Gerard Flotats & Julian Chan

• Scriabin – Poème, Op. 32 No. 1 (arr. for cello and piano by Piatigorsky)
• Prokofiev – Ballade for Cello and Piano, Op. 15
• Stravinsky – Suite italienne for Cello and Piano

Interval

• Rachmaninov – Sonata for Cello and Piano in G minor, Op. 19

The programme explores different aspects of Russian music from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, bringing together works by Scriabin, Prokofiev, Stravinsky and Rachmaninov, each with their own distinctive voice and unique styles. All the pieces show the cello in a very wide expressive range, from lyrical and intimate moments to music of great energy and drama: it will be a really exciting and engaging evening!    

We are grateful to the Countess of Munster Musical Trust for their support to this concert.

Gerard Flotats – cello

Prize-winning Catalan cellist Gerard Flotats is a versatile young musician performing a wide spectrum of music, from Baroque on historical instruments to contemporary works with electronics. Winner of the Royal Over-Seas League Strings Competition, he has also been selected for the Philip and Dorothy Green Young Artist, Tillett Debut, and Munster Trust Recital schemes, giving him ample performance experience from a young age. His recent engagements include concerts at venues such as Wigmore Hall, Manchester Bridgewater Hall, King’s Place, and the Pierre Boulez Saal.   Gerard plays on an Amati cello from the 1680s.  

Julian Chan – piano

Rapidly developing a reputation as one of the most innovative pianists of his generation, Julian Chan has given performances at numerous prestigious venues across Europe and Asia, including Wigmore Hall, Southbank Centre, Nanjing Poly Theatre, and Palau de la Música Catalana. Performing music by a particularly diverse range of composers, he has given alluring recitals featuring works by figures from Sweelinck to Messiaen, from Alkan to Rzewski, unifying these various styles in a captivating manner.