18-year old British pianist Benjamin Grosvenor will be performing at the Shoe Factory next month. Drawing on years of experience, the Pharos Arts Foundation have managed to negotiate and entice the crème de la crème of classical music artists to our island. An achievement which is reflected through ticket sales for the events. Tickets are made available at least a month in advance and are quickly snapped up by cultural enthusiasts. It is almost impossible to find a seat at the last minute or at the door.
The young British pianist Benjamin Grosvenor will be appearing at the Shoe Factory on February 16. Although just 18 years old, Grosvenor has already reached many musical pinnacles and performed in most of the top concert halls around the world in recital as well as with the world’s renowed orchestras.
He was ii when he first made headlines, winning the piano section of the 2004 BBC Young Musician of the Year. Grosvenor amazed all with his technical virtuosity and maturity of musical understanding. By 13, he had made his debut both in Carnegie Hall and Royal Albert Hall.
Grosvenor is already in his third year at the Royal Academy of Music. From the age of 14 he was home tutored, and by 16 had completed his A levels. Grosvenor is also one of the lucky few to have been selected to join BBC Radio 3’s New Generation Artists this year. Very excited, he said that the two year scheme will “bring a whole new set of opportunities which I haven’t had before, especially as so many concerts will be broadcast.”
He is rapturously greeted by capacity audiences for his concerts and critic Michael Church described his all-Chopin recital last year as “an impression of the sweetest physical symbiosis between this player and his instrument.”
We will have an exclusive interview in february’s edition, but do diarise the concert date- February 16- and book online. www.pharostickets.org or telephone booking 7000 9304.
Last week, the German Trio Ex Aqueo opened the Pharos Arts Foundation’s 2011 season. Comprising of violinist Matthias Wollong, cellist Matthias Moosdorf-also a member of the renowned Leipzig Quartet and pianist Gerald Fauth, the trio held true to their Latin name of equal footing.
The programme began with Haydn’s Trio in C major followed bt Beethoven’s Trio in C minor Op 1 No 3. Attaining a perfect balance between piano and strings is difficult, but particularly so in the Shoe Factory, where acoustics naturally change with the audience. Although Fauth was overzealous, with the piano open on full stick in the Haydn and Beethoven, his technical prowess and deft finger-work shoe through. Dvorak’s Dumky Trio was the highlight of the evening-the six movement Trio each a “dumka”.
Dvorak translated the idea of fleeting thoughts into music by contrasting slow sections with fast, impassioned ones, which was a departure from the typical format. Moosdorf’s opening was beautiful as was the spirited fifth dumka. It was a stylish and polished performance by all three.
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