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The programme is opened with the incredibly atmospheric Concert Duo by Edgar Meyer, presenting a varied sound world through a fusion of bluegrass and classical genres. Following this is Ysaye’s Sonata No.5 for Solo Violin, telling a very unique story with its incredible technical and musical demands in the context of late romantic and early impressionistic music.
Continuing along the path of contemporary music is Penderecki’s Duo Concertante for double bass and violin. This is a very intense piece of music, incorporating more contemporary techniques to both instruments while remaining musically coherent and convincing. Subsequent in the programme is Schumann’s Five Pieces in Folk Style which are originally for cello. These pieces push the limits of the double bass as a solo instrument in a familiar yet varied romantic setting. The recital finishes literally and figuratively on a high note with Bottesini’s Gran Duo Concertante - a truly operatic showpiece for the double bass and violin which promises drama, lyricism, and humour for all involved. |
ProgrammeE. Meyer
Concert Duo, mvt I & IV E. Ysaye Sonata No.5 for Violin K. Penderecki Duo Concertante R. Schumann Five Pieces in Folk Style G. Bottesini Gran Duo Concertante |
Levi Andreassen |
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American double bassist Levi Andreassen is an avid soloist and chamber musician driven by his desire to push the limits of his instrument.
Levi has recently been featured on Orchid Classics’ album “Around the World in 80 Minutes” in duo with bassist Nathan Perry. Levi is also a member of the LGT Young Soloists, the most performing youth orchestra in the world, with concert tours in Asia, Europe and North America. Winner of several international competitions, Levi was recently awarded 1st Prize at the 2023 International Society of Bassists Youth Solo Competition. He also won 1st Prize at the 2023 London Classical Music Competition and the 2022 Caneres International Competition. Additionally, he was a winner of the Charles R. Hall Competition in 2018, where he had the opportunity to perform Bottesini’s Concerto No.2 with the Missouri Philharmonic, an ensemble with whom he now regularly collaborates. As an orchestral musician, Levi became a member of the Missouri Philharmonic in 2017 and now holds the Principal Bass position since 2021. Additionally, Levi has worked closely with conductors such as Vasily Petrenko, Sir Andrew Davis, Sakari Oramo, Chloe van Soeterstede, and Jac van Steen in renowned venues such as Royal Festival Hall and Cadogan Hall in London. Levi is currently completing his Bachelor of Music with Caroline Emery at the Royal College of Music in London as a Neville Wathan Full Scholar. |
Ignacy Stefanowicz |
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Polish violinist Ignacy Stefanowicz is a passionate chamber and orchestral musician as well as soloist, having been a member of NYOGB and NCO. He has given performances in some of the UK’s most renowned venues including the Barbican Hall, Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, and King’s Place London.
Recently, Ignacy was featured on Orchid Classics’ album ‘Around the World in 80 Minutes’, recording music by Gershwin, Bartok, and others. Additionally, he has collaborated with renowned musicians such as Maxim Rysanov, Boris Kucharsky, The Brodsky Quartet, Ashley Wass, Jaime Martin, and Lee Reynolds.
Ignacy is a recent graduate of the prestigious Yehudi Menuhin School where he studied with Ning Kam, and is now pursuing his Bachelors in Music with So-ock Kim at the Royal Academy of Music in London.
Recently, Ignacy was featured on Orchid Classics’ album ‘Around the World in 80 Minutes’, recording music by Gershwin, Bartok, and others. Additionally, he has collaborated with renowned musicians such as Maxim Rysanov, Boris Kucharsky, The Brodsky Quartet, Ashley Wass, Jaime Martin, and Lee Reynolds.
Ignacy is a recent graduate of the prestigious Yehudi Menuhin School where he studied with Ning Kam, and is now pursuing his Bachelors in Music with So-ock Kim at the Royal Academy of Music in London.
Knox Oakey |
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Christopher Knox Oakey (b. 2005) is a pianist and conductor from Richmond, Virginia. He has appeared as a soloist, a collaborative pianist, and a conductor in festivals and concerts ranging from New York to London to Bosnia & Herzegovina.
In 2023, he co-founded and conducted the Philadelphia Composers’ Orchestra in recording two new works by composers Adah Kaplan and Dan Virgen. From 2022 to 2023, he was the pianist of the Ben & Carol Auger Contemporary Music Advanced Study Ensemble. His conducting debut was with the Music & More Summerfest Festival Orchestra in August 2022. He received second prize in the Music & More Summerfest Concerto Competition in 2022 and honourable mention in the pianist category of the Brooks van der Pump English Song Competition in 2023. Knox has played in festivals such as Intermuse, Point Counterpoint, and Music & More Summerfest. He studied piano with Tatjana Rankovich and conducting with Scott Jackson Wiley at Mannes School of Music's precollege programme in Manhattan. He currently studies piano with Dorian Leljak and Andrew Zolinsky and conducting with Toby Purser at the Royal College of Music. Knox has worked with musicians like Dorian Keilhack, Pascal Verrot, Arbo Valdma, Pascal Nemirovski, Richard Uttley, the JACK Quartet, Pauliina Tukiainen, and Simon Lepper. He is passionate about solo, chamber, and orchestral music ranging from Baroque to contemporary, as well as styles beyond classical. |