Second International Medtner Festival: Opening Concert

Second International Medtner Festival: Opening Concert

As part of the festival dedicated to the music of enigmatic Russian composer-pianist of the Silver Age Nikolay Medtner (1880-1951), Pushkin House gathers together Medtner-enthusiasts from around the globe.

The soloist of the Royal Opera House, Sofia Fomina will present several songs by the composer, whom Rachmaninov considered ‘the greatest of our time’! She will be joined by Pushkin House’s music curator Alexander Karpeyev. International soloists Vasily Gvozdetsky (Berlin) and Frank Huang (Miami University, U.S.A.) will play Medtner’s Tales and Sonatas. A group of leading British chamber musicians will deliver the UK premiere of an arrangement of Medtner’s Tale for a trio and finish the concert with a performance of a piano quartet by Medtner’s friend, the forgotten Russian composer George Catoire (1861-1926).

This concert is preceded by a talk and masterclass with a renowned Medtner expert Iain Burnside.

Programme:

Medtner (1880-1951)

From 3 Märchen, Op. 9: No. 2 arranged for piano trio by A. Krein  UK PREMIERE

From 2 Märchen, Op. 14: No. 2 in E minor, ‘Rittersug’

From 3 Novellen, Op. 17: Novella, No. 1 in G

Tale in d minor (1915)

From Vergessene Weisen, Op. 39: Canzona Matinata

Sonata-Tragica

From 3 Märchen (Russisches Märchen), Op. 42: No. 1 in F Minor

From 2 Märchen, Op. 48: No. 2, Elfenmärchen in G Minor

From 6 Märchen, Op. 51: No. 5 in F sharp Minor

From Romantische Skizzen für die Jugend, Op. 54: Vögleins Märchen

Selection of songs

G. Catoire (1861-1926)

Piano Quartet, Op. 31 (1916)

Performers:

Alasdair Beatson, piano

James Boyd, viola

Sofia Fomina, soprano

Vasily Gvozdetsky, piano

Frank Huang, piano

Alexander Karpeyev, piano

Maki Sekiya, piano

Mandee Madrid-Sikich, piano

John Myerscough, cello

Beatrice Philips, violin