Programme

J. Dowland (1563-1626) ‘Come again…’

4 English Ballades ‘Lord Randall’, ‘Down by the Sally Gardens’, ‘Green Sleeves’, ‘The Cuckoo’

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Mozart (1756-1791) Sonata in F major no.12 K.332 in 3 movements;

Chopin (1810-1849) 2 Nocturnes: op.9 no.1 (in B-flat minor), op.9 no.2 in E-flat major

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Gluck (1714-1787) ‘Gli sguardi trattieni’ from ‘Orpheus’;

Gluck 'O del mio dolce ardor (‘Paris et Hélène);

Purcell (1659-1695) ‘The Cold Song’ (‘King Arthur)

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Debussy (1862-1918) Prelude ‘Ondine’;

Debussy ‘L’isle joyeuse’;

Ginastera (1916-1983) 3 Argentinian Dances

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Bizet (1838-1875) Habanera (‘Carmen’);

Handel (1685-1759) ‘Lachia ch’io pianga’;

Saint-Saëns ‘Mon coeur’ (‘Samson et Dalila’)

Konstantin Lapshin

Distinguished Russian/British pianist, Konstantin Lapshin, named “a very special talent” by Murray Perahia, is a prize-winner in more than 15 international

piano competitions. Konstantin has: “A big, impressive technique, and the impulsive, Romantic expression that has been a hallmark of so many Russian pianists, including Rachmaninov and Horowitz”- remarked 'Fanfare' Magazine (USA).

Konstantin enjoys an international playing career which takes him across Europe, America and Africa and to concert halls such as Royal Albert Hall, Wigmore Hall, Manchester’s Bridgwater Hall and Paris’s Salle Cortot. His performances have been broadcast in Russia, UK (BBC Radio 3), Poland, Serbia and Argentina.

In 2014, Konstantin was invited to play Rachmaninov's Concerto no.3 with Odessa Philharmonic and Grammy award-winning conductor and pianist Mikhail Pletnev. The performance was part of the Rachmaninov Festival in Odessa dedicated to the victims

of the tragic events that had occurred in Ukraine earlier that year.

2023 found Konstantin organising and performing recitals dedicated to the 150th Rachmaninov Anniversary In Portugal (Amigos de Musica in Os Agostos, Algarve), Italy

(Lesa, Lago Maggiore) and France (Paris, Les Amis de Marie-Laure).

Originating from Russia, Konstantin made London his home in 2007, initially to continue his studies in the UK at the Royal College of Music. There he attained his Doctoral Degree, as well as the highest RCM prize, The Queen Elizabeth Rose Bowl. Subsequently, he performed for the then HRH Price Charles and today teaches at the college.

Konstantin is also much in demand as a chamber musician. The CD of the music by Welsh composer Grace Williams, which he recorded in collaboration with M. Mitchell and other musicians, has recently been named 'The CD of the week' by the 'Guardian' and was 2nd in the UK classical music charts.

Website: www.konstantinlapshin.com

JOAQUIN SOFREDINI

Joaquín Sofredini is a prizewinning Argentinian composer, actor and countertenor. From an early age, Joaquín has taken singing lessons in his hometown Paraná. After his permanent move to Buenos Aires in 2004, a grant awarded by ‘Fondo de las Artes’ allowed him to study with Ricardo Yost and perfect his vocal range.

He also began chamber music studies with the harpsichordist Monica Cosachov and, in 2007, he developed as a countertenor at the Conservatorio Beethoven with Marilu Anselmi.

In 2009, Joaquín debuted as Orfeo in the Gluck opera “Orfeo and Euridice” with great success. Since then Joaquin has performed extensively across Argentina taking part in opera and theatre productions and presenting his own shows.

At the beginning of 2019, Joaquín was invited by the prestigious La Botica del Ángel to perform his new show “De luces y Sombras”, whereupon the artistic French company Tall Men Productions commissioned him to undertake a concert tour in different cities of France. Thus began Joaquín’s new international career with performances in Paris, at the Avignon Festival, Strasbourg festival ‘Clair de Nuite’, in Marceille at ‘Foire Internationale’ among the others.

In 2021 Joaquin made his UK debut performing a concert “Music by the Moonlight” at the Kensington and Chelsea Festival, and in the same year he received an award “Best Classical Singer”, given by the Stars of the Albion International Festival and Competition (London).

The last couple of years saw Joaquin performing in Europe (Portugal, Italy, France) and UK. One of the highlights was his performance in London at the prestigious

“Reform Club”, being chosen by director Alexia Mankovskaya to play the role of Amore in the opera “Orfeo ed Eurídice”.

Website: www.joaquinsoffredini.com