30/03/2026
The first concert of my 2026/27 residency at Wigmore hall will be a recital with Francesca Leonardi, whom I’ve been performing with for 22 years. Francesca and I have recorded and performed countless hours of repertoire together and this programme is a wonderfully varied and interesting summary, focusing on Italy and France.
Starting with the stark contrast between Tartini and Berio as an appetiser, we continue to Debussy’s only violin and piano sonata, written in 1917 like the Respighi Sonata, which opens the second half. Debussy Sonata was the first ever piece Francesca and I played together in 2004 so this is also a homage to our collaboration, as is the Respighi, which we recorded on our Deutsche Grammophon album “Suite Italienne” and have performed extensively over the years.
The programme concludes with fireworks with Ravel’s Tzigane, interestingly connected to Italy as well, as Ravel was inspired by Paganini’s caprices while writing it.
Tartini: Sonata in G minore Op. 1 n. 10 “Didone Abbandonata” (Dido the Forsaken)
Berio: 2 pieces for violin and piano
Debussy: Sonata
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Respighi: Sonata
Ravel: Tzigane
See you on November 20th!
https://www.wigmore-hall.org.uk/whats-on/202611201930
