2nd October 2008 1.05 - 1.55pm

 

Aronowitz Ensemble

Nadia Wijzenbeek violin
Tom Hankey violin
Jennifer Stumm viola
Marie Macleod cello
Tom Poster piano

Bridge: Phantasy Piano Trio
Elgar: Piano Quintet

The Aronowitz Ensemble was formed out of the desire of seven brilliant young international artists to explore and perform chamber music together in the highly adaptable combination of string sextet and piano. Since its sell-out debut at St John's Smith Square, the ensemble has had a busy schedule of engagements across the UK and beyond.

"I can recall few London debuts as exciting as this... A deeply and richly satisfying performance... It is difficult to see how these fine players can greatly advance from this bridgehead. Let us hope we have many more chances to hear them attempt to do so." - The Strad

16th October 2008 1.05 - 1.55pm

 

 

 Elizabeth Watts soprano
Julius Drake piano

Mendelssohn                                                                                                  
Neue Liebe Op. 19, No. 4 (Heine)           
Romanze
Frage Op. 9, No. 1 (Voss)
Der Mond Op. 86, No. 5 (Geibel)
Schlafloser Augen (No Op no.) (Byron)
Hexenlied Op. 8, No. 8 (Hölty)

Rachmaninov         
Lilacs, Op. 21, No. 5
Oni otvechali, Op. 21, No. 4
Zdes' khorosho, Op. 21, No. 7
Ne poy, krasavitsa, pri mne, Op. 4, No. 4
Son Op. 8, No. 5

Hahn
A Chloris
Le rossignol des lilas
Rêverie
Si mes vers avaient des ailes
Le printemps

Hahn
Five Little Songs:
The Swing
Windy Nights
My ship and I
The stars
A good boy

Elizabeth Watts received international acclaim representing England at the 2007 Cardiff Singer of the World Competition, reaching the final and winning the prestigious Rosenblatt Recital Song Prize and automatic selection for BBC Radio 3’s prestigious New Generation Artists Scheme. This follows on from other recent successes including winning the 2006 Kathleen Ferrier Prize, the 2007 Outstanding Young Artist Award at the "MIDEM Classique Awards" in Cannes and a nomination for the 2007 Royal Philharmonic Society’s Young Artist of the Year Award.

Julius Drake specialises in chamber music, working with many of the world’s leading vocal and instrumental artists, both in recital and on disc. He performs regularly in the world’s great concert halls and festivals. He is a familiar visitor to the Leicester International Music Festival and to the Lunchtime Concert Series.

30th October 2008 1.05 - 1.55pm

The Robson Piano Duo
John and Kevin Robson piano

Liszt: 2nd Hungarian Rhapsody
Ravel: Mother Goose Suite
Schubert: Fantasia for piano,
4 Hands in F Minor, D940

John and Kevin Robson began piano lessons at the age of thirteen and went on to study at the Royal Northern College of Music and the Birmingham Conservatoire. Both pianists performed in numerous master classes with distinguished artists such as Peter Donohoe, Philip Martin, Andrew Zolinsky and Dr William Westney. The duo have performed extensively throughout England at many leading venues. They caught the ear of Artistic Director Nicholas Daniel who invited them to perform at a Lunchtime Concert.

13th November 2008 1.05 - 1.55pm

Catherine Leonard violin
Charles Owen piano

Mozart: Sonata for piano and violin A major, K. 526
Ian Wilson: 'Spillaert's Beach'

Catherine Leonard, "Ireland's leading violinist" (Irish Times) "is a conspicuously gifted player," (Santa Barbara News Press), who has captured the attention of audiences and critics across the world for the musical integrity and interpretive insight she brings to standard repertoire and new works alike. The RTE National Symphony, Ulster and Irish Chamber Orchestras regularly invite her to perform as a soloist. She performs elsewhere in Europe, Asia and the United States, where she is a Principal Artist for the California-based chamber ensemble, Camerata Pacifica.

Charles Owen has virtually become Leicester International Music Festival’s resident pianist. Charles showed extraordinary artistry and versatility in the last two festivals and his playing of the Debussy Preludes Book II last year was the first completely sold out lunchtime concert. He has a major reputation as an accompanist and has performed many times with Catherine Leonard.

