Cellist Alexander Baillie's 60th Birthday Concert, with pianist John Thwaites: Celebrate their 35-year duo-partnership showcase cello sonatas by Brahms, Richard Rodney Bennett and John Ireland at LSO St Luke's, London on Saturday 7th May 2016

Please note: This concert is in the past and has already taken place.

Cellist Alexander Baillie's 60th Birthday Concert, with pianist John Thwaites

Celebrate their 35-year duo-partnership showcase cello sonatas by Brahms, Richard Rodney Bennett and John Ireland

Add to my Calendar 07-05-2016 19:30 07-05-2016 21:30 36 Cellist Alexander Baillie's 60th Birthday Concert, with pianist John Thwaites Described by Stephen Pritchard in The Observer as "an outstanding partnership”; Sandy and duo-partner John Thwaites, who is best known for his collaborative work with strings and a founder member of the Primrose Piano Quartet, have recently recorded the Brahms Cello Sonatas for SOMM, and these works form part of their celebratory concert. "Sandy and I will be the first to release recordings of this repertoire using period pianos”, explained John Thwaites.  We include a transcription of the Four Serious Songs, and so use three pianos in the Viennese collection of Gert Hecher: An 1860's Rönisch, 1870's Ehrbar and 1880's Streicher.  In addition to their historic authenticity, all these pianos make a truly beautiful sound." Well-known for their championing of British twentieth-century repertoire, which include the Sonatas by Bridge, Ireland, Rubbra, Delius, Ivor Keyes and Rebecca Clarke; their recording of these works on the SOMM label was described by BBC Music Magazine as “…probably the best of the current versions.”  The Ireland Cello Sonata, a work which also features in the Birthday recital, being described by The Observer as “rewarding and perfectly judged.” Also featured in the programme is the Sonata for Cello and Piano by Richard Rodney Bennett, being given a first London performance by its dedicatee.  The work was commissioned by the Harrogate International Festival and written in New York City in 1991, the composer later inscribing on the cover page of the manuscript that "no-one will ever play this better than A. Baillie."  The Sonata is to be recorded for Volume II of ‘Twentieth-Century British Cello Sonatas’ which is due for release shortly on the SOMM label.  Alexander Baillie is internationally recognised as one of the finest cellists of his generation. He began playing at the comparatively late age of twelve having been directly inspired by the late Jacqueline du Pré.  He went on to study at London's Royal College of Music with Joan Dickson and Anna Shuttleworth and with André Navarra in Vienna.  Sandy has performed with many of the top orchestras and conductors, appearing regularly as cello soloist in concertos, recitals, masterclasses and festivals throughout the world, including several appearances at the BBC Proms. Notable first performances of contemporary works, often written for him, have included Penderecki, Hans Werner Henze, Takemitsu, Colin Matthews and H.K.Gruber.  Recordings include the Tippett Triple Concerto with the composer conducting, and the Shostakovich first Concerto with the Boston Philharmonic under Benjamin Zander.  His recording of the Britten Cello Suites achieved the highest acclaim in the New York press, and of the performance of the Dutilleux Cello Concerto with the Boston Philharmonic, the composer was heard to say that it was the finest performance of his work that he had ever heard. A passionate and motivational teacher, Sandy continues to be in demand as Professor of Cello at the Hochschule für Künste, Bremen in Germany and as visiting Professor at the Birmingham Conservatoire.  He is founder member of the ‘Gathering of the Clans’ Cello School.   LSO St Luke's, London DD/MM/YYYY

Details

LSO St Luke's
161 Old Street
Islington
London
EC1V 9NG
England

Saturday 7th May 2016
7:30 PM

Programme

Johannes Brahms – Cello Sonata no.2 in F major, Op.99
Richard Rodney Bennett – Sonata for Cello and Piano (1991)
John Ireland – Sonata for Cello and Piano in G minor (1923)
Johannes Brahms – Cello Sonata no.1 in E minor, Op.38

Performers

Alexander Baillie – Cello
John Thwaites – piano

Programme Note

Described by Stephen Pritchard in The Observer as "an outstanding partnership”; Sandy and duo-partner John Thwaites, who is best known for his collaborative work with strings and a founder member of the Primrose Piano Quartet, have recently recorded the Brahms Cello Sonatas for SOMM, and these works form part of their celebratory concert.

"Sandy and I will be the first to release recordings of this repertoire using period pianos”, explained John Thwaites. We include a transcription of the Four Serious Songs, and so use three pianos in the Viennese collection of Gert Hecher: An 1860's Rönisch, 1870's Ehrbar and 1880's Streicher. In addition to their historic authenticity, all these pianos make a truly beautiful sound."

Well-known for their championing of British twentieth-century repertoire, which include the Sonatas by Bridge, Ireland, Rubbra, Delius, Ivor Keyes and Rebecca Clarke; their recording of these works on the SOMM label was described by BBC Music Magazine as “…probably the best of the current versions.” The Ireland Cello Sonata, a work which also features in the Birthday recital, being described by The Observer as “rewarding and perfectly judged.”

Also featured in the programme is the Sonata for Cello and Piano by Richard Rodney Bennett, being given a first London performance by its dedicatee. The work was commissioned by the Harrogate International Festival and written in New York City in 1991, the composer later inscribing on the cover page of the manuscript that "no-one will ever play this better than A. Baillie." The Sonata is to be recorded for Volume II of ‘Twentieth-Century British Cello Sonatas’ which is due for release shortly on the SOMM label.

Alexander Baillie is internationally recognised as one of the finest cellists of his generation. He began playing at the comparatively late age of twelve having been directly inspired by the late Jacqueline du Pré. He went on to study at London's Royal College of Music with Joan Dickson and Anna Shuttleworth and with André Navarra in Vienna.

Sandy has performed with many of the top orchestras and conductors, appearing regularly as cello soloist in concertos, recitals, masterclasses and festivals throughout the world, including several appearances at the BBC Proms.

Notable first performances of contemporary works, often written for him, have included Penderecki, Hans Werner Henze, Takemitsu, Colin Matthews and H.K.Gruber. Recordings include the Tippett Triple Concerto with the composer conducting, and the Shostakovich first Concerto with the Boston Philharmonic under Benjamin Zander. His recording of the Britten Cello Suites achieved the highest acclaim in the New York press, and of the performance of the Dutilleux Cello Concerto with the Boston Philharmonic, the composer was heard to say that it was the finest performance of his work that he had ever heard.

A passionate and motivational teacher, Sandy continues to be in demand as Professor of Cello at the Hochschule für Künste, Bremen in Germany and as visiting Professor at the Birmingham Conservatoire. He is founder member of the ‘Gathering of the Clans’ Cello School.

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