The concert opens with Saint-Saëns’ Introduction & Rondo Capriccioso, which offers charm and wittiness that lifts off ones feet into dance with its catchy rondo. Beethoven’s Kreutzer Sonata will then take centre stage with three movements, each possessing distinctive and dynamic temperaments. The first movement brings a serene opening A major, which then quickly dissolves to an emotional charged spectacle in A minor. The second is an easy-going tune in F major followed by its five variations. The last features a tarantella filled with adrenaline. To close the concert, Joachim Raff’s Cavatina from a set of salon pieces will be performed in celebrating his 200th Birthday.
Doris Kuo
An accomplished violinist and Southbank Sinfonia Alumni from New Zealand with an MMus from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Over the years Doris has worked with a range of internationally acclaimed conductors and performed in festivals in both the UK and Germany. Most recently she studied with Caroline Pether and Oliver Wille for her Masters at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. In New Zealand, she was one of the recipients of Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra Scholarships and a nominee for the National Young Performers Award. She is passionate about collaborating with fellow musicians in orchestral and chamber settings as well as participating in educational projects and imparting musical knowledge to younger generations. Aside from her career in the classical world, she has also been invited to play for bands around the UK. Since summer 2021 she has started performing a series of chamber recitals in London churches and more concerts are on their way this year.
Chih-Jung Lai
Pianist Chih-Jung Lai made his concerto debut with Kaohsiung Youth Symphony Orchestra in 2007, playing Mendelssohn's first concerto. He has performed in numerous concert halls including Taipei National Concert Hall, National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts, Rector’s Palace in Croatia, etc. He is also selected to play in several masterclasses and festivals, such as Salzburg Festival under Dominique Merlet and Robert Levin, and workshop by Maria João Pires. Chih-Jung is currently studying at the Royal College of Music for Artist Diploma under Ilya Kondratiev and Sofya Gulyak. He graduated with his Bachelor’s degree from the National Taipei University of the Arts (Taiwan) where he studied with German pianist, Rolf-Peter Wille. Wille’s guidance nurtured Chih-Jung’s interest in German-speaking composers, especially Beethoven and Schubert. Chih-Jung has won prizes at several national and international competitions, including first prize in the International Haydn Piano Competition in Vienna, and second prize in the national piano competition in Taiwan.