SUMMER FESTIVAL AT ST GABRIEL'S, WARWICK SQUARE SW1V 2AD
June 15th - September 28th 2008

Recitals by Nikolai Demidenko, Wu Qian, Hamish Milne, Marco Fatichenti and Piers Lane.

The Summer International Piano Festival is a new venture for the Society, and with an outstanding line-up of artists, our superb 1975 Steinway Model B Grand, and some very interesting programmes, we feel sure you will want to come to more than one of these concerts.

We are delighted - not only with the artists we've engaged to play - but also with their programmes, as they feature the complete Ballades and Rondos Op 1 & Op 16 from Demidenko, the Preludes from Piers Lane, the little-known Variations brillants sur le rondeau favori: “Je vends des scapulaires” de “Ludovic” de Hérold et Halévy Op 12 from Hamish Milne, as well as Alkan's Quasi Faust from the Grande Sonate Op 33 played by Piers Lane. All of these will be particularly interesting for piano enthusiasts.

Our venue - St Gabriel’s, Warwick Square - is a Grade 2* listed church in one of London’s elegant garden squares, built in 1853 by architect Thomas Cundy, Surveyor of all the Grosvenor Estates covering today’s Belgravia and Pimlico. Transport links are excellent, parking is not a problem on a Sunday and there is no Congestion Charge. The audience capacity at St Gabriel’s is approximately 200. Sight lines are good, as the piano is on a platform. (Details of venue, with map and travel advice.)

Booking: it is essential for everyone to book for the Opening Concert on June 15th. This concert will be followed by a Reception with a generous finger buffet and a glass of champagne, all of which are included in the ticket price for non-Members of the Chopin Society.

For the other concerts a doorlist will be compiled of non-Members wishing to book in advance, who should complete the lower half of the booking form or contact the Chopin Society's Secretary. Otherwise tickets will be sold on the door. Members do not need to book for these remaining concerts.

Nikolai Demidenko recital
June 15th at 3.30pm

Nicolai Demidenko, one of the finest interpreters of Chopin on today’s world piano scene, will play:

• Chopin - The 4 Ballades
• Chopin - Polonaise-Fantaisie Op 61
• Chopin - Rondos Op 1 and Op 16
• Chopin - Andante Spianato and Grande Polonaise Op 22

“Demidenko’s razor-sharp articulacy and immaculate dexterity are complemented by the finest musical grace and individuality” Gramophone

Tickets:
Members of the Chopin Society: FREE.
Friends of the Chopin Society: £10/£8 (OAP)
Reception tickets for Members & Friends: £8 (Youth Members: £4)
Non-Members: £17/£15 (OAP) incl. finger buffet reception & a glass of champagne
Full-time Students with ID: £9 incl. finger buffet reception & a glass of champagne

Booking is essential for this concert. No tickets can be sold on the door. Download a booking form.

Wu Qian recital
July 13th at 3.30pm

Wu Qian will play:

• Schumann - Kreisleriana Op 16
• Chopin - Ballade No 4 Op 52
• Brahms - 6 Pieces Op 118
• Liszt - Hungarian Rhapsody No 12

Wu Qian is currently studying on a full scholarship for a Masters degree at the Royal Academy of Music. In 2007 she was interviewed and also performed on BBC4 and BBC TV World, and recently played before HM The Queen in London.
“If I listened blind, I’d have said it was a male Western virtuoso” The Independent

Tickets:
Members of the Chopin Society: FREE.
Friends of the Chopin Society: FREE
Reception tickets for Members & Friends: £6 (Youth Members £3)
Non-Members: £12/£10 (OAP). Finger buffet reception & a glass of wine: £6.
Full-time Students with ID: £6. Finger buffet reception & a glass of wine: £4.

For advanced bookings, contact the Chopin Society's Secretary. Tickets also sold on the door.

Hamish Milne recital
August 31st at 3.30pm

Hamish Milne will play:

• Schubert - Impromptu in B flat (Theme & Variations) D935/3
• Mozart (arr. Busoni) - Andantino (from Piano Concert in Eb, K271)
• Chopin - Impromptu in G flat Op 51
• Chopin - Variations brillants sur le rondeau favori: “Je vends des scapulaires” de “Ludovic” de Hérold et Halévy Op 12
• Liszt - Les Années de pélérinage, Book 1 – Suisse

One of Britain’s leading pianists, Hamish Milne has appeared with most of the UK’s major orchestras, has given over 200 broadcasts for the BBC, and has toured on four continents. He is professor of piano at the Royal Academy of Music.
“Quick sympathy and an impeccable technique in the service of a full-blown grand-romantic manner” Financial Times

Tickets:
Members of the Chopin Society: FREE
Friends of the Chopin Society: £10 /£8 (OAP)
Reception tickets for Members & Friends: £6 (Youth Members £3)
Non-Members: £12/£10 (OAP). Finger buffet reception & a glass of wine: £6.
Full-time Students with ID: £6. Finger buffet reception & a glass of wine: £4.

For advanced bookings, contact the Chopin Society's Secretary. Tickets also sold on the door.

Marco Fatichenti recital
September 21st at 3.30pm

Marco Fatichenti will play:

• Chopin - Scherzo No 1 Op 20
• Chopin - Berceuse Op 57
• Chopin - Scherzo No 2 Op 31
• Granados - Valses poeticos
• Schumann - Carnaval Op 9

Born in Italy, and hailed by The Times as “...seems none other than Chopin incarnate”, Marco Fatichenti has performed solo recitals and appeared with orchestras in countries such as France, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom and the USA. He has broadcast for the BBC, and released two commercial CDs.

Tickets:
Members of the Chopin Society: FREE
Friends of the Chopin Society: FREE
Reception tickets for Members & Friends: £6 (Youth Members £3)
Non-Members: £12/£10 (OAP). Finger buffet reception & a glass of wine: £6.
Full-time Students with ID: £6. Finger buffet reception & a glass of wine: £4.

For advanced bookings, contact the Chopin Society's Secretary. Tickets also sold on the door.

Piers Lane recital
September 28th at 3.30pm

Piers Lane will play:

• Bach/d'Albert - Passacaglia in C minor
• Beethoven/Liszt - Allegretto from Symphony No 7
• Schumann - Exercises on a Theme of Beethoven
• Alkan - Quasi Faust from Grande Sonate Op 33
• Chopin - 24 Preludes Op 28

Australian-born Piers Lane has a flourishing international career, which has taken him to more than 40 countries. He is a professor of piano at the Royal Academy of Music.
“No praise can be high enough for Piers Lane whose playing throughout is of a superb musical intelligence, sensitivity and scintillating brilliance” Bryce Morrison.

Tickets:
Members of the Chopin Society: FREE
Friends of the Chopin Society: £10 /£8 (OAP)
Reception tickets for Members & Friends: £6 (Youth Members £3)
Non-Members: £12/£10 (OAP). Finger buffet reception & a glass of wine: £6.
Full-time Students with ID: £6. Finger buffet reception & a glass of wine: £4.