at 7.30pm
Elgar: Violin Sonata in E minor, Op.82
Brahms: Violin Sonata in G, Op.78
The Violin Sonata of 1887 is really the last full-length chamber piece to be written by Strauss. Most violin sonatas of the late nineteenth century were written by composers on the "Brahms" side of the musical divide. Strauss however was firmly on the "Wagner" side of the musical divide, and that makes this sonata particularly interesting.Elgar composed his Violin Sonata towards the end of World War One, at the same time that he was working on his String Quartet. They share the same key, and much else besides. There is a certain reserve and perhaps nostalgia in these works (and also in the Piano Quintet he was working on at around this time).
One of the greatest works for violin and piano ever written, Brahms' first Violin Sonata is both deeply lyrical and tightly structured. It is sometimes known as the "Regenlied" sonata, because the opening of the final movement quotes from Brahms' song "Regen" (Rain).
This concert was made possible with generous support from the
Countess of Munster Musical Trust
Eloisa-Fleur Thom is a violinist increasingly in demand both as soloist and chamber musician performing concertos and recitals across the country. She studied as an undergraduate at the Royal Academy of Music where she was awarded the Edwin Samuel Dove Prize and the Mary Burgess Prize for BMus Graduates Academic Achievement at graduation. Eloisa-Fleur also received the John Mundy Gift, Ayling Academic Prize, the Amadeus Scholarship and the John Waterhouse Prize.
Through prizes and engagements, Eloisa-Fleur has also enjoyed performing as soloist with many orchestras. Recent performances include concertos by Dvorak, Bruch
and Mozart. She has given concerts at prestigious venues such as the Bridgewater Hall, Fairfield's Hall, St Martin-in-the-fields, Chichester Festival, Wigmore Hall
and Kings Place.
Mark Austin began his musical education on the violin aged 4, and has since forged a distinctive musical life as a pianist and conductor. Mark enjoys a busy schedule as a duo partner and gives regular recitals. He has performed in venues including St Martin’s in the Fields, St John’s, Smith Square, Purcell Room, and Holywell Music Room, Oxford as well as at a number of prestigious private events, including at Chequers, and the Austrian Cultural Forum. He is also musical director of the Faust Ensemble and assistant accompanist to The Bach Choir.