Russian Voices: Guy Johnston, Joan Rodgers & Sholto Kynoch at Kings Place

We are delighted to return to Kings Place in London, for a co-promoted concert as part of their Cello Unwrapped season. Often compared to a human voice, the cello is a natural partner in song, as composers have long recognised. Here leading cellist Guy Johnston is joined by distinguished soprano Joan Rodgers in a Russian-themed programme which delves into the soulful songs of Rachmaninov, Scriabin and Arensky, and the cosmopolitan Pauline Viardot. The programme includes two works dedicated to Rostropovich: Prokofiev’s bittersweet late Cello Sonata; and Shostakovich’s visionary Romances on the poetry of Alexandr Blok, written for Rostropovich and his wife Galina Vishnevskaya. For the latter, we welcome violinist Sophie Rosa.

Also as part of this concert, exceptional young baritone Michael Mofidian, recent winner of the Oxford Lieder Young Artist Platform, will perform six Arensky Six Romances, the second of which is a duet with cello.

Pre-concert talk: 6.45pm, St Pancras Room
Cellist and guest speaker Justin Pearson has established a fine instrument scheme for the Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain, and has helped many prominent cellists. He draws on long experience of instrument buying and of forming syndicates.

Tickets available here through Kings Place. 

Rachmaninov Lied (Romance) in F minor for cello and piano

Arensky Six Romances, Op. 38

Prokofiev Cello Sonata in C, Op. 119

Viardot The Stars, VWV 1059

Scriabin Romance (1890)

Shostakovich ‘Romance’ and ‘Nocturne’ from the Gadfly Suite, Op. 97a

Shostakovich Seven Romances on Poems by Aleksandr Blok, Op. 127