Joan Rodgers & Guy Johnston – Oxford Lieder: Russian Voices

Often compared to a human voice, the cello is a natural partner in song, as composers have long recognised. Here distinguished soprano Joan Rodgers is joined by leading cellist Guy Johnston in a Russian-themed programme which delves into the soulful songs of Rachmaninov, Scriabin and Arensky, and the cosmopolitan Pauline Viardot. Johnston will play two works dedicated to Rostropovich, Prokofiev’s bittersweet late Sonata, and Shostakovich’s visionary Romances on the poetry of Alexandr Blok, written for Rostropovich and his wife Galina Vishnevskaya.

Pre-concert talk: 6.45pm, St Pancras Room
Cellist and guest speaker Justin Pearson has established a fine instrument scheme for the Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain, and has helped many prominent cellists. He draws on long experience of instrument buying and of forming syndicates.

This concert is a co-promotion with Oxford Lieder

Part of Cello Unwrapped 2017 at Kings Place