27th November 2008 1.05 - 1.55pm

  

Joy Farrall clarinet
Min-Jung Kym piano

Poulenc: Sonata for clarinet and piano
Brahms: Sonata in F minor for clarinet and piano

Joy Farrall has appeared as a recitalist and concerto soloist in all the major London concert venues, playing with such orchestras as the Philharmonia, the English Chamber Orchestra, the Ulster Orchestra, the London Mozart Players, City of London Sinfonia and Britten Sinfonia, with whom she has been Principal Clarinet since the orchestra was founded. She is Professor of Clarinet at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Joy has been a principal performer in past Leicester International Music Festivals.

Min-Jung Kym has a widely recognised reputation for her diverse range of styles and repertoire as a soloist, duo and chamber musician. Min-Jung made her London solo concert debut at the age of 12 with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall. Min-Jung has enjoyed many successful collaborations, including a highly acclaimed Wigmore Hall recital with the Haffner Ensemble. A Steinway Artist, engagements for the forthcoming season include concerto performances with the Philharmonia Orchestra.

11th December 2008 1.05 - 1.55pm

The Katona Twins guitars

Mozart (arr. Katona Twins): The Overture to the opera ‘La Clemenza di Tito’
Bach: Suite No 5 BWV 816
Heitor Villa-Lobos: Alma Brasiliera
Paco de Lucia: Cepa Andaluza
Isaac Albéniz: Mallorca
Manuel de Falla: El Amor Brujo (Love, the Magician)

The Hungarian born Katona Twins, Peter and Zoltán, have given recitals throughout the world. They have won numerous prizes, both individually and together. In 1998 they won the Concert Artists Guild Competition held in New York. The wide repertoire of the duo spans from Scarlatti to Piazzolla’s tango music. The Katona Twins have broadcast frequently for the BBC and other international television and radio stations. Recordings include music by

Scarlatti, Handel, Rodrigo, Albéniz, Granados, de Falla and Mozart. Their recording of Rodrigo’s Concierto Madrigal was editor’s choice in Gramophone Magazine. A CD with the Carducci Quartet featuring works by Piazolla was released in 2004 and a further recording with the Carducci Quartet of Vivaldi was released in 2007 and was recently chosen as CD of the week in The Daily Telegraph.

8th January 2009 1.05 - 1.55pm

Soloists of the Philharmonia Orchestra

Mark David trumpet
Byron Fulcher trombone

Otto Ketting: Intrada
J G Albrechtsberger: Concerto
Thorvald Hansen: Sonata
Enrique Crespo: Improvisation
Carl Hohne: Slavische Fantasy
Arthur Pryor: Thoughts of Love
Herbert Clarke: Cousins

Mark David was appointed principal trumpet of the Philharmonia Orchestra in 1992. Mark’s solo performances with the Philharmonia have included Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 with Andras Schiff, the Haydn Trumpet Concerto with Ashkenazy at the Royal Festival Hall, and private concerts for members of the royal family at Highgrove and Buckingham Palace. He also plays regularly with the English Brass Ensemble, London Sinfonietta and the Nash Ensemble with whom he has recorded Saint-Saëns Septet in E flat major Op 65.

Byron Fulcher is principal trombonist of the Philharmonia with whom he has recorded Mahler’s Symphony No.3, having previously held positions in the Orquesta Sinfonica de Galicia, Spain and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. He also works with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and London Sinfonietta, teaches at the Royal College of Music and is a member of London Brass playing trombone and euphonium on their album ‘Surprise’.

22nd January 2009 1.05 - 1.55pm

Trinity Ensemble

Tunde Jegede kora
Jacob Heringman lute
Alexis A. Ffrench piano

The Trinity Ensemble will perform tracks from their latest album, 'Ascension'; "a mesmerising fusion of contemporary classical, renaissance, minimalism, trance, world music and Jazz"; inspired by 'La Morra', the seminal work by the Renaissance composer, Heinrich Isaac.

Tunde Jegede is a composer and multi-instrumentalist who is uniquely placed between the worlds of Contemporary Classical, African and Pop music. The Kora (West African Harp-Lute) has been said to be as close as you can get to the music of the spheres.

The American-born lutenist Jacob Heringman has established himself as one of the world’s most respected and most innovative solo lute players, and as a much sought-after ensemble player performing regularly throughout Europe and North and South America.

