The Programme

Schumann: Fantasiestücke, op 73
Janáček: Pohádka for Cello & Piano, JW 7/5 (“Fairy Tale: The Story of Tsar Berendyey”)
Mendelssohn: Cello Sonata no 2 in D major, op 58

Alasdair Beatson (piano)

Scottish pianist Alasdair Beatson works prolifically as soloist and chamber musician. Despite the shadow of Covid, Alasdair has kept busy during 2020/21, playing several times at Wigmore Hall, recording multiple concerts for BBC Radio 3 alongside Alina Ibragimova, Aleksei Kiseliov and the Nash Ensemble, and joining Royal Northern Sinfonia as concerto soloist.

Alasdair is renowned as a sincere musician and intrepid programmer. He champions a wide repertoire with particular areas of interest: Beethoven, Brahms, Mendelssohn, Schubert and Schumann; the solo and chamber music of Gabriel Fauré, Bartók and Janáçek; concertos of Bach, Bartók, Britten, Fauré, Hindemith, Messiaen and Mozart; and contemporary works, including the piano quintet of Thomas Adès, George Benjamin’s Shadowlines and Harrison Birtwistle’s Harrison’s Clocks. Future plans include the first performances of a new piano concerto, written for him by Helena Winkelman.

Two new recordings are released in Spring 2021: 3 Beethoven sonatas for violin and fortepiano with Viktoria Mullova on Onyx, and a solo piano recital Aus Wien on Pentatone. These join a discography of solo and chamber recordings on BIS, Champs Hill, Claves, Evil Penguin, Pentatone and SOMM labels. As chamber musician, Alasdair’s colleagues include Steven Isserlis, Pekka Kuusisto, Viktoria Mullova, Pieter Wispelwey, the Doric, Gringolts and Meta4 string quartets, and the Nash Ensemble.

Alasdair teaches solo piano at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, and regularly mentors for the London-based Chamber Studio. From 2012 to 2018 Alasdair was founder and artistic director of Musique à Marsac, and since 2019 is co-artistic director of the Swiss chamber music festival at Ernen.

More information: https://alasdairbeatson.com/

Steffan Morris (cello)

Much in demand as a soloist, chamber and orchestral player, Welsh cellist Steffan Morris enjoys a very varied career. At 13 years old, Steffan started studying at the Yehudi Menuhin School in Surrey with distinguished cellist, Thomas Carroll. While a student there, he performed as a soloist at many notable venues such as St David’s Hall and Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff, Wigmore Hall and the Royal Albert Hall in London.

At 17 years old, Steffan won the Texaco Young Musician of Wales and in 2010 moved to Vienna to study the cello under Professor Heinrich Schiff at the University of Music and Performing Arts. He is the youngest ever guest principal cello with the Vienna Chamber Orchestra and has also been guest principal cello with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and BBC National Orchestra of Wales. He is now principal cellist with the Royal Northern Sinfonia.

Steffan is Creative Associate for Sinfonia Cymru and has performed with them as a soloist. He has also performed as soloist for The Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra, the Surrey Philharmonic Orchestra and The Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra amongst others. His concert and recital engagements have taken him to Japan, Holland, Germany, Italy, Russia and Austria.

Steffan is Artistic Director of the Nidum Ensemble – a dynamic, diverse and innovative group of young professional musicians who are passionate about bringing chamber music to audiences across the UK. As cellist of the Marmen Quartet, he has performed across the UK and internationally.

As a tutor, Steffan regularly teaches at the Yehudi Menuhin School, the Royal College of Music and the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama.

More information: http://www.harlequin-agency.co.uk/index.php?page=12&action=details&id=126