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BIOGRAPHY
Kerenza Peacock – violin
Jenny Sacha – violin
Natalia Gomes – viola
Bryony James - cello
“Exceptionally talented” BBC Music Magazine
" An ensemble of real depth and musical distinction" Classic FM Magazine
‘Four finer musicians you could not come across’ Henry Kelly, Classic FM
‘A sparkling performance’ Sean Rafferty, BBC Radio 3
Not many classical string quartets can claim to have played on the Radio 1 Chart Show Live the day after performing Ravel in the Wigmore Hall. But for the Pavão Quartet this was a typical weekend. This versatile ensemble is not only highly-regarded in classical concert venues, but has enjoyed collaborations with renowned rock, pop and jazz artists and even a contemporary dance company.
The Pavão formed 10 years ago at the Royal Academy of Music, where they won many prizes individually and as an ensemble, culminating in their appointment as Chamber Music Fellows for two years. Classical recitals delightfully increased their knowledge of the highways and byways of the British Isles, besides taking them to the Wigmore Hall, Purcell Room, Symphony Hall in Birmingham, Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall, Gateshead’s Sage and Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall. In addition to an intensive UK schedule, their art has also given them opportunities to observe the skyscrapers of New York and the Great Wall of China, the Arabian desert and Jerusalem’s ‘Wailing Wall’, and an arc of European cities from Lisbon to Warsaw.
A CD of encore repertoire, Someone to Watch Over Me, launched their increasingly successful recording career, leading to prolonged playings on Classic FM, Radio 3 and Radio 2, including on Michael Parkinson’s show and ‘Friday Night is Music Night’. A recent disc of quartets by Bax and Elgar has been welcomed as ‘a real winner’ from ‘an ensemble of real depth and musical distinction’ (Classic FM Magazine), with ‘plenty of energy, precision and clarity’ (BBC Music Magazine) and ‘an intoxicating warmth and emotional spontaneity’ (The Strad Magazine). Music Web International christened it disc of the month, ‘an unqualified success – a real must-have!’ Their Christmas Collection for Breakthrough Breast Cancer also became the soundtrack of Christmas for many people, on disc and radio.
Although the great canon of music for string quartet is at the heart of their being, they enjoy exploring other worlds-through working with the award-winning Henri Oguike Dance Company, collaborating with jazz saxophonist Iain Ballamy, and performing with singers as diverse as Sir Willard White, Andrew Kennedy, Elaine Paige, Hayley Westenra, Charlotte Church and Victoria Hart. The Pavão’s experience in the studio has led to them recording for TV, the West End and film; recording music Andrew Lloyd Webber, and even the X-Factor.
Highlights of the last decade include performing the Mendelssohn Octet on a set of Stradivarius instruments on loan from the Royal Academy, and also the opportunities they have had to reach further into the community by playing in schools and hospices. They play on a set of old Italian and French instruments on loan from the Royal Academy of Music.
Their latest CD, ‘Dreaming’, was released this year and is available on Amazon and in HMV.
‘…the talented Pavão Quartet never resort to superficial gimmicks, offering playing that is extremely assured with a meticulous sense of ensemble.’ BBC Music Magazine
‘An ensemble of real depth and musical distinction. With a light, beautifully integrated sound, their account of Bax's First Quartet is a real winner (try the sorrowful slow movement or the lively finale). They bring to the exactly contemporaneous Elgar a grace and emotional intensity that is quite the equal of other more established quartets' Classic FM Magazine
‘There’s plenty of energy, precision and clarity, with an impressive sense of lively rapport between four players.’ Stephen Johnson – BBC Music Magazine
‘A passionate and penetrating performance. The warmth of their playing disarms criticism, especially in the most moving account of Bax’s tender slow movement it’s been my luck to encounter. The Pavãos love this work, and they want us to love it too. The sheer, purple passion of the Pavão’s vision swept me along as never before in this most approachable of the composer’s three essays in the medium, and I commend it as heartily as I feel he would have done himself. This is a thrilling issue from a Quartet clearly worth watching for more than their contemporary, crossover charms, and it deserves every success.’ Christopher Webber – The Sir Arnold Bax website‘
…but it’s the music which truly matters, and musically, this disk is an unqualified success. A truly fabulous disk! A real must-have! A record of the year. I think you understand me.’ Music Web International
‘You’ll be hearing more from this sassy young female string quartet. This new release fulfils all the promise of their first, Someone to Watch Over Me, a hit on Classic FM. From the lively opening bars of Bax’s String Quartet no 1, we are in the presence of an alert, accomplished ensemble. Their Bax is the most persuasive performance I’ve heard, warmly romantic in the slow movement and a riot of gutsy rhythm in the rondo. Elgar’s more enigmatic, melancholy work requires a mercurial response, and the Pavao, led with distinction by Kerenza Peacock, have all the necessary suppleness, every nuance lovingly handled. Impressive.’ Ros Kavanagh – Saga Magazine
‘An ensemble that hasn’t forgotten how deeply sensual and emotionally liberating playing in a string quartet can be. The Pavao could hardly have chosen two more interpretatively challenging works for its classical debut album, yet the players sound as completely at home in early Bax as they do in late Elgar. Whatever the emotional upheavals in his personal life, the quartet is one of the most blissfully contented works Bax ever penned…the Pavao relishes this underrated score with an intoxicating warmth and emotional spontaneity that is irresistible.
The Elgar has enjoyed a distinguished recording history...yet once again the Pavao Quartet’s affectionate detailing of the works expressive undercurrents proves highly persuasive. This luxuriously engineered disc projects the ensemble’s velvet-toned, beguilingly responsive playing to perfection.’ Julian Haylock – The Strad Magazine
‘The smooth-toned Pavao’ The Guardian
‘I hope the Pavão continue to wow!’ Elaine Paige
‘A sound to melt the heart. I love it!’ Aled Jones
‘I hope the Pavão continue to wow!’ Elaine Paige
‘A sound to melt the heart. I love it!’ Aled Jones
