Romantic Dialogues from the Russian Masters

PROGRAMME

Bach: English Suite No. 2 in A minor, BWV 807: I. Prelude 

A vibrant and intricate opening movement filled with flowing counterpoint, rhythmic drive, and dazzling keyboard brilliance, showcasing Bach’s mastery of Baroque architecture and elegance.

Mendelssohn: Songs Without Words, Op. 38 No. 3 in E major

Mendelssohn’s Songs Without Words helped define a new Romantic piano genre: lyrical “songs” without text, where the piano sings with the intimacy and expressiveness of the human voice. Written for the young Clara Wieck (later Clara Schumann), this graceful miniature unfolds with flowing arpeggios and elegant lyricism, reflecting Mendelssohn’s gift for poetic refinement and melodic beauty.

Arensky: Piano Trio No.1 in D minor, op. 32

Though often compared to Tchaikovsky for his lyrical warmth and melodic charm, Arensky cultivated a more cosmopolitan musical voice rather than pursuing a distinctly Russian nationalist style. Composed while he was teaching at the Moscow Conservatoire, the D minor Piano Trio remains his most enduring chamber work, admired for its dramatic passion, elegant beauty, and deeply expressive melodies — qualities that led Leo Tolstoy to praise Arensky as “simple and melodious.”

Intermission - 15 minutes

Rachmaninoff: Sonata for Piano and Cello in G minor, op. 19

With its sweeping passion and melodic appeal, much in the same vein as Rachmaninoff’s beloved Second Piano Concerto, the Cello Sonata has enjoyed immense popularity. Its virtuosic piano writing and luxuriant cello melodies create a richly expressive dialogue, making it one of the composer’s most cherished chamber works, and regrettably, his last contribution to the genre.

Chopin Preludes Op. 28, no. 20-24

The closing five preludes of Chopin’s Op. 28 form the culmination of one of the piano repertoire’s most remarkable musical journeys. Though each prelude is a self-contained miniature, together they create an emotional landscape far greater than the sum of their parts. Moving through moments of solemnity, lyricism, agitation, and mounting drama, the cycle ultimately arrives at the dark and turbulent D minor Prelude No. 24, bringing the set to a powerful and unforgettable conclusion.

ARTISTS

Dr Poom Prommachart piano
Harit Chunhanantasap piano
Lim Zhi Hsuan violin
Jonathan Oh cello
Reanne Leow Le Xuan piano

DATE

Sat 11 July 2026, 3.00pm

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