excerpts from the Bachtrack **** review by Alan Coady:
"breathtaking virtuoso piano playing" "HIgham's stratospherically high playing was thrilling"
"Pre-concert buzz and enthusiastic endorsements during the interval were matched at the concert's conclusion. Sustained applause and the sound of winter footwear on wooden floorboards surely left this excellent duo in no doubt that they had made quite an impression. Their decision not to include an encore was, in my view, perfectly judged: sometimes a programme is so finely shaped and executed that supplements simply subtract."
"breathtaking virtuoso piano playing" "HIgham's stratospherically high playing was thrilling"
"Pre-concert buzz and enthusiastic endorsements during the interval were matched at the concert's conclusion. Sustained applause and the sound of winter footwear on wooden floorboards surely left this excellent duo in no doubt that they had made quite an impression. Their decision not to include an encore was, in my view, perfectly judged: sometimes a programme is so finely shaped and executed that supplements simply subtract."
philip higham, cello : alasdair beatson, piano
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Sunday 12 January, 3pm · afternoon concert ·
Beethoven 7 Variations on "Bei Männern, welche Liebe fühlen" WoO 46 Schumann 3 Romances, op. 94 Fauré Sonata no 2 in g minor, op. 117 Janacek Pohadka (A Tale) Beethoven Sonata no 3 in Amajor, op. 69 A rich and generous programme played by two of the most exciting young Scottish musicians on the world stage today. This is a concert not to be missed. www.philiphigham.com www.alasdairbeatson.com |
PHILIP HIGHAM is rapidly emerging as one of the most prominent young cellists from the UK. In 2010 he won 2nd prize in the Grand Prix Emanuel Feuermann Competition in Berlin, making him the first British cellist in generations to have won top prizes at three major international competitions, including 1st Prize in the 2008 Bach Leipzig and 2009 Lutoslawski Competitions. He was selected for representation by Young Classical Artists Trust (YCAT) in 2009.
This autumn Philip makes his debut with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields and Vienna Chamber Orchestra and appears at the Festspiele Mecklenburg Vorpommern and Muensterland Festivals in Germany and Grachten Festival in Amsterdam. He returns to Wigmore Hall twice (17 December and 6 March) and Bridgewater Hall (29 February) and performs the Dvorák Concerto at Cadogan Hall (24 January) and with the Edinburgh Youth Orchestra (7 & 8 April) conducted by Garry Walker.
Over the last year Philip has performed the complete Bach Cello Suites at the Lammermuir Festival and Perth Concert Hall to critical acclaim, taken part in the IMS Prussia Cove Ensemble tour and given a series of performances of concertos by Haydn and Schumann with Sinfonia Cymru. His debut recording for Sonimage featuring works by Debussy, Fauré, Britten and Bridge is due for release later this year. Future plans include performances of the complete Britten Cello Suites in 2013.
Since 2009 Philip has given recitals at major festivals and venues throughout Europe including Lake Maggiore (Italy), the Bachwoche in Ansbach, Leipzig BachFest, the Gioventù Musicale d'Italia, Victoria Arts Festival in Malta, Manchester International Cello Festival, City Halls Glasgow, the Spitalfields, Brighton and Lake District Summer Music Festivals. He has appeared as soloist with the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra Camera Di Caserta in the Autunno Musicale Festival in Naples, the Kammerakademie Potsdam and Mendelssohn Kammerorchester in Leipzig, and performed Finzi’s Concerto to critical acclaim at St. John’s Smith Square (London).
Born in Edinburgh in 1985, Philip studied cello with Ruth Beauchamp at St Mary's Music School and continued his studies at the Royal Northern College of Music with Emma Ferrand and Ralph Kirshbaum. He graduated in 2007 with First class Honours and was immediately selected as an International Artist Diploma student. In 2010 he was one of the first artists invited to take part in the Royal Philharmonic Society/YCAT Philip Langridge Mentoring Scheme with Steven Isserlis.
