Zoffany Ensemble

Assembly House Classical presents

Zoffany Ensemble

• Manon Derome – violin

• Ciaran McCabe – violin

• Sarah-Jane Bradley – viola

• Douglas Paterson – viola

• Anthony Pleeth – cello

Programme

• Mozart: String Quintet No. 1 in B-flat major, K.174

• Beethoven: String Quintet in C minor

Thursday 25 March 2027

1.00pm (doors open 12.30pm)

The Assembly House, Norwich

Founded in 2009, the Zoffany Ensemble takes its name and inspiration from the elegance of painter Johann Zoffany, and in particular his portrait of the celebrated cellist Giacobbe Cervetto. In the group’s early days, a walk along the Thames in Kew past Zoffany’s former home prompted a spontaneous note slipped through the letterbox—sparking an enduring friendship with the owners, generous local patronage, and a series of performances in historic riverside houses along the Thames, including St. Anne’s Church in Kew where Zoffany rests.

Originally formed as a piano quartet, the ensemble has since evolved into a flexible core string group—joined at times by piano or wind—to explore the richness of larger-scale chamber masterworks. Praised by The Strad for their "fine playing... with the feeling of music-making among friends," they bring warmth, intimacy, and shared musical camaraderie to every performance.