Harriet Mackenzie & Danny Driver

One of Britain’s most respected pianists, Danny Driver is recognised internationally for his sophistication, insight and musical depth. His studies at Cambridge University and the Royal College of Music inspired his holistic approach to performance and enabled him to cultivate a broad repertoire from J S Bach to the present day. Concerto engagements have included the Hallé, Royal Philharmonic, and Minnesota Orchestras, as well as two appearances at the BBC Proms.

Danny Driver shows how dazzling virtuosity can coexist with interpretive depth.

(San Francisco Classical Voice)

Recent recital highlights have included frequent visits to London’s Wigmore Hall (including a three-concert series focussed on György Ligeti), the Southbank International Piano Series, as well as engagements in the USA, Sweden, Toronto, Montreal, Paris, and Osaka. Since 2008 Driver has released an extensive series of acclaimed recital and concerto recordings on the Hyperion label, and has been twice nominated for a Gramophone Award. He was appointed professor of piano and contemporary piano at London’s Royal College of Music in 2016.

Harriet Mackenzie is an internationally renowned concerto soloist and has performed across five continents. Recordings include concertos with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra Nova and the English Symphony Orchestra and these have received international acclaim, including a ***** review in The Times, ‘Editor’s Choice’ in Gramophone Magazine and a nomination for ‘Recording of The Year’ in Music Web International.

Mackenzie plays with searing intensity; a performance full of panache – captivating

(The Strad)

She has performed concertos and recitals in the world’s most prestigious halls such as the Concertgebouw, Wigmore Hall, Budapest Marble Hall, Southbank Centre, Auditorio Nacional Madrid, Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall, Beijing NCPA, Shanghai Oriental Arts Centre, Seoul International Concert Hall, and Kyiv Hall of Marble Columns. A multi-faceted virtuoso, she is also fascinated by world music styles and composes and improvises in many different styles.

There is a completeness, a confidence, an honesty and a consistent lyrical beauty that has moved me again and again. These qualities all emerge in Harriet Mackenzie’s utterly magisterial performance.

(Richard Hanlon, MusicWeb International)

In addition to her solo work she is a lover of chamber music and is a founder member of Kosmos Ensemble, Karolos Ensemble and also performs with pianists Peter Donohoe, Danny Driver and guitarist Morgan Szymanski.

Harriet graduated from the Royal Academy of Music with First Class honours, M.Mus and DipRAM. In 2015 she was awarded the Richard Carne Fellowship at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and in the same year, she was honoured to be made an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM) recognising her outstanding contribution to music.

PROGRAMME

Bach – ‘Sonata in E major BWV 1016’
I. Adagio
II. Allegro
III. Adagio ma non tanto
IV. Allegro

Lili Boulanger – ‘D’un matin de printemps’

Debussy – ‘Sonata’
I. Allegro vivo
II. Intermède: Fantasque et léger
III. Finale: Très animé

Interval

Cesar Franck – ‘Sonata’
I. Allegretto ben moderato
II. Allegro
III. Ben moderato: Recitative-Fantasia
IV. Allegretto poco mosso

This concert is performed in memory of Harriet Mackenzie’s Godmother, Sally Willison, without whom Harriet would have never played the violin.

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