Violin and Piano Concert

Violin and piano duo promise passion and playfulness

Virtuosic violin and piano playing promise to deliver passion as well as playfulness when Madeleine Pickering and Julian Chan perform at Festival Drayton Centre on Sunday (24 March).

Madeleine has performed major violin and viola concertos with numerous orchestras while Julian has collaborated with eminent composers of new music, having published his own first book of compositions aged six. Both have won prestigious prizes as soloists. For their concert in Market Drayton they have chosen some of their favourite music for violin and piano duo.

They will open with five miniatures by Sibelius, not often performed, which are full of charm and melodic invention. A second suite of short pieces, by Britten, are similarly light-hearted and include a contemplative lullaby, a sonorous march, and a flamboyant waltz.

At the core of the performance, Schumann's second violin sonata explores intense changes of mood leading to an exuberant conclusion and Poulenc's violin sonata is a tender and expressive tribute to the murdered poet Lorca.

They will also play the short Romance for Violin and Piano written by Scottish composer Helen Grime in 2003, described as 'serenely beautiful'.

Nancy Stewart, who goes to all the classical music concerts at Festival Drayton, said "The joy of this series is that we hear exceptionally talented musicians who are passionate about their playing and also about sharing their passion with the audience. It makes for a great performance."

The concert starts at 3pm on Sunday 24 March. Tickets cost £15 or £5 for under 21's.