Details
St Mary Le Strand Church
Strand
The Strand
London
WC2R 1ES
England
Programme
Doménico Scarlatti – Keyboard Sonata in F minor, K.466
Joseph Haydn – Piano Sonata in E Flat, Hob XVI:49
Claude Debussy – Preludes, Book I: Des pas sur la neige
Claude Debussy – Preludes, Book I: La Fille aux Chevaux de Lin
Frédéric Chopin – Scherzo no.3 in C sharp minor, Op.39
Performers
Viv McLean – piano
Programme Note
St Mary le Strand (The "Jewel" of the Strand) plays host to the third Strand International Piano Series, further to its launch to great acclaim in the 2022-23 season. The theme of this year's series will be Debussy's Preludes. Composed between 1909 and 1913, these are testament to Debussy's innovative approach to piano music and his mastery of impressionistic techniques. The two books of preludes, each containing twelve pieces, showcase Debussy's ability to evoke vivid imagery, moods, and atmospheres through music.
About Viv McLean
Described by Le Monde as "possessing the genius one finds in those who know how to forget themselves", since winning First Prize at the Maria Canals Piano Competition in Barcelona, British pianist Viv McLean has performed in all the major venues in the UK as well as throughout Europe, Japan, Australia and the USA. Viv’s concerto work includes appearances with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Halle Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, Sinfonia Viva, Orchestra of the Swan, Orchestra of St John’s, Northern Chamber Orchestra, Scottish Concert Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra under the baton of such conductors as Daniel Harding, Wayne Marshall, John Lubbock, Christopher Warren-Green, Owain Arwell Hughes, Philip Hesketh, David Charles Abell, Stephen Bell, Carl Davis, Rebecca Miller, Chloe Van Soeterstede and Marvin Hamlisch.
Recent concerto highlights include Mozart K467 with the ECO at the Royal Festival Hall, Grieg with the LPO at the Barbican, Rachmaninov’s 3rd Concerto with the RPO in Cambridge, Gershwin, Bernstein, de Falla and Ravel with the Hallé at the Bridgewater Hall, The Sage Gateshead and other venues in the North of England, and Beethoven's 5th Concerto with the Philharmonia at the Royal Festival Hall. Engagements in the coming months include a tour with the London Concert Orchestra playing Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue in venues including the Royal Festival Hall London, Symphony Hall Birmingham, Bridgewater Hall Manchester, Usher Hall Edinburgh and the Royal Concert Hall Glasgow. Viv will also be doing a series of words & music concerts with the acclaimed writer, Jessica Duchen, featuring works by Beethoven and based on her new novel “Immortal”.
