flute, composer Lance Mok on piano, Alvin Wong playing saxophone and countertenor Keith Pun. We met through The Chinese University of Hong Kong and mutual musical circles in the UK. That connection led us to start playing regularly as an ensemble, and our artistic vision has steadily grown since.”
How did you decide on the name Ensemble Fioritura? “Fioritura is an Italian musical term meaning a floral embellishment. We chose it because it reflects our shared sensitivity to nuance and expressive detail in performance. It also speaks to our passion for uncovering hidden colours in both contemporary and traditional repertoire. The name also references Lance’s composition Pastorale and Fioritura, Op. 14a, for piccolo and piano.”
Can you talk us through some of the repertoire you’ll be playing for our Lunchtime Concert? “The programme is called Silhouettes of Passion's Master-Mistress, and it is particularly meaningful to us as it explores themes of transformation, identity, and poetic storytelling. We open with Lance Mok’s Songs to the Fair Youth, Op. 20, a song cycle set from Shakespeare’s sonnets. This work explores gender fluidity and timeless longing through music that is both lyrical and provocative. This particular cycle highlights the alto saxophone. After this, Angela Morley’s Valse Bleue for flute and piano is a charming waltz full of warmth and jazz-tinged harmonies. It’s also a tribute to another trailblazing composer whose work deserves wider recognition.
We’ll also perform 6 Character Sonnets by Eric Yip, Op. 21, settings of texts by the acclaimed young poet Eric Yip. Each piece centres on a Chinese character; 不 means no, 裂 is tear, 暑 is summer, 譯 is translate, 曲 is song and 畫 is painting. Based on transformation, the cycle explores themes of strangeness, deniability, and the unease and thrill of moving between places, languages, and bodies. The programme has been supported using public funding from Arts Council England.”
Have you performed in many cathedrals? “We’ve had the pleasure of performing in a range of venues, including Manchester Cathedral and we have several churches to come on our tour, including St. Paul’s in Clifton, St Mary of Charity in Faversham and St Anne’s in Kew. Chelmsford Cathedral has a wonderful reputation for supporting live music and community engagement, we’re genuinely looking forward to sharing this performance with your audience.”
Ensemble Fioritura will play at midday on Friday 23rd May, with tea and coffee served from 11.30am.