Four hands One Piano: The Lisney Briggs Duo

_‘…an extremely charismatic duo’‘Throughout their entire
programme there was near perfection in all aspects of their
art.’‘Wonderful music making and an extremely informative and
amusing presentational style’Two highly regarded British pianists
and chamber musicians now combine their skills in this exciting piano
duo combination.Their repertoire includes music from JC Bach to
Hindemith and Hans Gál (with favourites such as Ravel, Fauré, Dvorak
and Brahms along the way) but focuses most particularly on the great
works of Mozart and Schubert which are widely regarded as being the
pinnacle of the piano duet repertoire._ About James:_Lisney impressed
with his clarity of sound and his ability to elucidate the shape of
the music and to stand back a little from it as if in modest
deference. Exquisitely controlled performances_. The TimesJames
Lisney enjoys a rich musical life, moving seamlessly from concerto and
recital soloist to chamber musician, song accompanist and pianist
director. Initiatives such as his Schubertreise series at London`s
South Bank Centre, his extensive Beethoven Project and the recording
company Woodhouse Editions, provide a platform for his wide-ranging
musical sympathies.Following study with Jean Murphy, Phyllis Sellick
and John Barstow, James Lisney made his Wigmore Hall debut in 1986.
Early representation by the Young Concert Artists Trust in London led
to a career that has taken him to many prestigious venues and gained
invitations to appear with major orchestras.James’s repertoire
ranges from baroque masterpieces to music of the present day. In the
past decade, the music of Schubert and Beethoven has been a central
pre-occupation both in performance and in recordings and he regularly
presents cycles of the piano sonatas and chamber music by both
composers.In addition to the mainstream repertoire, Lisney has made a
special study of the music of Enesco and has a special relationship
with the Dutch composer, Jan Vriend.His recordings on Naxos, Bis,
Somm, Olympia and Carlton have gained the highest
recommendations.Highlights of recent seasons include Schubert cycles
at the Leipzig Gewandhaus and in Mumbai. This autumn he will be
touring Beethoven’s ‘Diabelli’ Variations in France, the
Netherlands, Bristol and the Prague Rudolfinum.About
Sarah: _Beautiful and deeply romantic performances by a pianist who
cares above all for the musical substance and the emotional power of
the compositions. _Pizzicato, LuxembourgSarah Beth Briggs ‘an
artist of extraordinary magnetism’ (Daily Telegraph) rose to
international attention when she became the joint winner of the
International Mozart Competition in Salzburg, following her success in
the BBC Young Musician of the Year at 11, in which she was the then
youngest ever finalist.She has performed with many of Britain’s
major orchestras and at prestigious UK venues, as well as giving
numerous concerts in Europe and the U.S.A. and making international
radio and television recordings.A regular soloist at music clubs and
festivals, her interpretations and spoken programme introductions are
popular with promoters and critics. The critical acclaim for her
wide-ranging discography includes both Gramophone Editor’s and
Gramophone Critic’s Choice Awards and her recordings notably include
the world premiere of Hans Gál’s Piano Concerto with the Royal
Northern Sinfonia.Sarah enjoys balancing a successful solo career with
numerous chamber music engagements and has worked with many renowned
soloists. In addition to this duo, her most regular current
partnerships are with violinist David Juritz and as part of the Briggs
Piano Trio (in which Sarah and David are joined by cellist, Kenneth
Woods). She enjoys collaborations with the Emperor and Carducci String
Quartets and has made an acclaimed Hans Gál recording for Toccata
Classics with a group led by Hungarian violinist Katalin
Kertesz.ProgrammeHans Gál Three Marionettes, op 74Mozart Sonata in C,
K521Schubert A major Rondo, D951 Interval  Fauré Dolly Suite, op
56Dvorak Slavonic Dance op 72/2 in E minorDebussy Petite SuiteMozart
Andante and Variations in G major, K501The Lisney Briggs Duo
[https://sarahbethbriggspianist.co.uk/chamber-music/pianist-james-lisney-the-lisney-briggs-duo/]Listen:
Haydn Sonata in E flat, Hob XVI/52. Finale - Presto
[https://youtu.be/6SRb3zxQAeQ]Image Credits Suzie Maeder, & Clive
Barda