rarescale chamber music: Nocturne

rarescale are back at Nottingham Contemporary on Sunday 10 January 2027, with three performances across the afternoon. It's the final outing of the season for the ensemble, and they're taking over Studio 1 for the day. Each set runs around half an hour, with the three slots starting at 1.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm.

The ensemble is led by Carla Rees, a British low flutes player, composer and arranger who also serves as its Artistic Director. rarescale is an East Midlands group of flexible instrumentation, and their whole focus is on developing new repertoire for low flutes. For this particular run, Rees is joined by guests, and the music is built around free improvisations and new works composed specifically for the ensemble.

There's a clear theme to the programme. The performances are part of a collaboration between the ensemble and the gallery, responding to Nottingham Contemporary's Autumn Season exhibitions, Julia Isídrez: Mud is everything and Sarah Cunningham: Midnight Sun. With the nights drawing in, Rees and her guests explore the nocturnal and the spiritual journey into the dark before celebrating daybreak.

It's worth knowing a bit about the person behind it: Carla Rees was appointed the first Professor of Low Flutes and Contemporary Flute at the Royal Academy of Music in September 2021, and she holds a PhD from the Royal College of Music. Her 2016 composition Nightsong was broadcast on BBC Radio 3, and she's also the Editor of the British Flute Society's magazine PAN and the Commissions Coordinator for the National Flute Association of America. The space is wheelchair accessible, and the three performances run at 1.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm in Studio 1.