Cellist Abi Hyde-Smith and pianist Jocelyn Freeman present a celebration of the life of Shostakovich, who died fifty years ago. Following the success of their first album together, they collaborate together again with an exciting programme to include his Cello Sonata and a new commission from composer Peter Walton, who took Shostakovich's themes as his inspiration.
ProgrammeDmitri Shostakovich
Two Pieces from Ballet Suite No. 2 Peter Walton 5 Solos (Rhythm/Changes) new commission Dmitri Shostakovich Cello Sonata in D minor, Op. 40 |
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Abi Hyde-Smith |
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Award winning cellist, Abi Hyde-Smith, enjoys a varied career in the UK. Abi combines a busy chamber music schedule with orchestral and theatre work.
As a chamber musician, Abi has performed at the Wigmore Hall, Kings Place, the Purcell Room, Southwark Cathedral and St. Martin-in-the-Fields. She has appeared at many festivals in the UK and across Europe, performing alongside artists including the Belcea String Quartet, Alexandra Wood, Michael Dussek and Martin Roscoe, most notably at the BBC Proms. Abi performs regularly with chamber orchestras such as the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, the City of London Sinfonia, the London Mozart Players and the London Chamber Orchestra. Abi also regularly plays solo cello for West End productions including The Lion King and Matilda the Musical as well as in Matthew Bourne's productions at Sadlers Wells and the Royal Albert Hall. She has also worked on many film and TV soundtracks. Competition successes include 1st prize in the May Mukle Prize for Virtuosic Cello Playing and 1st prize in the Royal Greenwich String Quartet Competition. Upon completing her studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London, Abi was also awarded the Meaker Fellowship, which goes to one graduating student each year. Abi completed the prestigious Joint Course at the University of Manchester and the Royal Northern College of Music with double 1st class honours. She then went on to study at the Royal Academy of Music where she gained a Masters degree with Distinction. Abi is incredibly fortunate to have studied with Emma Ferrand, Josephine Knight, David Strange, Ralph Kirshbaum, Gary Hoffman and Stephen Isserlis. Abi is a great believer in the power of music outside of the concert hall. She frequently works on outreach projects including City of London Sinfonia's Room to Room, where she creates music together dementia patients. Abi plays an English cello made by John Furber from the 1800s. Abi lives in South London with her partner and their two much loved cats, Pep and Lola. |
Jocelyn Freeman |
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The award-winning Welsh collaborative pianist and conductor Jocelyn Freeman is lauded for her artistry, innovation, and powers of communication. Recently endorsed with a prestigious Associateship from the Royal Academy of Music, she is an advocate for diversity in a range of artistic endeavours and a skilled communicator on the concert platform, and in broadcasting, industry and lifestyle publications and events. Founder-Director of SongEasel, she has curated extensive concert and recording projects to wide critical acclaim and values her role as a mentor with early-career musicians.
Jocelyn’s engagements have taken her to four continents including broadcasts in the UK and Germany; performances in the Wigmore Hall, the Royal Albert Hall, St Martin-in-the-Fields, Three Choirs Festival, the Global Concert Hall (IDAGIO) and many return visits to festivals and series in the UK. Collaborative highlights include recitals with Jamal Aliyev, Fleur Barron, Florian Boesch, Francesca Chiejina, James Gilchrist, Stuart Jackson, Stephan Loges, Mark Padmore, Gemma Summerfield, Bryn Terfel, Ailish Tynan and Julien Van Mellaerts; and as a conductor with Ashtead Choral Society, the British Sinfonietta and Lewisham Choral Society.
A prize-winning graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, Jocelyn’s repertoire champions standard song and concerto repertoire alongside lesser-known and contemporary composers. Her discography comprises releases with Kissan Records, Ty Cerdd and Orchid Classics. Awards include the International Marlow Concerto Competition, the Internationalen Wettbewerb für Liedkunst and Britten Pears Arts. Jocelyn is grateful for the support of the Carne Trust, Victor Wood, the Oleg Prokofiev Trust and Arts Council England.
Jocelyn’s engagements have taken her to four continents including broadcasts in the UK and Germany; performances in the Wigmore Hall, the Royal Albert Hall, St Martin-in-the-Fields, Three Choirs Festival, the Global Concert Hall (IDAGIO) and many return visits to festivals and series in the UK. Collaborative highlights include recitals with Jamal Aliyev, Fleur Barron, Florian Boesch, Francesca Chiejina, James Gilchrist, Stuart Jackson, Stephan Loges, Mark Padmore, Gemma Summerfield, Bryn Terfel, Ailish Tynan and Julien Van Mellaerts; and as a conductor with Ashtead Choral Society, the British Sinfonietta and Lewisham Choral Society.
A prize-winning graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, Jocelyn’s repertoire champions standard song and concerto repertoire alongside lesser-known and contemporary composers. Her discography comprises releases with Kissan Records, Ty Cerdd and Orchid Classics. Awards include the International Marlow Concerto Competition, the Internationalen Wettbewerb für Liedkunst and Britten Pears Arts. Jocelyn is grateful for the support of the Carne Trust, Victor Wood, the Oleg Prokofiev Trust and Arts Council England.
Peter Walton
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Since studying jazz guitar and arranging at Leeds College of Music, Peter has had a hugely eclectic musical career, playing in venues as diverse as the Royal Opera House (Berg’s Lulu) and Ronnie Scott’s jazz club (Echoes of Ellington); writing music for TV and his world music group, Acoustic Earth, and playing in West End shows such as Oliver!, Joseph, Evita and currently Matilda The Musical.
Although trained in jazz, he has always been fascinated by the textures and styles of classical music. His first major classical composition was a commission, for Acoustic Earth and the Docklands Sinfonia, that combined jazz textures with driving minimalist orchestral writing. Lockdown (2020/21) was a productive time for Pete, and with the disappearance of all performing work, he started on his Fragments series, works for solo instruments that could be performed while covid restrictions were in place. Fragments 1, for solo violin was recorded twice during this period, by Takane Funatsu, and also Fenella Humphries, and Fragments 2 for solo trombone, by Pete Moore (LSO). Since this time, and with the freedom of returning to writing for a larger group of musicians, new works have included Time Out of Joint for brass septet Septura (recorded & USA tour 2023/4), the string/wind quartet Armando for the Britten Sinfonia (performed & recorded 2022), Short Stories for string quartet Brother Tree Sound (recorded 2023), and One Year for viola duo Peter Mallinson & Matthias Wiesner (BBCSO), premiered in November 2024. In all his writing there is some evidence of his origins in jazz, and also his continuing fascination with orchestral textures and techniques. He is currently working on a commission for Sally Beamish OBE, for viola, voice and harp. |