Award winning cellist Răzvan Suma and charismatic pianist Rebeca Omordia join forces for a sensational musical and geographical journey which takes them in several of Britain's cities and into the timeless tones of Edward Elgar, Ian Venables and John Ireland. The programme, entitled 'Do You Like...British Music?', is completed with a new work especially written for the duo by composer and critic Robert Matthew-Walker. George Enescu's 'Sonata for cello and piano' provides a Romanian adagio to an all-British catalogue.
The tour is organised by the Romanian Cultural Institute in partnership with The John Ireland Trust and Fourchiefs Production, with Archery Promotions and Classical Journey as media partners.
Programme:
Edward Elgar - 'Salut d'amour' op. 12
Ian Venables - 'Elegy for cello and piano' op. 2
Frank Bridge - 'Scherzetto for cello and piano'
John Ireland - 'Sonata for cello and piano" in G minor
Robert Matthew Walker - 'Fast Music' op. 158 (world premiere)
George Enescu - 'Sonata for cello and piano' in F minor: Allegro
Tour dates:
Wednesday 8 March, 1.10pm - Hertford College Music Society, Oxford - please book with the venue
Thursday 9 March, 7pm - The Romanian Cultural Institute within the 'Enescu Concerts' Series, London - free concert, booking essential with Eventbrite
Friday 10 March, 1pm - Birmingham and Midland Institute, Birmingham - please book with the venue
Monday 13 March, 1.05pm - Blackheath Halls, London - free concert, please book with the venue
Tuesday 14 March, 1.05pm - Cheltenham Town Hall - please book with the venue
Friday 17 March, 1.10pm - St James's Church Piccadilly - free concert, no booking required
Monday 20 March, 1.00pm - St Martin-in-the-Fields - free concert, no booking required
Born in Romania to a Romanian mother and a Nigerian father, Rebeca Omordia graduated from the National Music University in Bucharest in 2006. She was awarded full scholarships to study at Birmingham Conservatoire and later at Trinity College of Music in London. The Delius Prize won in 2009 opened the collaboration with the world renowned cellist Julian Lloyd Webber. They formed a 3-year partnership, touring the UK, performing in renowned venues including at the Wigmore Hall and Kings Place in London, at Highgrove for the Prince's Trust, at William Alwyn and Barnes Music Festivals and several live broadcasts for BBC Radio 3. Described by Birmingham Post as 'a pianist willing to take risks', Rebeca Omordia has performed intensively as a soloist and with orchestras in prestigious venues in Europe and in the United States including Birmingham Town Hall, White Hall in Helsinki, Romanian Athaeneum and Radio Hall in Bucharest. In 2015 the John Ireland Trust sponsored her 'John Ireland' Tour of UK and Romania which included highly acclaimed performances of the composer's Piano Sonata, Legend for Piano and Orchestra, several outstanding miniatures and the Cello Sonata. Rebeca has made a name for herself as a vibrant and exciting virtuoso who is demand throughout the UK and abroad. She has worked with world renowned artists including saxophonist Amy Dickson, cellists Raphael Wallfisch, Jiaxin Lloyd Webber, Joseph Spooner and Răzvan Suma and British pianist Mark Bebbington. 2016-2017 Season includes two album releases: SOMM Records release of first ever complete piano music by Ralph Vaughan Williams with pianist Mark Bebbington and EM Records recording of works for cello and piano with cellist Joseph Spooner.
Răzvan Suma is the most acclaimed Romanian cellist of the moment. Resident cellist and director of Romanian National Radio Orchestras, Răzvan Suma is a graduate of the National Music University in Bucharest, where he also received his PhD, and studied at Longy School of Music in Cambrige, Massachusets, on the Artist Diploma Programme. Winner of many international cello competitions, he has performed intensively as a soloist throughout the world. He was invited at the MDR Music Festival in Dresden, Germany, Murten Classics Festival in Switzerland or SONORO Festival in Romania. Razvan has worked with world renowned musicians such as Maxim Vengerov, Alexander Sitkovetski, Borromeo Quartet, Misha Katz, Jin Wang, Cristian Mandeal and Marin Cazacu. Since 2011, Răzvan has been touring Romania every year with 'Vă place...?' ('Do you like...?'/ 'Aimez-vous...?') project. The first edition of the tour - 'Do You Like Bach?' - was conceived around J.S. Bach - The Six Suites for Unaccompanied Cello, followed by 'Do You Like Brahms?', 'Do You Like Spanish music?', and most recently, 'Do You Like Schu-bert/mann?' and "Do You Like British Music?". Răzvan Suma is a member of the Cellissimo Quartet, performing alongside Marin Cazacu, Alexandra Guţu and Octavian Lup. He is also playing regularly all over the world with his duo partner, Spanish pianist Josu Okiñena. In 2007 they recorded J. Brahms sonatas for cello and piano. The solo career of the musician is combined with teaching as an associate professor at the National Music University in Bucharest. Răzvan Suma is playing a Charles Adolph Maucotell cello, built in Paris, in 1849, the former instrument of the great cellist Pierre Fournier.
