Sunday 26 March

Armstrong, Jacobs, Liu Trio

“Samuel Jacobs tossed off the many difficulties as if they do not exist, made a glorious sound and to further prove the point, he played an encore on the even more difficult valve-less horn with the same surety and effortlessness.” (John Button – Stuff)

Jian Liu (piano), Donald Armstrong (violin), Sam Jacobs (horn)

Programme

Beethoven

Sonata for Horn and Piano in F Major, Opus 17

Clara Schumann

Two Romances for Violin and Piano

Anthony Ritchie

Horn Trio: Rebirth

Brahms

Trio in Eb Major for Horn, Violin, and Piano, Opus 40

Two of our favourite musicians, Donald Armstrong and Jian Liu, return in a new ensemble featuring the French horn and showcasing the considerable talents of young horn player Sam Jacobs.

British-born Sam played in the NZSO before being appointed Principal Horn of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London. Now, lured back to New Zealand by the lifestyle, scenery and the outdoors, Sam is Principal Horn with the NZSO.

These three inspired musicians will treat us to some of the greatest works ever written for French Horn – Beethoven’s Horn Sonata and the formidable Trio for Horn, Violin and Piano by Brahms.

It is believed that Beethoven wrote the Horn Sonata in one day – the day before its first performance at which Beethoven played the piano part.

Brahms on the other hand was not rushed, he sought inspiration from a holiday in the country while he was mourning the death of his mother, hence the rather sombre and impassioned nature of this work.

Completing this varied programme will be Clara Schumann’s Two Romances for Violin and Piano and a newly commissioned trio by Dunedin composer Anthony Ritchie.