This dynamic French duo is one of Europe's most engaging partnerships. Together these two artists have appeared on some of the world's most renowned platforms, in cities such as London, New York and Paris, where they constantly impress with the musicianship and dynamism of their performances. Jérôme Pernoo has an impressive and eclectic discography ranging from Bach's cello suites to more contemporary works, while Jérôme Ducros is one of Europe's most highly-regarded chamber pianists.

Programme:
J. S. Bach : Sonata for Cello & Piano in D Major, BWV 1028
Prokofiev : Sonata for Piano & Cello, Op 11
Schubert : Arpeggione Sonata
Connesson : Sonata for Piano & Cello (SA première)

This concert is generously assisted by the French Embassy and the French Institute

  

Audience uproar is a hallmark of Vassily Primakov's dazzling performances. Moscow-born and trained, his first concerto performance in New York was so riveting that it brought the audience to its feet and had the New York Times in raptures over his 'fiery performance (and) dramatic commitment'. A top prize-winner at competitions such as the Gina Bachauer and the Cleveland International, he now conducts his busy career from the United States of America, where he is resident.

Programme:
J. S. Bach : Prelude & Fugue in C (Book 1)
Chopin: 24 Preludes, Op 28
Prokofiev : Romeo and Juliet
Ravel : La Valse

Clarinettist Bryan Crumpler is one of America's foremost young musicians, and has performed to critical acclaim in England, France, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium and The Netherlands. He has earned recognition from Andrew Marriner (son of Sir Neville and himself a superb clarinet player), and has garnered an impressive collection of honours. An eclectic musician, he plays with uncommon technical facility and unique expressiveness.

Programme:
Poulenc : Clarinet Sonata
Pavkovic : Witch Variations
Brahms : Clarinet Sonata in E Flat, Op 120, No 2
Weber : Grand Duo Concertante
Williams : Themes from Schindler's List
Rosenblatt : Fantasy on Themes from Carmen

THE NABARRO CHAMBER CONCERT 2008
Currently one of the most prominent, versatile and exciting chamber groups performing in America, the Manhattan Piano Trio is hailed by critics as a 'grand departure from the usual'. They have been called 'a breath of fresh air' as well as 'a trio worth watching', and their performances are characterized by their energy and evident love of music-making.

Programme:
Haydn : Trio in G, Hob X: 25
Ravel : Trio in A Minor
Rachmaninov : Trio Elegiaque No 1 in G Minor
Shostakovich : Trio No 1 in C Minor
Shostakovich : Jazz Suite No 1

Czech Libor Novacek is currently exciting all who hear him. Recently, his Liszt recording for Landor Records was acclaimed 'Editor's Choice' in Gramophone Magazine, as well as achieving five star reviews in other influential publications and the Diplôme d'Honneur at the 33rd Liszt International Record Grand Prix. His recitals and performances with important orchestras (such as the Royal Philharmonic, the Prague Philharmonia and the English Sinfonia) consistently receive high praise.

His recent return to the country of his birth was marked by a performance in Prague's sumptuous Dvorak Hall, where he received a rapturous reception. And the influential International Record Review has said of him: '...a rare combination of virtuosity and musical intelligence...'

Programme:
Haydn : Sonata No 38 in F, Hob XV1 : 23
Brahms : Eight Piano Pieces, Opus 76
Liszt : Annees de Pelerinage, Swiss Book

British-born Daniel Rowland is a graduate of the Amsterdam Conservatoire. He also studied with Igor Oistrakh at the Royal Conservatory of Bussels and with Ruggiero Ricci at the Salzburg Mozarteum. A winner of the Brahms Prize for his rendition of Brahms's violin concerto at the influential Oskar Back Competition in Baden-Baden, he made his concerto debut in Amsterdam's Concertgebouw playing Tchaikovsky's violin concerto - a performance which launched his highly successful performing career. He will be partnered by Pieter Jacobs, a Fulbright Scholarship winner and a graduate of Yale University.

Programme:
Mozart : Sonata in E Minor
Richard Strauss : Sonata in E Flat Major
Szymanowski : La Fontaine d'Arethuse
Poulenc : Violin Sonata
Saint-Saens : Introduction et Rondo Capriccioso

TRIO FIBONACCI (named after the great 13th century mathematician whose work has influenced so much artistic creativity) has been playing together since 1998. Comprised of two Canadian artists and one Englishman, this superb trio has studied with two world-famous ensembles, the Emerson String Quartet and the Tokyo Quartet. Led by violinist Julie-Anne Derome, who is the holder of several prestigous prizes and awards, the trio is recognised for its fiercely committed performances of both traditional and contemporary music, and has several critically lauded CDs to its credit. They have performed at important festivals world-wide (such as the Aldeburgh, the Hudderfield and the Strasbourg) and have premiered many new works.

Programme:
Beethoven : Piano Trio in B Flat Major, Opus 97 ('The Archduke')
Jean Lesage : The Mozart Project
Shostakovich : Piano Trio No 2 in E Minor, Opus 67

Despite his youth, Chun Wang already has an impressive list of achievements to his name. Born in 1990 in Fuzhou, the People's Republic of China, his prodigious talent was evident during the recent Unisa International Piano Competition in Pretoria, where he was a top prize-winner and a great favourite with audiences. He has already won First Prize at the Villa-Lobos International Piano Competition of Brazil, and has performed with great success with the Kharkov Symphony Orchestra, the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra and the Orquestra Sinfonica da Estada de Sao Paulo.

Programme:
Mozart : Piano Sonata in B Flat, K 333
Chopin : Twelve Etudes, Op 25
Albeniz : Four Pieces from the Suite 'Iberia'
Prokofiev : Piano Sonata No 7

The three musicians who make up this trio each have impressive credentials. Violinist Kai Vogler belongs to a long line of fine German players that reaches back to Joseph Joachim and Carl Flesch. Winner of several international competitions and a frequent participant at European and American festivals, he has several highly-regarded CDs to his credit. Cellist Peter Bruns has an excellent chamber music reputation and can boast a series of award-winning CDs. Pianist Ben Schoeman has recently become the first South African to win the fiercely-fought Unisa International Piano Competition in Pretoria, where his account of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No 1 was a musical and technical tour de force.

Programme:
Beethoven : Trio in D Major, Opus 70 No 1 ('Ghost')
Mendelssohn : Trio in D Minor, Opus 49
Brahms: Trio in B Major, Opus 8

PERCY BANESHIK MEMORIAL CONCERT 2008
Grigory Alumyan and Rinko Hama have been collaborative musicians for the past five years, winning First Prize at the Swedish International Duo Competition (2002), and the Gold Medal at the Duo Competition of Baden (2004). Russian-born Alumyan is a product of Moscow's Tchaikovsky Conservatory, and frequently performs with musicians such as Martha Argerich and Hartmut Höll, while Japanese-born Rinko Hama, also a well-established soloist, is a much sought-after chamber music partner.