Ulrich Heinen (cello) and John Humphreys (piano)

Sunday 10th November at 3.00pm

(Doors will open at 2.30pm for patrons to enjoy refreshments in the bar. Tea and cake available too)

Programme:

Bach: Gamba Sonata No.2 in D major, BWV 1028

Beethoven: Sonata in A major, Op.69

Interval

Schubert: 'Arpeggione' Sonata, D.821

Debussy: Sonata (1915)

Ulrich Heinen came to the UK in 1984 at the request of Sir Simon Rattle to become principal cellist of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. His formidable technique and musicianship have enabled him to further develop his solo career with numerous recitals, concerts and radio broadcasts. He co-founded the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, which is one of Britain’s most important ensembles for contemporary music.

Ulrich Heinen has over the years commissioned solo cello pieces from composers Simon Holt, Howard Skempton, and Gerald Barry. He has performed all of them many times, mostly in conjunction with J.S. Bach’s cello suites (as demonstrated here) or in connection with the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group

John Humphreys studied at the Royal Academy of Music and on an Austrian government scholarship in Vienna. He made his Wigmore Hall début in 1972 with Busoni’s rarely heard Fantasia contrappuntistica and since then has appeared throughout Great Britain as soloist, accompanist and chamber musician with many appearances at the South Bank Centre, Wigmore Hall, BBC Radio 3 broadcasts and recordings for Naxos. He was Associate Head of Keyboard Studies at Birmingham Conservatoire until 2009. He is also chairman and artistic advisor to the Dudley International Piano Competition. In 1998 he was awarded the ARAM for his ʻdistinguished contribution to music.’  John and Uli have enjoyed a performing partnership of over thirty years.