Sedbergh Music Festival 2010

Christine Stevenson

This recital celebrates the bicentenary of Chopin’s birth by presenting works which date from his ‘Winter in Majorca’ : November 1838 to February 1839. He travelled there with Aurore Dudevant, better known as Georges Sand, and although all went well at first in warm weather, Chopin’s health deteriorated when the rains came. The party of five - including Georges’ two children and a maid - had to leave Palma ; no-one would let accommodation to a possible consumptive. They lodged in an abandoned Carthusian monastery in the hills at Valldemossa , where Chopin worked on the Preludes Op 28, the second Ballade Op 38, the third Scherzo Op 39, and the Polonaises Op 40.

This evening’s programme also includes pieces by Bach and Mozart, whose music Chopin deeply admired; one of Chopin’s songs transcribed by his friendly rival Liszt; three Romances by Schumann, who shares this bicentennial year; and Debussy’s suite Pour le Piano: Debussy studied with a pupil of Chopin. Four beautiful miniatures by English composer Thomas Hewitt Jones complete the recital, which will be introduced by Christine Stevenson.

Christine Stevenson enjoys a distinguished career as a piano recitalist and concerto soloist throughout the UK and abroad. Her concerts continually draw critical acclaim for her virtuosity, musicianship, and the engaging rapport she establishes with audiences of all ages. The current season’s projects include programmes celebrating the music of Chopin in his bicentenary year at festivals in Cumbria, Kent and Suffolk, as well as taking part in a performance of Satie’s ‘Vexations’ in the London Sinfonietta’s ‘Experiment!’ festival at King’s Place, London. A tour in Australia in June 2009 included recitals at the Woodend Winter Arts Festival, recorded for broadcast by the ABC, as well as masterclasses in Melbourne and Geelong. Christine’s recording of music by award-winning composer Thomas Hewitt Jones is now available on CD and on iTunes

Winner of the prestigious Dom Polski Chopin Competition, Christine’s wide experience includes the premiere CD recording of Alkan’s ‘Rondo Brillant’ with members of the London Mozart Players, live and recorded broadcasts for the ABC and BBC, and a period as Musician in Residence at the Chisholm Institute. She has performed in a film featuring chamber music of Margaret Sutherland and Helen Gifford, and toured northern Australia for the Arts Council in collaboration with selected actors, a visual artist and a dancer in multi-arts presentations.

An inspiring communicator, she is regularly invited to give masterclasses at the Hereford Summer School for Pianists, the City Lit, Jackdaws and Hindhead; she has taught advanced performance at Lancaster University, and is on the staff of the Junior Department of the Royal College of Music in London. Born in Melbourne, Christine graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts with distinction, being twice awarded the Gaitskell prize for the most outstanding student. She studied with pupils of Cortot, Nadia Boulanger and Michelangeli, and with the celebrated English pianist, Ronald Smith, also participating in masterclasses given by Sergei Dorensky, Aldo Ciccolini and Vlado Perlemuter. Future plans include projects to celebrate the forthcoming bi-centenaries of other great pianist-composers of the Romantic Period - Liszt and Alkan.