Paul Silverthorne has combined a prolific solo career with principal positions in two of the most prestigious ensembles in London; the London Symphony Orchestra (from 1990 to 2015) and the London Sinfonietta since 1988.
His solo performances regularly take him to the USA, Far East, Australia and Russia as well as closer to home in the UK and Europe. He has performed as a soloist with such conductors as Sir Colin Davis, André Previn, Sir Simon Rattle, Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Christopher Hogwood, Oliver Knussen, John Adams and Kent Nagano, with the LSO and other major orchestras in the UK, USA and Europe. After a performance at the Proms,TheTimes (London) described him as “a virtuoso in sensitivity and technique”.
After leaving the LSO in October 2015 he spent three years as Professor of Viola at the School of Music at Soochow University in Suzhou, China before returning to London to resume his teaching at the Royal Academy of Music and his position in the London Sinfonietta.
David Owen Norris is a pianist, composer and broadcaster. He has performed all over the world since his appointment as the first Gilmore Artist in 1991. His compositions include a Symphony, a Piano Concerto, the oratorios Prayerbook and Turning Points, and the multi-media tribute to the passing seasons, HengeMusic.
His Chord of the Week programmes on BBC2 television have been a popular feature of the Proms for six years. His many radio presentations have included the Playlist series on Radio 4, and In Tune and The Works on Radio 3, where he will shortly record his 27th appearance on Building a Library comparing recordings of Elgar’s Violin Sonata.
His recordings to be released in 2019 include Mozart Concertos on fortepiano for Hyperion, the complete Chamber Music of Grace Williams for Naxos, and the complete songs of Sir William Sterndale Bennett for EM Records. He is currently filming Sullivan songs in the Elizabeth Gaskell House, and will shortly record a third disc of Sullivan songs for Chandos.
Paul and David have worked together many times over several decades, their recent CD, 'Beethoven by Arrangement', a collection of works arranged for viola and piano and issued on theToccata Classics label was widely praised. “with a performance of the quality here, we can experience the dedicated and delightful musicianship that these players bring to this wonderful music.” [International Record Review]
Further recordings are in the planned for 2020.