Philip Higham currently plays a fine Tecchler cello (c.1730)
ALASDAIR BEATSON is highly regarded as a distinctive and vibrant musician, equally adept in solo and chamber repertoire and in constant demand for festival appearances throughout Europe. Highlights of the 12/13 season include appearances as soloist with Britten Sinfonia, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, solo recitals in Glasgow’s The Piano Festival and Bath’s Mozartfest, and a BBC Radio 3 Recital live from Wigmore Hall with Natalie Clein. His recent CD of Mendelssohn piano music with SOMM Recordings received praise for highly sensitive playing of rare insight (Classic FM Magazine) and was awarded the ‘Outstanding’ accolade of International Record Review. He recently released a disc of the complete piano works of the French composer Ludwig Thuille.
One of the most established chamber pianists of his generation, Alasdair collaborates in a wide and varied repertoire with some of today’s finest musicians. Last year he performed at festivals in Belgium (Resonances), USA (Charlottesville, Virginia), Switzerland (Ernen), and the UK (Aldeburgh, Plush, Paxton, and Oxford); he plays alongside such musicians as Adrian Brendel, the Doric String Quartet, Guy Johnston, Pekka Kuusisto, and Pieter Wispelwey. A regular participant of IMS Prussia Cove, Alasdair was invited to join their touring groups in 2007 and 2011. Last year he founded Musique à Marsac, of which he is Artistic Director.
Alasdair enjoys a regular association with the Scottish Ensemble. In addition to numerous chamber music projects, he has twice toured with them as concerto soloist – in Shostakovich’s Concerto for Piano, Trumpet and Strings alongside Alison Balsom, culminating in a sold out performance at Wigmore Hall, and with violinist and artistic director Jonathan Morton in Mendelssohn’s double concerto, broadcast live on BBC Radio 3.
Often attracted to less familiar repertoire, Alasdair’s approach to programming has been described as canny and uncompromising (Classical Source). His debut solo CD – the opus 1′s of Schumann, Brahms, Grieg and Berg – was released on SOMM Recordings in 2009 to critical acclaim. Other uncommon works explored include Debussy’s own arrangement for solo piano of his ballet Jeux, Fauré’s rarely performed Fantaisie for piano and orchestra, Hindemith’s Four Temperaments, the complete solo piano music of Ludwig Thuille, and piano trio arrangements of Schönberg’s Verklärte Nacht and Janacek’s Kreutzer Sonata. Keen to collaborate directly with living composers, Alasdair has worked closely with George Benjamin, Harrison Birtwistle, Cheryl Frances-Hoad, and Heinz Holliger.
Alasdair studied with John Blakely at the Royal College of Music, London, graduating in 2002 with First Class Honours and a Director’s Golden Jubilee Award. He subsequently completed a Performer’s Diploma at Indiana University, studying with Menahem Pressler. He holds prizes and awards from the Kirckman Concert Society, Philip and Dorothy Green (Making Music) Award for Young Artists, 2003 China Shanghai International Piano Competition, and Royal Over-Seas League. In masterclass he has played to Leon Fleisher, Alicia de Laroccha, John Lill, Murray Perahia and Ferenc Rados. Alasdair was recipient of a Dewar Arts Award and a grant from the Hope Scott Trust.
This autumn Philip makes his debut with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields and Vienna Chamber Orchestra and appears at the Festspiele Mecklenburg Vorpommern and Muensterland Festivals in Germany and Grachten Festival in Amsterdam. He returns to Wigmore Hall twice (17 December and 6 March) and Bridgewater Hall (29 February) and performs the Dvorák Concerto at Cadogan Hall (24 January) and with the Edinburgh Youth Orchestra (7 & 8 April) conducted by Garry Walker.
Over the last year Philip has performed the complete Bach Cello Suites at the Lammermuir Festival and Perth Concert Hall to critical acclaim, taken part in the IMS Prussia Cove Ensemble tour and given a series of performances of concertos by Haydn and Schumann with Sinfonia Cymru. His debut recording for Sonimage featuring works by Debussy, Fauré, Britten and Bridge is due for release later this year. Future plans include performances of the complete Britten Cello Suites in 2013.
