British pianist Ivana Gavric has attracted considerable praise for her interpretations of Janácek, Liszt, Schubert, and more recently Grieg; the Washington Post describing her playing as “impressive, insightful…ravishing”.

Altogether of an extraordinary calibre

(BBC Music Magazine)

Tonight’s programme explores composers writing music as if from ‘another time’, whether paying homage to a particular composer like Cheryl Frances-Hoad, or simply writing in an olden style, like Grieg and Chaminade.

Ivana also celebrates the 150th anniversary of Rachmaninov, and gives a platform to his direct contemporary, Dora Pejacevic, long forgotten, who is now finally starting to receive her deserved attention internationally, as a leading figure in Croatian classical music.

Notable for its beautiful sound, musical integrity and introspection

Independent

Ivana’s recent concerto performances include Grieg and Rachmaninov with the Philharmonia at the Royal Festival Hall, and Beethoven’s Emperor with the RPO at the Royal Albert Hall. She has been heard on the concert platform at Wigmore Hall, the Berlin Konzerthaus, the Gilmore Piano Festival, as well as across China and in Canada. She created a sensation with her debut album In the Mists, winning BBC Music Magazine Newcomer of the Year and her recording of Grieg: Piano Works was selected as Gramophone Editor’s Choice and the Grieg Society’s Recording of the Year. A long-standing collaboration with the award-winning composer, Cheryl Frances-Hoad has led to solo works and more recently a concerto entitled Between the Skies, the River and the Hills written for Ivana, which she recorded on her album ‘Origins’. Ivana is also committed to performing works by female composers of the past, particularly Cécile Chaminade and Dora Pejacevic.

She is a pianist with great sensitivity to mood and an ability to create atmosphere

Classical Source

A dedicated chamber musician, Ivana is an alumna of IMS Prussia Cove, Britten-Pears Young Artist Programme and Live Music Now. Outside the concert hall she is featured playing Chopin and Beethoven in BBC2’s adaptation of The Line of Beauty, and Bach in Anthony Minghella’s film Breaking and Entering.

Ivana is proud to be an ambassador for the charity ‘Music Action International’.

Programme

Homage/Autrefois

Grieg Holberg Suite Op 40

Chaminade Autrefois, Op 87

Grieg from Lyric Pieces: Little Bird, Waltz, Notturno, The Brook
2 Norwegian Dances Op 35

Cheryl Frances-Hoad 5 Lyric Pieces (dedicated to Ivana): Bar(tik)tók (homage to Bartók)
Lullaby (homage to Schubert)
In the Dew (homage to Janá?ek)
Contemplation (homage to Grieg)
Un canard hors de l’eau (homage to Ravel)

Dora Pejacevic 2 Nocturnes Op 50

Rachmaninov 4 Preludes:

Op 32 No 5 in G major

Op 23 No 5 in G minor

Op 23 No 4 in D major

Op 23 No 2 in Bb major