PIANO, VIOLIN AND HORN: Music for Spring by two Titans of the Romantic era.

Leading South African concert pianist Andrew Warburton is joined by eminent members of the KZNPO, Violeta and Sorin Osorhean,  in a trio of thrilling works from the solo and chamber repertoire. Andrew opens the concert with the set of 6 Bagatelles Op.126 for piano, by Beethoven. Originally a ‘bagatelle” was a short character piece for piano based on folkloristic roots. He paints a far richer canvas in these pieces, although in the faster movements one can still discern traces of the harvest dance! Andrew will then be joined by Violeta for Beethoven’s much loved “Spring” sonata for Violin and Piano, Op.24.

Brahms’ Trio for Piano, Violin and Horn Op. 40 was written later in the century, and is one of very few works for this combination of instruments. Brilliant writing for these instruments is contrasted vividly by the pathos of the slow movement. The breathtaking finale uses the traditional hunting horn call as its primary theme.

Both Violeta and Sorin grew up in Romania. They relocated to Durban in 2005 to take up leading positions in the KZNPO. Andrew has played concertos with every South African orchestra since 1982. He  lectures piano, and heads Western Classical Performance Studies at UKZN.