Event overview
As part of the Department of Music's PureGold season, we present tutor Jakob Fichert, who will perform piano works by Adolf Busch
Adolf Busch (1891-1952) was one of the greatest German violinists of his generation, founder of the famous Busch Ensemble and teacher of players such as Yehudi Menuhin and Stefi Geyer. He is not only known for his outstanding musicianship and his extraordinary international career, but also for his uncompromising stand against the Nazis and his unwavering integrity throughout the years of the war. Having immigrated to Switzerland in 1933 he subsequently moved to America where he continued to pursue a flourishing career as a performer collaborating with numerous great musicians. His long lasting partnership with Rudolf Serkin resulted in legendary concerts and recordings, most notably of the sonatas by Brahms and Beethoven from the late twenties and thirties.
The composer Adolf Busch is so far lesser known than the performer but his oeuvre has significantly gained in popularity in the last few years and numerous recordings of his works have entered the market. My recording of his entire works for piano solo is in planning for July 2015 to be released by Toccata Classics thereafter.
In the heart of this recital will be a performance of Adolf Busch's epic piano sonata op 25 in C minor (1922). Its energetic opening movement follows the traditional sonata form and is widely influenced by Brahms and Reger. The second movement, which is a piece in its own right, consists of a theme with 11 variations. This set of variations is then followed by a triumphant final movement made of a Prelude and a Fugue.
JAKOB FICHERT is a pianist with an international profile. He has repeatedly performed in prestigious London venues such as the South Bank, Wigmore Hall and Kings Place and has recorded for Naxos and Toccata Classics to great critical acclaim both as a soloist and collaborating artist.
Numerous projects featuring the piano music of Max Reger and recordings of composers such as André Tchaikowsky and Hans Gál demonstrate that exploring lesser known repertoire has been an integral part of Jakob’s work as a performer. Future plans include a recording of Adolf Busch’s complete piano work for Toccata Classics.
Chamber Music and Lied repertoire has always been at the heart of his playing career. On concert stage and in recording studio he has collaborated with musicians such as Janet Hilton, Alfia Nakipbekova, Oliver Coates, Helen-Jane Howells and many more.
He has won numerous prizes at international competitions both as a soloist and chamber musician. He studied at the Musikhochschule Karlsruhe with Wolfgang Manz before undertaking a postgraduate course at the Royal College of Music in London under the tutelage of Yonty Solomon. He also obtained a Masters Degree in Chamber Music graduating in 2001 after which he was awarded a RCM Junior Fellowship.
PureGold forms part of a summer of Goldsmiths Degree Shows across the capital, including exhibitions and shows from the Departments of Art, Theatre and Performance, and Design. Follow us on twitter @goldsmithsmusic #PureGold15 and #GoldsmithsDegreeShows for the latest news and photos.
Dates & times
| Date | Time | Add to calendar |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Jun 2015 | 1:00pm - 2:00pm |
Accessibility
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