David Brain (piano)

Arriving at the end of Schumann's first creative decade of sustained production for the piano, the Drei Romanzen, Songs without Words in all but name, were justly regarded by their composer with great satisfaction and pride. They are followed by the robust counterpoint of Bach's perennial three movement Italian Concerto, a work which has always been a firm favourite on the concert platform. This comes before the performer's own colourful piano suite: The Zodiac, in which all twelve star signs are represented in their respective characters and moods.

There will be an interval with refreshments

In the second half of the recital there is an opportunity to hear all thirteen Preludes which comprise Rachmaninoff's Op 32; heroic works of great technical amplitude written in the wake of the Third Piano Concerto.