The truly outstanding Isle of Wight pianist Thomas Luke (pictured left) will perform Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto no.2 with the Isle of Wight Symphony Orchestra at their concert on 21st January.
Thomas was the keyboard category winner of the prestigious BBC Young Musician of the Year in 2020 and has also recently been awarded first place in the Iris Dyer Piano Prize at the Junior Royal Academy of Music.
In 2022 he received the offer of a full scholarship to study at the Royal College of Music, where he is now a Leverhulme Arts Scholar.
Rachmaninov’s Concerto no.2
has been hugely popular since its creation in 1901, being full of memorable melodies and rich late-Romantic harmony.
The work is something of a rite of passage for concert pianists, being both technically and physically demanding.
The effort is definitely worth it though, as this music is so fluently structured as to sound as if it wrote itself. It is no surprise that themes from the concerto have featured in numerous films, most notably David Lean’s ‘Brief Encounter’.
‘Hansel and Gretel’ by Humperdinck
The concert begins with the remarkable overture to the opera ‘Hansel and Gretel’ by Humperdinck.
This is a beautifully written piece that reveals a mastery of Romantic musical language.
Symphony no.2 by Sibelius
Symphony no.2 by Sibelius features in the second half and is a work of intense originality.
The music of Sibelius is thought to be inextricably connected to his homeland of Finland, where he is a figure of great significance. He is now considered to be one of the finest symphonists of all time.
The orchestra are very grateful for the excellent and insightful work of guest conductor James Thomas (pictured right) in preparing for this event.
Where and when
The concert takes place on Saturday 21st January 2023 at Medina Theatre
The evening begins at 7.15pm and the orchestra is delighted to be supporting The Wight Brainy Bunch at all of its concerts this season.
Sponsorship from Wightlink is invaluable in helping the orchestra maintain the high quality of their concerts from year to year.
Book your seats via the Medina Theatre Website.
News shared by Gareth on behalf of Isle of Wight Symphony Orchestra. Ed
