Jonathan Radford & Ashley Fripp

Recognised for his “virtuosity and engaging musicianship” (Gramophone Magazine), Jonathan Radford is regarded as one of the leading classical saxophonists of his generation. Passionate about showcasing the instrument’s versatility across both the classical and contemporary repertoire, Jonathan delights his audiences with his characteristically energetic and expressive performances.

Irresistible, soulful, dextrous, impressive.

(Gramophone Magazine)

This concert includes the world premiere of ‘Dancing Shadows’, a new work composed by Dani Howard.

Jonathan studied at Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris with Claude Delangle , then at London’s Royal College of Music as the 2018 Mills Williams Junior Fellow, studying with Kyle Horch. He is currently pursuing doctoral studies as an RCM Studentship Holder, researching the influential American saxophonist Rudy Wiedoeft. Alongside championing existing repertoire for his instrument by composers such as Debussy, Glazunov, Milhaud, Caplet, Schulhoff and Villa-Lobos, Jonathan is devoted to the development of new music for the saxophone. He has commissioned and premiered works by Cheryl Frances-Hoad, Dani Howard, Betsy Jolas, Luis Naón and Raymond Yiu.

In demand internationally as a concerto soloist, recitalist and chamber musician, Jonathan has performed in some of the world’s most prestigious concert halls and festivals, including Philharmonie de Paris, Seoul Arts Center, Queen Elizabeth Hall and Wigmore Hall. Jonathan features as ‘One to Watch’ in Gramophone Magazine and as a ‘Rising Star’ in BBC Music Magazine. He is an international prize-winner, with notable awards including Commonwealth Musician of the Yearand Gold Medallist in the Royal Over-Seas League Competition (UK, 2018), SaxOpen International Competition (France, 2015) and Concordo Internazionale de Musica Marco (Italy, 2013). He was a Young Concert Artist for the Countess of Munster Musical Trust, Hattori Foundation, Making Music, Park Lane Group, Tunnell Trust and the Worshipful Company of Musicians.

Jonathan’s debut album, recorded with pianist Ashley Fripp, ‘The Saxophone Craze – Homage to Rudy Wiedoeft’ (2022) was released on Champs Hill Records to critical acclaim.

I’m not sure I’ve ever appreciated how lovely the saxophone can sound until hearing this. Warmth, character and joy abound

(***** BBC Music Magazine)

Jonathan is a Vandoren Paris and Henri Selmer Paris saxophone artist.

Ashley Fripp
British pianist Ashley Fripp has performed extensively as recitalist, concerto soloist and chamber musician in many of the world’s most prestigious concert halls, including Carnegie Hall, Musikverein, The Philharmonie halls of Cologne, Paris, Luxembourg and Warsaw, and the Royal Festival Hall, Barbican and Wigmore Hall. Ashley has played at a host of international festivals including Oxford International Piano Festival, the Festival Pontino di Musica, the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Festspiele and the Powsin International Piano Festival. Ashley has also given an open-air Chopin recital beside the world-famous Chopin monument in Warsaw’s Royal Lazienki Park to an audience of 2,500 people.

Fripp is a pianist of formidable intelligence. Add to that a fearless, loose-limbed technique and a prodigious memory and you have a young talent which needs to be taken very seriously indeed.

(Birmingham Post)

Ashley Fripp has won prizes at more than a dozen national and international competitions, including at the Hamamatsu (Japan), Birmingham, and Leeds International Piano Competitions, the Royal Over-Seas League Competition, the Concours Européen de Piano (France), and the coveted Gold Medal from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. Ashley won the Worshipful Company of Musicians’ highest award, The Prince’s Prize, and was chosen as a ‘Rising Star’ by the European Concert Hall Organisation.

PROGRAMME

Ring Hager, transcribed Wiedoeft
Danse Hongroise (4’)

Paule Maurice
Tableaux de Provence (15’)
1.Farandole des jeunes filles; 2.Chanson pour ma mie;
3.La bohémienne; 4.Des alyscamps l’âme soupier; 5.Le cabridan

Tomaso Vitali
Chaconne in g minor (10’)

Georges Bizet / Alexander Rosenblatt
Carmen Fantasy (10’)

Interval

Erwin Schulhoff
Hot-Sonate (15’)
I, II, III, IV

Dani Howard
Dancing Shadows – world premiere performance (15’)

Pablo de Sarasate
Zigeunerweisen, ‘Gypsy Airs’, Op.20 (9’)