Originally from Bishop’s Stortford, Benjamin Carnell currently studies at the Royal College of Music, having previously held a Music and Dance scheme scholarship to the Purcell School for Young Musicians. Prior to this he was a music scholar at Bishop’s Stortford College. Benjamin has played in many masterclasses with cellists including Steve Doane, Adrian Brendel, Louise Hopkins and Guy Johnston.

Music by Andy Scott; Erik Satie; Amy Quate; Claude Debussy & Alastair Penman

Outside of the duo, Alastair is Professor of Saxophone at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and a regular guest tutor at conservatoires in the UK and abroad. Jonathan meanwhile is much in demand as an accompanist and musical director, as well as being a prolific composer and active conductor and church musician. In this recital the duo will perform music from Alastair’s 2024 album, Quietude, which invites the listener to take time for themself, to unplug from the digital world that we live in and to find solace in the beauty of music and of nature. The disc has been praised by critics as “a project that reaches out and touches us all”.

Siciliano from Flute Sonata No.2 Bach/Kempff , Sonata no.15 in D Major op.28 'Pastoral' Beethoven Rage Over a Lost Penny Beethoven and 'Aria' from the 'Goldberg' Variations BWV988 J.S.Bach

Wirral born pianist Simon Watterton has given recitals as soloist and chamber musician all across the world. In recent years he has performed in China, Canada, the USA, Sweden and Italy as well as extensively in the UK and Republic of Ireland. He made his concerto debut at London’s Cadogan Hall and was featured as a Rising Star in International Piano Magazine at the time of a cycle he gave of all the Beethoven piano sonatas in London. He has appeared at the Wigmore Hall, St John’s, Smith Square and the Purcell Room, as well as performing live on Radio 3’s InTune and for Classic FM.

Recent concerts included an evening of chamber music at Cadogan Hall with the London International Players, a cycle of Beethoven’s piano sonatas at Riverhouse Barn Arts Centre in Walton-on-Thames and a performance of Bach’s Goldberg Variations in St. Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh.

Piano Quartet No.2 Mozart String Trio Lennox Berkeley

Piano Trio in A minor, Op.50 Tchaikovsky

The Piano Trio in A minor, Op.50 was the only work Tchaikovsky ever wrote for the combination of piano, violin, and cello. He completed his rough sketches on 20 January 1882, and and sent it to his publishers on 11 February. A private performance with the above-named soloists was held at the Moscow Conservatory on 23 March, the first anniversary of Nikolai Rubinstein's death, and it is subtitled À la mémoire d’un grand artiste (In memory of a great artist), in reference to his close friend and mentor, who had died on 23 March 1881.

Beethoven’s “Spring” Sonata, a perennial favourite, opens the recital with its youthful exuberance and charming wit. It is followed by Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending, a piece synonymous with serene beauty. Litsa’s fresh interpretation draws listeners into the sublime experience of its high-flying melodies and transcendent atmosphere.

The recital concludes with James Francis Brown’s second violin sonata, a piece arranged with Tunnah’s remarkable artistry in mind, revealing her passionate and virtuosic playing to the full.

Trio in E flat Major, K. 498, ‘Kegelstatt’ W. A. Mozart,Trio in G minor, Op. 45 Robert Kahn

Robert Kahn (1865-1951) was born into a well-to-do banking family in Mannheim. It was through his friend Joachim that he had a chance to get to know Brahms, who was so impressed with Kahn that he offered to give him composition lessons.

Kahn's Op.45 Trio for Clarinet, Cello and Piano, like most of his chamber music, is marked by authentic melodic inspiration, excellent part writing and a brilliant use of instrumental colour and timbre.

This late romantic masterpiece was inspired by Richard Muhlfeld’s clarinet playing at the first performance of Brahms’ Clarinet Trio Op.115 in 1890. Kahn and Richard Mühlfeld eventually founded the ‘Meininger Trio’ together with cellist Robert Hausmann This work was composed for, and performed by them in 1905.