Alexis A. Ffrench is a classical pianist, improviser and composer. In 1992, he made his concerto debut as part of Simon Rattle's 'Towards the Millennium' Series performing 'Rhapsody in Blue' at London's Queen Elizabeth Hall. Alexis combines his activities as a solo concert performer with the Head of Keyboard post at Uppingham School.

5th February 2009 1.05 - 1.55pm

Sitkovetsky Piano Trio

Alexander Sitkovetsky violin
Leonard Elschenbroich cello
Wu Qian piano

Beethoven: Trio Opus 70 No 1 "Ghost"
Mendelssohn: Piano Trio no 1 in D minor Opus 49

The Sitkovetsky Trio is a collaboration between three young musicians who share a passion for Chamber Music. Having met and worked together at the Yehudi Menuhin School, they founded the trio last year and have already received numerous awards and critical acclaim. They have won the Philharmonia-Martin Chamber Music Award and the Kirckman Society Award. They were awarded a Fellowship at the Royal Academy of Music in London and have just been chosen for the Tillett Trust Young Artists’ Platform scheme 2008. In January, the trio made a highly successful South Bank debut, playing a recital in the Purcell Room, and were recently invited to play in front of Her Majesty the Queen in London. They will make their debut appearance at the Wigmore Hall in November 2008 and have already been invited to give recitals at various Festivals throughout the UK. All three musicians enjoy varied careers as soloists and chamber musicians in their own right. Alexander Sitkovetsky has played at the last two Leicester International Music Festivals.

19th February 2009 1.05 - 1.55pm

‘National Young Pianists Week’ Laureates

Back by popular demand for the fourth year, following three years of amazing concerts by such young pianists. The National Young Pianists Week Laureates have been selected as showing the most exceptional promise at the NYPWheld at Uppingham School, Rutland in 2008. NYPWis a residential summer course for pianists worldwide with coaching and performances from some of the world’s leading teachers and practitioners. The course identifies, nurtures and promotes exceptional young pianists through the Young Laureate Scheme, providing guidance, practical support and opportunities for their development.

5th March 2009 1.05 - 1.55pm

Nicholas Daniel oboe and the Carducci String Quartet

Matthew Denton violin
Michelle Fleming violin
Eoin Schmidt–Martin viola
Emma Denton cello

Tansy Davies: Forgotten Game
Bliss: Oboe Quintet
Schubert: Death and the Maiden

Nicholas Daniel is the Artistic Director of the Leicester International Music Festival and the Lunchtime Concert Series. Nicholas won the BBC Young Musician of the Year when he was 18. At his debut at the BBC Proms in 1992, the Sunday Times described him as one of the greatest exponents of the oboe in the world. In the 2008 BBC Proms he played the Mozart Oboe Concerto on the First Night and the Elliott Carter Oboe concerto. He is Professor at the Trossingen Musikhochschule in Germany and is Associate Artistic Director of Britten Sinfonia.

The Carducci Quartet have won no less than 7 International Chamber Music Competitions in the space of 5 years, and have quickly become recognized as one of Europe's top young string quartets. They recently established their own record label 'Carducci Classics', launched with a CD of Haydn String Quartets. They have toured Europe and in Italy, where, after performing numerous concerts at the Castagnetto-Carducci Festival, the quartet adopted the name “Carducci” with the blessing of the Mayor.

19th March 2009 1.05 - 1.55pm

Natalie Clein cello

Bach: C major suite No 3 for solo cello
Kodaly: Sonata for solo cello

Natalie Clein’s exceptional musicality has earned her a number of prestigious prizes including the Classical Brit Award for Young British Performer of 2005 and the Ingrid zu Solms Cultur Preis at the 2003 Kronberg Academie. She won the BBC Young Musician of the Year (aged 16) in 1994 and in the same year was the first ever British winner of the Eurovision Competition for Young Musicians in Warsaw. She made her concerto debut at the BBC Proms in August 1997. Natalie records exclusively for EMI Classics. Her latest disc, the Elgar Cello Concerto with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Vernon Handley, was released in September 2007. In the 2007/08 season, Natalie toured Australia and New Zealand, performing the Elgar Cello Concerto. She is a founder member of the Leicester International Music Festival ensemble.

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