After an absence of some fifteen months, Darlington Piano Society is to host four recitals between June and September. These will be given by pianists whose planned visits had to be postponed because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The four dates and pianists are Steven Osborne (27th June), Mei Yi Foo (25th July), George Harliono (22nd August) and Antonina Suhanova (19th September). Steven Osborne last played in Darlington in 1998 and since then has risen to be a pianist of international standing and recently won the BBC Music Magazine Instrumental Award for his recording of Prokofiev’s “War Sonatas”. Mei Yi Foo gave an outstanding recital in 2017 and brings another captivating programme; in 2017, at 16 years of age, George Harliono was one of the youngest ever recipients of a four year scholarship at the Royal College of Music, and Latvian pianist Antonina Suhanova is a Master’s degree graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
Greg Johnson, Chairman of the Society, said “the last fifteen months has been a barren period for all types of live performance, with our events having to be postponed and rescheduled a number of times because of Covid-19. With the progressive easing of lockdown measures, it will be a great relief to return to live performance in June, as long as there is no slippage in the easing of lockdown restrictions. After the difficult time experienced by many, the return of the recital series will be a boost for the wellbeing of everyone who attends”.
The recitals will, as ever, take place in Central Hall at the Dolphin Centre at 3pm on the Sundays listed. Tickets can be bought in advance via the Society’s website – www.dpiano.co.uk – using the booking form there or through a TicketSource link. As the series of events begins after the implementation of Step 4 of lockdown restrictions, tickets will also be available at the door. Full details of the recital programmes can be found there also.
The lockdown situation has provided the opportunity to plan well ahead and plans for the six recitals in the usual winter series, beginning in October, are also in place. “Our efforts during lockdown have secured what I see as a continuum of ten outstanding recitals that every lover of the classical piano repertoire will revel in hearing” added Greg Johnson “and I hope that many will attend and take the opportunity to take a step towards normality as a result.”
For further information please contact Greg Johnson, Chairman, at gregw1949@gmail.com or call 07730 870589
