Programme

W.A. Mozart (1756 – 1791)                   Rondo K. 485

J. Françaix (1912 – 1997)                     Mozart New Look

F. Schubert (1797 – 1828)                    Impromptu in Gb Major op. 90 no. 3

V. Neuling (1775 – 1846)                      Sonata in G Major for mandolin and fortepiano op. 8                                                              

J.N. Hummel (1778 – 1837)                 Grande Sonata in C Major op. 37a                                                               

L. van Beethoven (1770 – 1827)         Bagatelle in G Major op. 119 no. 6

                                                               Andante and Variations in D Major WoO 44b                                                             

For the past decade, mandolinist and multi-instrumentalist Alon Sariel has been breathing new life into the mandolin, inspiring critics and audiences alike with his contagious musicianship and flawless technique, making him one of the highest ranked mandolinists in the world. With a record of over a thousand concerts in more than 35 countries, he maintains a multifaceted career as a soloist, chamber player and artistic director in diverse productions. With Sariel’s ever-growing curiosity for different cultures and genres, various plucked instruments find their way to his hands and often ‘when it clicks’, as he puts it, ‘they come to stay’. In his concerts, he easily switches between those ‘plucked partners’ to create diverse musical experiences for his audiences. In his release Plucked Bach (PENTATONE), Alon Sariel approaches Bach’s solo music in enticing new arrangements on different mandolins and lutes, the baroque guitar and the oud. For the Beethoven anniversary in 2020, he was invited by Naxos to record the composer’s works for mandolin and fortepiano. With his album Telemandolin (Berlin Classics) Sariel has become the first mandolinist to be awarded an OPUS KLASSIK. Alon Sariel is a goodwill ambassador for the animal welfare organisation Pro Animale. In his free he likes to be among nature, to read or meditate.

Keiko Shichijo is a Japanese pianist who has earned glowing reviews for her performances: ‘few of the liberties she takes feel as if they emerge in any way other than organically from the music and from the moment of performance’. (Gramophone) Her playinhg combines a traditional Japanese sensitivity with a thorough knowledge of European historical performance practice. This leads to a unique vision, which is revealed in her feeling for the music, for the instruments, and for their underlying story. Keiko is a prizewinner in many international competitions, including twice in the International Early Music Competition (solo and duo), Brugge, the International Early Music Competition ‘A Tre’, Trossingen, and the Minkoff Prize from the music publisher, Edition Minkoff. Her violin/fortepiano duo with renowned violinist Cecilia Bernardini performs regularly throughout Europe. As a specialist in contemporary music, Keiko has collaborated with many composers, including Helmut Lachenmann, Tom Johnson, and Jürg Frey. Keiko Shichijo performs worldwide, with both solo repertoire and chamber music and has released many CDs of repertoire by Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert, Komitas, Satie, Tom Johnson and others. She is a piano and fortepiano professor at the Fontys Academy for Music and Performing Arts,Tilburg, and a pianoforte professor at KASK & Conservatorium School of Arts, Ghent. Keiko sat on the adjudicating panel for the 2019 edition of the International Competition Musica Antiqua.