Music on Thursdays
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Thursday
3rd November 2022
12.30 lunchtime
Xander Croft
violin
Keelan Carew
piano
Programme
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Violin Sonata No 25 in F major K377 (1781)
1 Allegro Quick, light.
2 Temo con variazioni. Andante Theme & variations. Walking pace
3 Tempo di menuetto, un poco allegretto Minuetto speed, a little lightly
Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
Violin Sonata No 1 in A minor Op 105 (12-16 September 1851) 18'
I Mit leidenshaftlichem Ausdruck With passionate expression
II Allegretto Fairly brisk
III Lebhaft Lively
Antonín Leopold Dvořák (1841-1904)
from Cigánské melodie, B104, Op 55 (1880) Gypsy Songs
arr for violin & piano: Fritz Kreisler (pub 1914)
'Songs my mother taught me' (1880) 3'
Concert duration approx: 40 minutes
Please donate to help fund these concerts at: cafdonate.cafonline.org/14455
Xander Croft
In 2011, Xander Croft received a Music and Dance scheme Scholarship to study violin and piano at the Junior Royal Northern College of Music. Initially under the tutelage of Ulla Benz, he began learning with Steven Wilkie in 2013.
He found early success winning the Rotary International Great Britain & Ireland Young Musician of the year, while also becoming a two-time winner of Caerwys Young Musician of the year. He was awarded the Ian McPherson, Rohi Gazder, and Rotary prizes by the JRNCM, while also receiving a Robinson Bursary by the Future Talent Organisation.
In 2017, Xander was awarded the Albert and Eugene Trust Scholarship to attend the RNCM. He has gone on to perform as a soloist and chamber musician throughout the UK, with highlights including a tour of Scotland and performance at Wigmore Hall with the Elmore String Quartet, and performances of Bruch and Mendelssohn violin concertos.
He currently holds the position of Junior Fellow in Chamber Music at the RNCM with the Elmore String Quartet, and has recently enjoyed recording for the BBC Philharmonic, and appearing with the Manchester Camerata.
Xander performs on a Mathias Albani II violin from Cremona (1702), and a Fétique bow, kindly loaned to him by Dr Andrew Winter.
He found early success winning the Rotary International Great Britain & Ireland Young Musician of the year, while also becoming a two-time winner of Caerwys Young Musician of the year. He was awarded the Ian McPherson, Rohi Gazder, and Rotary prizes by the JRNCM, while also receiving a Robinson Bursary by the Future Talent Organisation.
In 2017, Xander was awarded the Albert and Eugene Trust Scholarship to attend the RNCM. He has gone on to perform as a soloist and chamber musician throughout the UK, with highlights including a tour of Scotland and performance at Wigmore Hall with the Elmore String Quartet, and performances of Bruch and Mendelssohn violin concertos.
He currently holds the position of Junior Fellow in Chamber Music at the RNCM with the Elmore String Quartet, and has recently enjoyed recording for the BBC Philharmonic, and appearing with the Manchester Camerata.
Xander performs on a Mathias Albani II violin from Cremona (1702), and a Fétique bow, kindly loaned to him by Dr Andrew Winter.
Keelan Carew, piano & Xander Croft, violin
Keelan Carew
Born and raised in Medway, Kent, Keelan Carew began his piano studies at age 7. Despite not coming from a musical background, he took to the instrument keenly.
Keelan attended Rainham Mark Grammar School, and it was there that he fell in love with classical music, hearing Rachmaninov preludes for the first time. Soon after he began studies with the prominent local tutor David Samms.
In the summer of 2021, Keelan completed his BMus at the Royal Northern College of Music, studying with Dr Stephen Savage.
Keelan has found success in recitals across London, throughout England, Madrid and beyond, including an especially extraordinary event at the Royal Festival Hall in 2011, involving Lang Lang, 99 other young pianists, and over 50 Steinway Grands across the stage. He maintains a broad repertoire and a ravenous appetite for discovering music new, and lost. JS Bach is his favourite composer.
He made his concerto debut in 2018 playing Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini with the Southampton Concert Orchestra, with whom he regularly collaborates. A keen chamber musician, in 2019 Keelan gained a place in the London Sinfonietta Academy, specialising in the performances of ambitious, new music for chamber orchestra. Beyond the piano, he has explored continuo playing at the harpsichord, and some conducting in collaboration with the Streetwise opera
company, a charity working with those who have been affected by homelessness.
