Please note that this is a FREE event for those attending the Two-Piano Gala concert at 7.30pm. A separate booking for the talk is required.

London-born composer Sally Beamish studied viola at the RNCM with Patrick Ireland, and in Detmold with Bruno Giuranna, and was a founder member of the Raphael Ensemble. She also performed regularly with the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields and the London Sinfonietta, and was principal viola in the London Mozart Players and Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

This year’s London Piano Festival highlights include the UK premiere of Beamish’s Sonnets, a new work for for three pianists and two pianos co-commissioned by the LPF and the New Ross Piano Festival, here to be performed by Katya Apekisheva, Finghin Collins and Charles Owen. Inspired by the story of Shakespeare writing his sonnets, Beamish represents the three characters by the three pianists, who share two piano, explaining that ‘as the story plays out, the music reflects passion, jealousy, joy and desperation, as the characters portray their conflicting emotions – from humble page turner to triumphant soloist; pursuer, pursued; moving between the pianos rather like a game of progressive table tennis.’

Owen Mortimer, Editor of International Piano, will interview Beamish in this pre-concert talk ahead of the Gala.