March 24th 2012 Celebrity Concert £15
tickets only
Levon Chilingirian ~ violin
Michael Dussek ~ piano
photo photo
Programme
Sonata in Bb K454 Mozart
Rondo in B minor D895 Schubert
Sonata in A Op47 "Kreutzer" Beethoven

Levon Chilingirian was born in Cyprus into a musical Armenian family. In London he studied at the Royal College of Music where he is now a professor. His early influences in music were his uncle, violinist Manoug Parikian, his teacher Hugh Bean, musicologist Hans Keller, and the Amadeus Quartet. His long-standing partnership with Clifford Benson was launched by winning the first prizes in both the 1969 BBC Beethoven Competition and the 1971 Munich Duo International Competition. Recital appearances have taken the duo to most European countries and their recordings include works by Schubert and Frank Bridge He performs as a soloist, in recitals and concerto appearances with numerous orchestras, and with other chamber music partners. He performed the Sinfonia Concertante on the Amadeus soundtrack by Sir Neville Marriner and was invited by Steven Isserlis to lead a performance of the Schubert Quintet to end the millenium"s music at Wigmore Hall. He has been the artistic director and first violin of the Camerata Nordica in Sweden and is also the artistic director of the Mendelssohn on Mull Festival and of the Pharos Festival in Cyprus. Recently he has given masterclasses at the New England Conservatory in Boston and, with the Chilingirian Quartet, is directing the teaching of chamber music for the well-known El Sistema in Venezuela. He received the Cobbett Medal, the Royal Philharmonic Society's chamber music award and, in January 2000, an OBE in the Queen's Honours List.

Michael Dussek performs in major concert venues throughout the world, partnering leading instrumentalists and singers. Recent collaborations have included tours of Japan with violinist Ryu Goto, including concerts recorded live for CD and DVD by Deutsche Grammophon from Tokyo's Suntory Hall; recitals at the Wigmore Hall and for BBC Radio 3 with violinist Leos Cepicky and cellist Gemma Rosefield; and the opening concerts at London's Kings Place as a member of Endymion. Described by BBC Music Magazine as "an outstanding artist" Michael has recorded almost 50 CDs. His Performance of York Bowen's 1st Piano Concerto with Vernon Handley and the BBC Concert Orchestra was selected for Fanfare Magazine's Hall of Fame. In all he recorded 23 CDs in Dutton Epoch's highly acclaimed survey of neglected British music. As a member of the Dussek Piano Trio he has recorded works by Arensky, Brahms, Bridge, Haydn and Hurlstone. He has also recorded solo works by Clifford Benson, Britten, Nielsen and Rubbra. He is a professor and Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music.