Trio Obbligato

"England's Green and Pleasant Land"

All acclaimed leading soloists and chamber musicians in their own fields, Trio Obbligato enjoys a vibrant collaboration exploring masterful works for the winning combination of mezzo, viola and piano. Tonight's programme "England's Green and Pleasant Land" includes trios by Bridge and Rubbra, piano solos by John Ireland and some English rarities for voice and viola.

Susan Legg, since winning the National Mozart Singing Competition, has enjoyed a flourishing career that has taken her to major concert venues throughout the world. Specialising in contemporary song, lieder and chanson, she is regularly broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and has recorded for Norwegian Radio. The legendary mezzo soprano Christa Ludwig described Susan's lyric mezzo as 'a beautiful voice with a fine coloratura'. Susan has given concerts at the Wigmore Hall, Purcell Room, St. John, Smith's Square and St. James's Palace as well as major venues in Moscow, Copenhagen and Stockholm. Susan studied singing with Margaret Kingsley at the Royal College of Music and the National Opera Studio and piano with Clifford Benson and Phyllis Sellick.

Christopher Wellington, first ever Principal Viola of the National Youth Orchestra, won 1st class honours in Music at Oxford and studied the viola with Frederick Riddle and Keith Cummings. In a varied career he has appeared at the Queen Elizabeth Hall as soloist on viola and viola d'amore, given recitals in the Purcell Room and elsewhere, played as Principal with the Philharmonia Orchestra and several chamber orchestras and has been viola player of the Zorian and Amici String Quartets and the Music Group of London. An experienced teacher in London conservatoires, masterclasses and chamber music coaching have taken him as far afield as USA, Australia and China.

Alan Brown studied piano and cello with Ruth Harte and Lily Philips at the Royal Academy of Music, where he was awarded the prestigious Recital Diploma and won many prizes. Since his Wigmore Hall debut Alan has appeared many times at the Purcell Room and Fairfield Halls and throughout the UK, Europe and Australia. With a repertoire of more than thirty concertos Alan's recent performances include Rachmaninoff's 1st Concerto, Brahms' 2nd and those by Arthur Bliss and John Ireland. Alan coaches at both the Royal Academy of Music and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. In addition, he has a regular summer commitment to international violin courses at Weimar, Salzburg and in Slovenia with Igor Ozim.