Bassoon

Sergio Azzolini

In partnership with the Conservatoire de Lausanne, Classeek is proud to present this pre concert series, performed by students of the conservatoire.

Preconcert | Raphaël Bollengier, piano

Rondo in A minor, K. 511

Prelude in F minor after Bach Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen, S. 179

in partnership with the Conservatoire de Lausanne

Chopin, Scherzo No. 2 in B-Flat Minor Op. 31

In partnership with the Conservatoire de Lausanne, Classeek is proud to present this pre-concert series, performed by students of the Conservatoire.

Preconcert Owen Xu-Shen - piano

In partnership with the Conservatoire de Lausanne, Classeek is proud to present this pre-concert series, performed by students of the Conservatoire. 

Preconcert | Alexandre Resende - piano

Sonata in D minor K141

Rondo Capriccioso

in partnership with the Conservatoire de Lausanne 

Tomoki Park talks about how he met Sir András Schiff, the way that he approaches new music and commissions, the Classeek Ambassador Programme, and more in this interview with Benjamin Woodroffe.

Tomoki Park Interview

with Benjamin Woodroffe

Piano

Martina Consonni

Tomoki Park

"It is with great pleasure that I can introduce two excellent pianists to you: Martina Consonni and Tomoki Park. Martina Consonni is full of life and “Italianita,” her musicality is most engaging. Tomoki Park is a brilliant mind, intellectual in the best sense but full of emotions. He is very interested in new music and plays it with understanding and enthusiasm. Please receive them with open hearts."

Martina Consonni is a ‘rare talent,’ renowned classical pianist and conductor, Sir Andràs Schiff enthuses. Cellist Gautier Capuçon also testifies to her sensitivity and creativity – her exceptional skill echoing Therese Bartolozzi, a brilliant pianist of the 18th century to whom Haydn’s Piano Sonata in C major, Hob:XVI:50, is dedicated.

Written around 1794, Haydn was concluding his second (and last) visit to London. His trips to the vibrant city famously inspired him to write several symphonies, yet he also reveled in the large English pianos of the day. With an extended keyboard that gave the instrument ‘extra’ notes, Haydn wrote his Sonata in C major with this luxury in mind. A witty flair that has come to be synonymous with Haydn accompanies this sophisticated keyboard writing.

Not many of us are blessed with witty flair in adolescence, remarks Romantic writer Jean Paul in his novel Flegeljahre (The Awkward Age). The last scene of the book, a masked ball, was the inspiration for Schumann’s piano suite Papillons, and was subject to many annotations by the composer as he devoured the pages. 

Meaning “butterflies”, Papillons refers to the many slips of paper on which Schumann wrote his notes whilst reading Flegeljahre. As in Jean Paul’s novel, Papillons spins us through several dance-like movements with rapid mood changes and intense encounters.

A similar intensity is captured in Mendelssohn’s Rondo Capriccioso in E minor, albeit not immediately: first, we are lulled by a lyrical adagio reminiscent of his Lieder ohne Worte. This then gives way to a sparkling scherzo as the tension continues to mount. A virtuosic race begins and we are compelled to hang onto every note until the finish line. 

Reworked in 1830 for piano virtuoso Delphine von Schauroth, Mendelssohn’s Rondo Capriccioso in E minor is a brilliant demonstration of his lyrical tenderness, coupled with his powerful exigence.

J.S. Bach’s collection of four duets, published in 1739, contains his usual dedication “[to] music lovers to refresh their spirits”. This time, however, he saw fit to add an additional phrase: “and especially for connoisseurs of such work”. An intellectual and technical feat, these duets are not written for two instruments but rather two voices – not unlike his two-part inventions. Stretching the limits of contrapuntal art, it is especially a connoisseur, as Bach rightly concedes, that can appreciate the purity of this two-voice counterpoint. Having performed at celebrated venues such as Berliner Philharmonie and Wigmore Hall, Tomoki Park is both a connoisseur and master of such complexity.

Park is not the only one to share a sensitivity to detail and structure. American composer Katherine Balch draws parallels between her music and botany, citing, “The veins in a leaf form patterns that are self-similar but not quite symmetrical, which is what I try to do in my music…”. This is what we can anticipate in her new work Obstenmelodie, along with incredible layers of texture that have come to characterise her music.

Just as texture marks Balch’s compositions, Schubert’s are often characterized by their unfinished nature. Like his eighth symphony – the Piano Sonata in C major, D. 840 “Reliquie” – contains only two fully completed movements. With vivid harmonic language, Beethovenian grandeur, and perceptive, intimate writing, this sonata is one of the most significant of Schubert’s unfinished works. 

Among Bach’s most significant finished works are the Canon Per Tonos and Musical Offering Ricercare 6, which conclude this recital. Canons can take all shapes and sizes, a feature that Bach exploited. With the theme given by Frederick the Great, Bach manipulated the music so that it goes up a step (tone) with each repetition. He explained in the inscription to this piece, that “as the modulation rises, so may the King’s glory”.

However, this was not the end of Bach’s – dare we say it – invention. Taking counterpoint several levels higher, his Ricercar 6 is a six-voice fugue that presents a lengthy theme dedicated to Frederick the Great.

Martina Consonni and Tomoki Park

Piano Sonata in C major, Hob:XVI:50

Papillons Op. 2 

Rondo capriccioso in E minor, Op. 14 

Duet No.2

Obstenmelodie

Piano Sonata in C major, D. 840 “Reliquie” (I. Moderato II. Andante)

Canon Per Tonos

Musical Offering Ricercar a 6

Piano Recital

Giorgi Gigashvili

Giorgi Gigashvili talks about his life as a pianist, competition experiences, his mentor Sonia Simmenauer and what it's like to balance a concert pianist schedule with playing in a band, in this interview with Benjamin Woodroffe.

