Lunchtime Concert: Benjamin Frith & Heidi Rolfe (piano duo)

Join us for Howdenshire Music’s penultimate lunchtime concert of the year as we celebrate music for four hands at one piano!

Please Note: The Schiller-Humphreys piano duo, previously scheduled to perform on this date, are no longer able to perform due to unforeseen circumstances. We are delighted to welcome the renowned Frith-Rolfe piano duo in their place.

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Programme
Mendelssohn  ‘Fingal’s Cave’: Overture, The Hebrides, Op. 26
Martin Ellerby  Five Lowry Pictures
 1: Going to Work
2: Man Lying on a Wall
3: The Elite Fish and Chip Shop
4: Meeting Point
5: Lancashire Fair: Good Friday, Daisy Nook.
Ravel  ‘Mother Goose’ Suite
Brahms  Five Hungarian Dances, Book 4

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‘Does any pianist draw a lovelier sound from the keyboard or phrase more naturally….’ – BBC Music Magazine on Benjamin Frith

Benjamin Frith is one of the most versatile, respected and engaging pianists in the UK. With over 60 recordings, Frith is at the forefront of the craft of music making. Gold Medal winner of the Artur Rubinstein Piano Masters International Competition, Tel Aviv, and Top Prize Winner in the Busoni International Piano Competition, Frith has performed with many of the world’s finest orchestras and conductors including Zubin Mehta with the IPO.

Renowned for his critically acclaimed recordings, Frith made Gramophone ‘Disc of the Year’ with his recording of Stanford’s second Piano Concerto, and his Schumann Davidsbundler Op. 6 won the Radio 3 ‘CD Review’. In high demand as both soloist and chamber musician, Frith enjoys a busy and versatile career. As pianist in the Gould Piano Trio he has toured extensively and Frith has performed and recorded as part of the illustrious Nash Ensemble. Solo tours have taken him to America, Europe, the Middle and Far East with upcoming solo tours to Japan.

Benjamin lives in Yorkshire with his wife and piano duo partner, Heidi Rolfe.

Heidi Rolfe has been privileged to work with eminent pianists including the legendary Andre Gavrilov and take musical guidance from the late Dame Fanny Waterman. Heidi was honoured to be asked to give a Piano Duo Day at the Wigmore Hall performing four hand and two piano repertoire with her husband, international concert artist Benjamin Frith. They have both explored the wonderful piano duo repertoire in recitals throughout the UK, both four hands at one piano and two piano works including recitals featuring the letters of Clara and Robert Schumann and Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn. Double Piano Concerto dates have included the Poulenc with the English Pro Musica.

Heidi has also collaborated with the CBSO players in many symphonic chamber arrangements. Her varied repertoire includes works by female composers and much contemporary music. An interest in combining music and drama has also led to various award-winning performances broadcast by the BBC. This season sees Heidi performing in Alistair McGowan’s Ludlow Piano Festival. Future recording projects include a four hand Piano Sonata written for Heidi and Benjamin Frith by Martin Ellerby and a recording of works for two pianos.

+++PLEASE NOTE+++
Advance booking for this concert is optional but recommended.

For concert and general enquiries, please email concerts@howdenshiremusic.co.uk or telephone Steven Goulden on 07743 448123.