Sam Haywood to tickle the ivories

Rilwan Hamzah ,  Contributor ,  Jakarta   |  Mon, 07/14/2008 10:08 AM  |  Headlines

British pianist Sam Haywood, one of Europe's rising musical stars, will wow a Jakarta audience with a solo concert tonight at the Erasmus Huis.

Haywood will present his renditions of familiar favorites from the Romantic era, such as Bach-Busoni's awe-inspiring "Chaconne in D minor", Beethoven's intensely romantic, tempestuous "Moonlight Sonata" and a selection of works by Chopin including "Scherzo in B minor" and "Heroic Polonaise".

Based in Berlin, Haywood has performed to critical acclaim in several major concert series and venues in Europe and beyond, including the Queen Elizabeth and Wigmore Halls, London; Konzerthaus, Vienna; CAMI Hall, New York; Salle d'UNESCO, Paris; Philharmonie, Berlin; and Stadtcasino, Basel.

He has also performed in concertos, ensembles and solo recitals.

Haywood took an interest in the piano as a young boy after listening to crackly LPs of Beethoven sonatas with his grandmother.

At the age of six he took up piano study, and by the age of 13 he had won 2nd prize at the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition.

He studied further under the guidance of Paul Badura-Skoda in Vienna, Austria, and Maria Curcio at the Royal Academy of Music in London. He has also received an Isserlis Award from the Royal Philharmonic Society.

During his music journey he has collaborated with the concert-master of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Rainer Honeck, members of the Deuthsche Symphonie-Orchester, the Kuss and Alberni Quartets, cellists Steven Isserlis, Damien Ventula and Adrian Brendel, the Galliard Ensemble and clarinetist Katherine Ann Spencer.

Besides playing the well-known masterpieces of world-class composers, Haywood is known for his love of playing lesser-known compositions such as those by Gade, Rossetti, Elgar, Mozart's son Franz Xaver and John McLeod.

Haywood has also composed several pieces of his own.

His visit to Indonesia is on the occasion of the Bandung Music Camp, a program held from July 3-12. The camp is aimed at tutoring young talented pianists who were chosen through an audition process that focused on chamber music. The participants are mostly from Indonesia, with some from Malaysia.

After Haywood's Monday concert, he will give a public master class at the Jakarta Conservatory of Music on July 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sam Haywood -- A piano concert

July 14, 2008, 7:30 p.m.
Erasmus Huis
Jl. HR Rasuna Said Kav. S-3, Kuningan
South Jakarta

For reservations and more information, contact the Jakarta Conservatory of Music, Jl. Cipete IV no. 8, South Jakarta. Phone 021-7690470 or email jcom@centrin.net.id

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