Giorgi Gigashvili Interview

We are delighted to announce 10 very promising open application instrumentalist finalists for the Ambassador Programme 2023-2024. Like last year, we were extremely impressed with the high standard of the applicants and thank everyone sincerely for the time and effort that has gone into applying. 

Here are the 10 finalists of our Ambassador Programme (instrumentalists) open application, for season 2022-23:

Next week we will be announcing the final instrumental artist and composer joining our Ambassador Programme from our open application, along with all nominated artists. Stay tuned for the final result! 

Open Application Finalists 

Ambassador Programme 2023-2024

I. Berkovich, Variations on a theme of Paganini

In partnership with the Conservatoire de Lausanne, Classeek is proud to present this pre concert series, performed by students of the conservatoire. 

Pre concert - Nadia Roubakine, piano

Romanian Folk Dances

Gavotte

Variations on a theme of Paganini

Violin

Alexey Stychkin

Winning the place on Classeek's first ever open application, violinist Alexey Stychkin joins the Classeek Ambassador Programme for the 2022-23 season.

Russian-Greek violinist Alexey Stychkin comes from a family with deep musical and artistic roots. Born in Moscow in 2000, at the age of five he started his violin studies at the Central Music School for Gifted Children in the class of Galina Tourchaninova. During his school years, he performed in Greece, Israel, Italy and throughout Russia. He has continued his studies with Marc Bouchkov in Liege Royal Conservatory. Currently, Alexey is studying with Mihaela Martin in the masters program at the Hochschule fur Musik und Tanz in Cologne. Concurrently, starting with the 2022/23 season, he has received an academy position in the first violin section of the Staatskapelle Berlin and moved to Berlin. 

Alexey Stychkin & Raúl da Costa | Cesar Franck - Violin Sonata

Classeek Showroom performance, May 2023

Nominated by Sonia Simmenauer, pianist Giorgi Gigashvili joins the Classeek Ambassador Programme for the 2022-23 season.

Born in Tbilisi, Georgia in 2000, Giorgi took his first piano lessons without ever thinking about becoming a professional pianist. Passionate about singing and arranging Georgian folk and pop songs, he successfully competed in various Georgian singing contests at the age of 12. As a classical pianist, he won the 1st Prize at the Vigo International Piano Competition in 2019,  the Third Prize and the Audience Prize at the 62nd Busoni International Piano Competition, and most recently won 2nd prize at the 17th Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition.

Giorgi Gigashvili | Schumann, Sonata op 11

Classeek Showroom performance, April 2023

Giorgi Gigashvili | Scarlatti, Sonata in D Major K29

Giorgi Gigashvili | Albéniz, Malagueña (encore)

Malagueña

Giorgi Gigashvili | Scarlatti, Sonata in C Major K487

Giorgi Gigashvili | Brahms, Three Intermezzi, Op. 117

Pre concert | Yakov Monin

French Suite No. 5 in G major BWV 816 (Gavotte, Gigue)

Prélude, Op. 18

Etude, Op.24 No. 2

We extend our huge congratulations to pianist and Ambassador Programme artist 

, who won second prize at the 17th Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition, last week. 

His success follows the announcement of his debut album 

, to be released on Alpha Classics later this month,  as well as his inclusion in 

 list, featuring thirty sensational musicians of today.

Giorgi will join us later this week, performing in recital at the Classeek Showroom,  in a programme of Scarlatti, Brahms and Liszt.  You can watch via our live stream here on 

Success for Giorgi!

The latest on Giorgi Gigashvili

Bilal Alnemr

Nominated by Sonia Simmenauer, violinist Bilal Alnemr joins the Classeek Ambassador Programme for the 2022-23 season.

Bilal was born in Damascus and at the age of eight, he began to study violin at the Solhi-AL-WADI Conservatory. In 2007, he won the first prize in the national competition for young Syrian talents. His mentor Sonia Simmenauer says, “I was stricken when I met with Bilal the first time and his seriousness about being a musician. I admire his courage and dedication to music.”

Bilal Alnemr & Giuseppe Mentuccia | Solhi al Wadi, Violin Sonata No.2

Violin Sonata No.2

Classeek Showroom performance, March 2023

In collaboration with NashaGazeta.ch & NS Connections, Classeek is proud to present this pre concert series, performed by promising young students. 

Pre concert | Darii Krasylych

Sonata No .8 in C minor, Op. 13 ‘Pathétique’ (Mvt I)

Romeo and Juliet Op. 75, No. 8, ‘Mercutio’

La guerre froide

In collaboration with NashaGazeta.ch & NS Connections

Julia Hamos

Julia Hamos talks with Benjamin Woodroffe about her programming, upcoming concerts, travels around the world, and her experience on Sir András Schiff's Building Bridges series, as well as the Classeek Ambassador Programme.

Julia Hamos Interview

Nominated by Sir András Schiff, in connecting with his Building Bridges series, pianist Julia Hamos joins the Classeek Ambassador Programme for the 2022-23 season.

A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music in London, Hamos also studied with Sir András Schiff at the Barenboim-Said Akademie in Berlin and at the Kronberg Academy. In 2021 she also worked with Daniel Barenboim in a succession of filmed masterclasses on Beethoven's solo piano and string sonatas.

Discover, Follow and Support Talent Globally

Piano

Classeek's Community

Latest