Since 2009 Philip has given recitals at major festivals and venues throughout Europe including Lake Maggiore (Italy), the Bachwoche in Ansbach, Leipzig BachFest, the Gioventù Musicale d'Italia, Victoria Arts Festival in Malta, Manchester International Cello Festival, City Halls Glasgow, the Spitalfields, Brighton and Lake District Summer Music Festivals. He has appeared as soloist with the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra Camera Di Caserta in the Autunno Musicale Festival in Naples, the Kammerakademie Potsdam and Mendelssohn Kammerorchester in Leipzig, and performed Finzi’s Concerto to critical acclaim at St. John’s Smith Square (London).
Born in Edinburgh in 1985, Philip studied cello with Ruth Beauchamp at St Mary's Music School and continued his studies at the Royal Northern College of Music with Emma Ferrand and Ralph Kirshbaum. He graduated in 2007 with First class Honours and was immediately selected as an International Artist Diploma student. In 2010 he was one of the first artists invited to take part in the Royal Philharmonic Society/YCAT Philip Langridge Mentoring Scheme with Steven Isserlis.
Philip Higham currently plays a fine Tecchler cello (c.1730)
ALASDAIR BEATSON is highly regarded as a distinctive and vibrant musician, equally adept in solo and chamber repertoire and in constant demand for festival appearances throughout Europe. Highlights of the 12/13 season include appearances as soloist with Britten Sinfonia, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, solo recitals in Glasgow’s The Piano Festival and Bath’s Mozartfest, and a BBC Radio 3 Recital live from Wigmore Hall with Natalie Clein. His recent CD of Mendelssohn piano music with SOMM Recordings received praise for highly sensitive playing of rare insight (Classic FM Magazine) and was awarded the ‘Outstanding’ accolade of International Record Review. He recently released a disc of the complete piano works of the French composer Ludwig Thuille.
One of the most established chamber pianists of his generation, Alasdair collaborates in a wide and varied repertoire with some of today’s finest musicians. Last year he performed at festivals in Belgium (Resonances), USA (Charlottesville, Virginia), Switzerland (Ernen), and the UK (Aldeburgh, Plush, Paxton, and Oxford); he plays alongside such musicians as Adrian Brendel, the Doric String Quartet, Guy Johnston, Pekka Kuusisto, and Pieter Wispelwey. A regular participant of IMS Prussia Cove, Alasdair was invited to join their touring groups in 2007 and 2011. Last year he founded Musique à Marsac, of which he is Artistic Director.
Alasdair enjoys a regular association with the Scottish Ensemble. In addition to numerous chamber music projects, he has twice toured with them as concerto soloist – in Shostakovich’s Concerto for Piano, Trumpet and Strings alongside Alison Balsom, culminating in a sold out performance at Wigmore Hall, and with violinist and artistic director Jonathan Morton in Mendelssohn’s double concerto, broadcast live on BBC Radio 3.
Often attracted to less familiar repertoire, Alasdair’s approach to programming has been described as canny and uncompromising (Classical Source). His debut solo CD – the opus 1′s of Schumann, Brahms, Grieg and Berg – was released on SOMM Recordings in 2009 to critical acclaim. Other uncommon works explored include Debussy’s own arrangement for solo piano of his ballet Jeux, Fauré’s rarely performed Fantaisie for piano and orchestra, Hindemith’s Four Temperaments, the complete solo piano music of Ludwig Thuille, and piano trio arrangements of Schönberg’s Verklärte Nacht and Janacek’s Kreutzer Sonata. Keen to collaborate directly with living composers, Alasdair has worked closely with George Benjamin, Harrison Birtwistle, Cheryl Frances-Hoad, and Heinz Holliger.
Alasdair studied with John Blakely at the Royal College of Music, London, graduating in 2002 with First Class Honours and a Director’s Golden Jubilee Award. He subsequently completed a Performer’s Diploma at Indiana University, studying with Menahem Pressler. He holds prizes and awards from the Kirckman Concert Society, Philip and Dorothy Green (Making Music) Award for Young Artists, 2003 China Shanghai International Piano Competition, and Royal Over-Seas League. In masterclass he has played to Leon Fleisher, Alicia de Laroccha, John Lill, Murray Perahia and Ferenc Rados. Alasdair was recipient of a Dewar Arts Award and a grant from the Hope Scott Trust.
