Daniel Kidane – Be Still
Sergei Rachmaninoff – Piano Concerto No. 2
Dmitri Shostakovich – Symphony No. 8

Tom Evans leader
Marc Dooley conductor
Cordelia Williams piano

12 November 2022, 7.30pm
St John’s Smith Square, London SW1P 3HA

Tickets £12 (concessions £10) available online or on the door. Pre-booking recommended. Booking fees apply.

Composed towards the end of 2020, Daniel Kidane’s ‘Be Still’ is a reflection on a year of lockdowns. The shimmering, hushed music evokes how his memories of that year “slither away from my grasp – like clouds passing by in the sky.”

Rachmaninoff’s hugely popular Piano Concerto No. 2 is brimming with passion and lush harmonies and famously featured in the soundtrack to the 1945 film Brief Encounter. Two years earlier, Shostakovich’s Eighth Symphony was premiered, evoking the drama, chaos and tragedy of World War II and ending with a glimmer of optimism.

Polish-Welsh-English pianist Cordelia Williams is recognised for the poetry, conviction and depth of her artistry. Since becoming Piano Winner of BBC Young Musician 2006 she has performed all over the world. Her 2021 album Nightlight received rave reviews across the board and was awarded Critics’ Choice (International Piano) and Recording of the Year (MusicWeb International).

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February 2023 update

Cordelia Williams has produced a fascinating and inspiring video diary of her preparation for this concert. 

Here’s part 2 – including some highlights from the final performance: 

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