PROGRAMME NOTES
A suite by Bach for solo cello, the unashamedly romantic duo sonata for violin & piano by Richard Strauss and the mighty Archduke trio by Beethoven performed by internationally recognised artists- this is surely a concert not to miss?!
Composed around 1720, Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1 in G major is one of the most loved works in the cello repertoire. Written as a sequence of stylised dances, the suite transforms simple musical ideas into music of remarkable warmth, elegance and expression. It opens with the famous Prelude, whose flowing arpeggios unfold with a sense of freedom and quiet inevitability, before moving through contrasting dance movements that range from graceful and reflective to lively and joyful. Though written for solo cello alone, the suite creates an extraordinary richness of texture and remains a landmark of Bach’s ability to combine technical clarity with deep musical character.
Composed in 1887–88, Richard Strauss’s Violin Sonata in E-flat major, Op. 18 is his final chamber work and reflects the sweeping lyricism and emotional intensity that would later define his orchestral writing. The sonata combines virtuosic brilliance with rich Romantic expression, giving violin and piano equal roles in a vivid musical dialogue. After an energetic and expansive opening movement, the music turns inward in a lyrical central movement before building to a passionate and exuberant finale. Full of youthful confidence and expressive warmth, the sonata stands as one of Strauss’s most accomplished early works.
Beethoven’s Piano Trio in B-flat major, Op. 97, known as the Archduke Trio, was composed in 1810–11 and dedicated to his patron and student Archduke Rudolph of Austria. Widely regarded as one of the greatest works in the piano trio repertoire, it marks Beethoven’s move towards a broader, more expansive musical style. The work balances grandeur with intimacy, giving violin, cello and piano equal importance throughout. Its serene and noble slow movement forms the emotional centre of the piece, leading into a lively and radiant finale. Rich in lyricism and architectural breadth, the Archduke remains one of Beethoven’s most celebrated chamber works.
PERFORMERS
THOMAS CARROLL • Cello
Born in Swansea, Thomas Carroll studied with Melissa Phelps at the Yehudi Menuhin School and with Heinrich Schiff in Austria. An exceptionally gifted cellist, he is one of only two artists who auditioned successfully for both Young Concert Artists Trust in London and Young Concert Artists, Inc. in New York. He has since gone on to give critically acclaimed debut recitals at Wigmore Hall (London), Alice Tully Hall (NY) and in Boston, California, Florida and Washington DC.
As a concerto soloist Thomas has appeared with the London Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, London Mozart Players, ViVA, Orchestra of the East Midlands, the Vienna Chamber Orchestra (conducted by Heinrich Schiff), English Chamber Orchestra, Prague Philharmonic, Sofia Philharmonic, and Bayerischer Rundfunk Orchestra.
Much in demand as a chamber musician, Thomas has worked with the Belcea Quartet, Chilingirian Quartet, Endellion Quartet, Yehudi Menuhin, Ivry Gitlis, Gidon Kremer, Steven Isserlis, Mischa Maisky, Michael Collins, Julian Rachlin at Wigmore Hall, the Edinburgh and Cheltenham International Festivals, among many others. His recordings include Michael Berkeley’s String Quintet with the Chilingirian Quartet for Chandos.
Recent engagements include concerts at Wigmore Hall, the Louvre in Paris, Konzerthaus in Vienna, the Dubrovnik Festival, Bath MozartFest, Mecklenburg Festival and The International Chamber Music Festival in Utrecht with Janine Jansen, Julian Rachlin and Ensemble. Thomas has also given a series of concerts in Tokyo under the auspices of YCA Inc, been resident at the Delft Festival in Holland and appeared as soloist with the BBC Concert Orchestra at the Queen Elizabeth Hall (broadcast by BBC Radio 3), Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra and Orchestre Regional de Cannes.
In August 07 he made his debut with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in a series of performances of Shostakovich’s Concerto No.2 and received an immediate reinvitation. Last season Thomas returned as soloist with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, performed the Dvorák with the Staatsorchester Braumschweiger, Vivaldi Double Concerto with Heinrich Schiff and the Vienna Chamber Orchestra and gave recitals at the Cheltenham Festival and in Holland, Ireland, France, Belgium, Russia, Sweden and Japan.
SIMON CALLAGHAN • Piano
Simon Callaghan performs internationally as a soloist and chamber musician, in parallel with a highly successful career as a recording artist. A favourite performer at the internationally renowned Husum Festival of Piano Rarities in Germany, Callaghan’s recent sell-out concert was praised by VAN Magazine as a “cleverly curated recital full of discoveries” and by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung as “technically brilliant”.
Callaghan has developed a wide following and appears on a regular basis in the UK’s major concert halls, and on tours to Asia, North America and Europe. Recital partners have included Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Nicholas Daniel, Adrian Brendel, Feng Ning, Samuel West, Prunella Scales and Timothy West.
BBC Young Musician of the Year Finalist Coco Tomita and Callaghan have a successful duo partnership which saw their first record released in 2022 on Orchid Classics. He is also a founding member of the London Piano Quartet, joining colleagues from the renowned Piatti Quartet to showcase the repertoire for piano quartet with a particular focus on reviving works that have fallen into obscurity.
Simon Callaghan’s distinguished and eclectic discography includes recordings for Hyperion, Nimbus, Somm and Lyrita. He has a strong profile on BBC Radio3 and on a variety of streaming platforms, his most recent single on Apple Music with Coco Tomita surpassing 1 million streams in the first month of its release.
Callaghan’s broad repertoire encompasses the standard works of the 19th and 20th centuries and increasingly concentrates on much that is rare and unexplored, examples including Bernhard Scholz, Josef Rheinberger and Carl Reinecke. A cornerstone of his work is his commitment to British music, and he has recently begun a series on Lyrita, recording world premieres of British concertos with Martyn Brabbins and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Callaghan has also made first recordings of the complete piano music by Rebecca Clarke, George Dyson and William Busch
He has recorded four albums for Hyperion’s celebrated The Romantic Piano Concerto series. Simon Callaghan’s reputation and experience in chamber music led to his appointment as Artistic Director at London’s celebrated Conway Hall, only the sixth incumbent since the founding of the series in 1887.
Callaghan is collaborating with Roger Vignoles, one of the most distinguished piano accompanists of our time, on a new song recital element for the series in 2023/24. He was elected a Steinway Artist in 2012.
RUTH ROGERS • Violin
Ruth Rogers studied with Itzhak Rashkovsky and Herman Krebbers. Described as “the finest of the younger generation of violinists” (Musical Opinion) and hailed by the Guardian as “superb”, Ruth is in demand as soloist, leader, and chamber musician. She was awarded the Tagore Gold Medal - the Royal College of Music’s highest accolade.
She appears regularly at such prestigious venues as The Wigmore Hall with Aquinas Piano Trio and has made many recordings as part of that ensemble, including recent releases by Naxos which have been very well received by the critics.
Ruth was appointed as Leader of the London Mozart Players in 2015 and Leader of the Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra in 2022. She worked as Co-Leader of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra from 2008 until 2012 and appears as a guest leader of many other major orchestras including the Royal Philharmonic, Hallé, BBC Philharmonic, the CBSO and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra
Ruth regularly leads the orchestra of Gran Canaria and has performed as a soloist in many different countries. Ruth has played to orphans, landmine victims and malaria patients in refugee camps on the Thailand-Burma border.