Russian Voices: Guy Johnston, Joan Rodgers & Sholto Kynoch at Kings Place
12 May 2017, 19:30 - 21:30
Concert
90 York Way
Kings Cross
London
N1 9AG
We are delighted to return to Kings Place in London, for a co-promoted concert as part of their Cello Unwrapped season. Often compared to a human voice, the cello is a natural partner in song, as composers have long recognised. Here leading cellist Guy Johnston is joined by distinguished soprano Joan Rodgers in a Russian-themed programme which delves into the soulful songs of Rachmaninov, Scriabin and Arensky, and the cosmopolitan Pauline Viardot. The programme includes two works dedicated to Rostropovich: Prokofiev’s bittersweet late Cello Sonata; and Shostakovich’s visionary Romances on the poetry of Alexandr Blok, written for Rostropovich and his wife Galina Vishnevskaya. For the latter, we welcome violinist Sophie Rosa.
Also as part of this concert, exceptional young baritone Michael Mofidian, recent winner of the Oxford Lieder Young Artist Platform, will perform six Arensky Six Romances, the second of which is a duet with cello.
Pre-concert talk: 6.45pm, St Pancras Room
Cellist and guest speaker Justin Pearson has established a fine instrument scheme for the Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain, and has helped many prominent cellists. He draws on long experience of instrument buying and of forming syndicates.
Tickets available here through Kings Place.
Rachmaninov Lied (Romance) in F minor for cello and piano
Arensky Six Romances, Op. 38
Prokofiev Cello Sonata in C, Op. 119
Viardot The Stars, VWV 1059
Scriabin Romance (1890)
Shostakovich ‘Romance’ and ‘Nocturne’ from the Gadfly Suite, Op. 97a
Shostakovich Seven Romances on Poems by Aleksandr Blok, Op. 127
Programme
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Sergei Rachmaninov (1873 - 1943)
Romance in F minor for cello and piano Anton Arensky (1861 - 1906)
Six Romances (Op. 38)
Sergei Prokofiev (1891 - 1953)
Cello Sonata in C (Op. 119)
- 1. Andante grave
- 2. Moderato
- 3. Allegro, ma non troppo
-
Pauline Viardot (1821 - 1910)
The Stars (VWV 1059) -
Alexander Scriabin (1872 - 1915)
Romance -
Sergei Rachmaninov (1873 - 1943)
Romance (Op. 6) from Deux Morceaux de Salon -
Dmitri Shostakovich (1906 - 1975)
Romance (from The Gadfly) (Op. 97) from The Gadfly Dmitri Shostakovich (1906 - 1975)
Seven Romances on Poems of Alexander Blok (Op. 127)
- 1. Pesnja Ofelii
- 2. Gamajun ptica veshchaja
- 3. My byli vmeste
- 4. Gorod spit
- 5. Burja
- 6. Tajnyje znaki
- 7. Muzyka
Guy Johnston
Guy Johnston
Cello
Guy Johnston is one of the most exciting British cellists of his generation. His early successes include winning the BBC Young Musician of the Year, the Shell London Symphony Orchestra Gerald MacDonald Award and a Classical Brit. He has performed with many leading international orchestras including the London Philharmonic, Philharmonia, English Chamber Orchestra, Deutsches Symphonie Orchester Berlin, Orquestra Sinfonica do Estado de Sao Paulo, Moscow Philharmonic and St Petersburg Symphony. Guy’s mentors have included Steven Doane, Ral... Read Full Biography
Sophie Rosa
Sophie Rosa
Violinist
Sophie Rosa first garnered attention after winning the Second Prize and Audience Prize at the 2nd Manchester International Violin Competition 2011. She has performed across the UK as a recitalist in venues including the Royal Festival Hall, the Purcell Room, Wigmore Hall, Kings Place and Bridgewater Hall and has appeared as soloist with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Manchester Camerata and Skipton Camerata. Sophie has broadcast for BBC Radio 3 and has released CDs on Champs Hill and EM Records labels to critical acclaim. As ... Read Full Biography
Michael Mofidian
Michael Mofidian
Bass-baritone
Winner of the 2018 Royal Over-Seas League Singers’ Prize and the 2017 Pavarotti Prize, Michael Mofidian was born and raised in Glasgow, and educated at the University of Cambridge and the Royal Academy of Music. A student of Mark Wildman, Michael is a 2018-2020 Jette Parker Young Artist at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. A versatile singer and actor, Michael feels at home in a wide range of repertoire and styles. For the Royal Opera House his roles have and will include Narumov Queen of Spades, Alcade Forza del destino, Angelo... Read Full Biography
Sholto Kynoch