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
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.