Your events at Classical Events
Details
St Paul's Church (Actors' Church)
Bedford Street
Covent Garden
London
WC2E 9ED
England
Tickets
Prices: FREE
Programme
Clara Schumann – 4 Pieces fugitives: I. Larghetto
Johannes Brahms – Cello Sonata no.1 in E minor, Op.38
Johannes Brahms – Intermezzo in A major, Op.118 no.2
Robert Schumann – Faschingsschwank aus Wien: IV. Intermezzo
Performers
Nikolay Ginov – cello
Asako Ogawa – piano / Artistic Director
Chinwe John – Poet / Narrator
Programme Note
Piano, Cello and Poetry:
On September 30th, 1853, twenty year old Johannes Brahms – referral letter in hand, arrived at the Düsseldorf home of the celebrated composer and pianist couple, Robert and Clara Schumman.
By the time Robert Schumann voluntarily committed himself into a sanatorium the following year, deep bonds had formed between the three parties. Letters may have been burned as requested, but their musical works stand as intimate diaries, confessing their dreams, regrets, passions and love.
Influenced by ancient Greek philosophers, modern psychology describes seven distinct types of love. In ancient Indian and Sufi literary thinking, there are seven stages of love. Taking inspiration from this, our programme features seven pieces – four musical, and three literary. Each piece represents one or more types of love.
Bringing the tones of love to life are the acclaimed and versatile couple, pianist Asako Ogawa, and cellist Nikolay Ginov. They frequently perform together at leading venues and festivals internationally.
Bridging the gap between speech and music, is Poet/Lyricist Chinwe D. John. The three pieces she narrates are from song cycle Within a Certain Time and Place (released on Voces8 Foundation label), which she created alongside the renowned composer Geoff Hannan. One of the many unique features of John’s dense and lyrical writing, is that her lyrics can function as poems, and vice versa, with no alteration to the text.
We hope our programme takes you on an inspiring exploration of love, in all its many tones.