Beginning in 2021, Keelan is head of outreach and student recruitment at the Yehudi Menuhin School, working alongside the school’s Director of Music, pianist Ashley Wass, promoting community music-making. Alongside the full-time role at the school, he continues to teach and perform.
While a student, Keelan happened to find himself on the BBC’s University Challenge, representing the RNCM. By chance, this led to his presenting debut on Radio 3/BBC Sounds, presenting the series “Sounds Connected”, coverage of the BBC Proms 2022, and an upcoming series on the history of the piano, to be broadcast in 2023.
Keelan’s future ambitions revolve around championing new and/or unknown works for the piano. Eventually, he’d like to pursue a career teaching the piano, and more generally improving the accessibility of classical music. He now lives in Surrey with his partner Ellen; they are both avid readers and enjoy local country walks on weekends.
Keelan attended Rainham Mark Grammar School, and it was there that he fell in love with classical music, hearing Rachmaninov preludes for the first time. Soon after he began studies with the prominent local tutor David Samms.
In the summer of 2021, Keelan completed his BMus at the Royal Northern College of Music, studying with Dr Stephen Savage.
Keelan has found success in recitals across London, throughout England, Madrid and beyond, including an especially extraordinary event at the Royal Festival Hall in 2011, involving Lang Lang, 99 other young pianists, and over 50 Steinway Grands across the stage. He maintains a broad repertoire and a ravenous appetite for discovering music new, and lost. JS Bach is his favourite composer.
He made his concerto debut in 2018 playing Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini with the Southampton Concert Orchestra, with whom he regularly collaborates. A keen chamber musician, in 2019 Keelan gained a place in the London Sinfonietta Academy, specialising in the performances of ambitious, new music for chamber orchestra. Beyond the piano, he has explored continuo playing at the harpsichord, and some conducting in collaboration with the Streetwise opera
company, a charity working with those who have been affected by homelessness.
Beginning in 2021, Keelan is head of outreach and student recruitment at the Yehudi Menuhin School, working alongside the school’s Director of Music, pianist Ashley Wass, promoting community music-making. Alongside the full-time role at the school, he continues to teach and perform.
While a student, Keelan happened to find himself on the BBC’s University Challenge, representing the RNCM. By chance, this led to his presenting debut on Radio 3/BBC Sounds, presenting the series “Sounds Connected”, coverage of the BBC Proms 2022, and an upcoming series on the history of the piano, to be broadcast in 2023.
Keelan’s future ambitions revolve around championing new and/or unknown works for the piano. Eventually, he’d like to pursue a career teaching the piano, and more generally improving the accessibility of classical music. He now lives in Surrey with his partner Ellen; they are both avid readers and enjoy local country walks on weekends.
Recordings of the works in today's concert
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Violin Sonata No 25 in F major K377 (1781) 20'
1 Allegro Quick, light.
2 Temo con variazioni. Andante Theme & variations. Walking pace
3 Tempo di menuetto, un poco allegretto Minuetto pace, a little lightly
We open with a superb performance by Anne-Sophie Mutter and pianist Lambert Orkis:
Violin Sonata No 25 in F major K377 (1781) 20'
1 Allegro Quick, light.
2 Temo con variazioni. Andante Theme & variations. Walking pace
3 Tempo di menuetto, un poco allegretto Minuetto pace, a little lightly
We open with a superb performance by Anne-Sophie Mutter and pianist Lambert Orkis:
Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
Violin Sonata No 1 in A minor Op 105 (12-16 September 1851) 18'
I Mit leidenshaftlichem Ausdruck With passionate expression
II Allegretto Fairly brisk
III Lebhaft Lively
A live performance here by Guy Braunstein and Martha Agerich:
Violin Sonata No 1 in A minor Op 105 (12-16 September 1851) 18'
I Mit leidenshaftlichem Ausdruck With passionate expression
II Allegretto Fairly brisk
III Lebhaft Lively
A live performance here by Guy Braunstein and Martha Agerich:
Antonín Leopold Dvořák (1841-1904)
from Cigánské melodie, B104, Op 55 (1880) Gypsy Songs
arr for violin & piano: Fritz Kreisler (pub 1914)
'Songs my mother taught me' (1880) 3'
Our recording here is by Kerson Leong with Christia Kudziy at the piano, each displaying much love and expression in their respective playing.
Here comes the original song, in Czech, with what is called a "singable" translation, ie, not matching word for word.
The soloist is Anna Netrebko, and isn't that Barenboim at the piano? That's what it says in the comments, anyway.
Previous concert
Flutes & Frets Duo - click here
Next Thursday's concert
Gus McQuade, classical guitar - click here
