Monday 27th September   » more details and booking

MUSIC AND MADNESS
7pm   Lecture/talk with Professor Robert Winston and Stephen Johnson

Professor Robert Winston, well-known to audiences for his many series for BBC TV and BBC Radio 3 broadcaster Stephen Johnson discuss Schumann’s mental illness and its consequences on his compositions.

Wednesday 29th September   » more details and booking

OPENING CONCERT
7.30pm  Hall One

Lucy Parham, piano

Papillons Op 2
Fantasiestücke Op 12

Lucy Parham’s lifelong passion for the music of Robert Schumann has resulted in several CDs, radio broadcasts and the concept of Beloved Clara. Her recording of Robert and Clara Schumann’s piano concertos was BBC Music Magazine Critics’ Choice of the Year.

8.45pm Jennifer Pike, violin; Martin Roscoe, piano

Drei Romanzen for violin and piano Op 94
Novelette No.8 Op 21 (solo piano)
Violin Sonata No.1 in A minor Op 105 for violin and piano

Jennifer Pike was the youngest ever BBC Young Musician of the Year in 2002. At only 20 years old she is rapidly becoming known as one of the finest violinists of her generation. Martin Roscoe is one of Britain’s most established pianists. Here, Schumann’s large scale 8th novelette for solo piano is framed by his first violin sonata and the Three Romances Op 94.

Thursday 30th September   » more details and booking

NATALIE CLEIN AND FRIENDS
7.30pm  Hall One

Natalie Clein, cello; Katya Apekisheva, piano; Alexander Sitkovetsky, violin; Krzysztof Chorzelski , viola

Fünf Stücke im Volkston for cello and piano Op 102
Piano Trio in G minor Op 110
Fantasiestücke for cello and piano Op 73
Piano Quartet in E flat Op 44

Natalie Clein was BBC Young Musician of the Year in 1994 when she captivated British audiences with her performance of the Elgar Cello Concerto. Since then she has established herself as one of the world’s finest young cellists.
She is joined by highly acclaimed Russian pianist Katya Apkeisheva, violinist Alexander Sitkovetsy, and violist of the Belcea Quartet, Krzysztof Chorzelski for a performance of the Piano Quartet.

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Friday 1st October   » more details and booking

SCHUMANN, CLARA AND BRAHMS
7.30pm   Hall One

Beloved Clara

Lucy Parham, piano
Narrators: Juliet Stevenson and Sebastian Koch (star of “The Lives of Others”)

Beloved Clara is the story of the intense relationship between Robert and Clara Schumann and Johannes Brahms. Inspired by Lucy Parham’s life-long passion for Schumann’s music, the story is told in their own words. It is compiled from the wealth of correspondence between Brahms and the Schumanns by Jessica Duchen and Lucy Parham. Solo piano music by all three is performed by Lucy Parham.
Beloved Clara has been performed throughout the UK and received its American debut in Los Angeles in 2009. The CD was released to critical acclaim in 2007.

In this performance, acclaimed British actress Juliet Stevenson and one of Germany’s leading actors, Sebastian Koch join Lucy Parham.

“ This is a beautifully put - together portrait of one of classical music’s most romantic and tragic marriages and it’s every bit as glamorous and star crossed as Romeo and Juliet. Brahms’s description of Schumann’s death, with Clara kneeling by his bed is almost unbearably moving. Kleenex required.”
THE GUARDIAN – 24/05/08

Saturday 2nd October

SCHUMANN AND CHILDREN   » more details and booking
11.30am   Hall One

Presented by Petroc Trelawny

Kinderszenen Op.15 as played by 13 amateur celebrity pianists
Performers include Alan Rusbridger (Guardian Editor), Richard Ingrams (Private Eye), Katie Derham (BBC TV and radio presenter), Sarah Walker (BBC R3) Sue Perkins (comedian), Edward Fox (actor) Claus Moser, Conrad Williams (author of "The Concert Pianist"), Oliver Condy, (BBC Music Magazine Editor), Kit Hesketh Harvey (Kit and the Widow) and Cardinal Cormac Murphy - O’Connor (Archbishop of Westminster)

13 amateur pianists will join forces to give a unique performance of Scenes of Childhood – written as reminiscences of childhood.

Schumann – Six Canonic Studies (duet) with Alan Rusbridger and Martin Prendergast

Solo appearance by 16 year old Lara Ömeroglu
BBC Young Musician 2010 Winner
Schumann- The Prophet Bird Op 82; Abegg Variations Op.1

In aid of the NYO

MASTERCLASS   » more details and booking
1.30pm   Hall One

Schumann Lieder Masterclass with Ann Murray/Iain Burnside and featuring winners of the MBF Awards.

Participants:
Eleanor Dennis, mezzo
Anna Patalong, soprano
Jonathan McGovern, baritone

  In association with the Musicians Benevolent Fund.

FILM   » more details and booking
4pm   St Pancras Hall

GELIEBTE CLARA (2008/Germany) UK PREMIERE
(With Martina Gedeck, star of “The Lives of Others” as Clara Schumann)

Followed by Q and A - Martina Gedeck in conversation with Guardian editor, Alan Rusbridger.

Scenes from the film "Geliebte Clara"

SCHUMANN AND THE VOICE   » more details and booking
7pm   Hall One

Ann Murray DBE, mezzo-soprano
Iain Burnside, piano

Frauenliebe und leben Op 42
Maria Stuart lieder Op 135
Selected lieder

Ann Murray DBE is one of the world’s finest sopranos. Her critically acclaimed recording of Frauenliebe und Leben was released on Avie.
Iain Burnside is a renowned pianist and BBC TV and radio broadcaster.

8.15pm   » more details and booking

Raphael Wallfisch

OSJ Voices (Jeremy Jackman chorus master)
Orchestra of St John's
John Lubbock conductor

3 Lieder for female voices, Op. 114
Träumerei (arr. for string orchestra)

Part songs for mixed choir, Op. 55 Nos. 1-4
Cello Concerto, Op .129 (string orchestra arr.)

The string orchestra arrangement of the Cello Concerto is rarely heard and provides a unique balance and texture for the solo cello’s voice.
Raphael Wallfisch is joined by the OSJ.