A sensational series of live lunchtime concerts on BBC Radio 3 at St David’s Hall comes to a stunning finale with performances including Sir Bryn Terfel and Catrin Finch.
Presented by Nicola Heywood Thomas, Schubert Plus celebrates the incredible legacy of iconic Austrian composer Franz Schubert, who lit up the late Classical and early Romantic eras.
The National Concert Hall of Wales may remain closed to the public in accordance with government guidelines, but they have been working with leading UK music festivals in recent weeks to host the likes of Clare Hammond, Natalya Romaniw, Ben Goldscheider and Anna Lapwood.
St David’s Hall also recently hosted the Welsh National Opera Chorus’ rehearsals, while the Welsh National Opera Orchestra recorded performances of Beethoven’s Symphony No 4 and Leonore Overture, plus Barber’s Adagio for Strings.
Llŷr Williams
The Schubert Plus series features an exceptional line-up and starts with virtuoso pianist, Llŷr Williams (Tues 15 Dec, 1pm), who performs Schubert’s spellbinding Sonata in G and Ave Maria (arr. Liszt); plus Amy Woodforde-Finden‘s Kashmiri Song and Till I Wake.
Sir Bryn Terfel & Jâms Coleman
Then the legendary Sir Bryn Terfel joins forces with acclaimed pianist, Jâms Coleman (Weds 16 Dec, 1pm) for powerful performances of Schubert’s Schwanengesang (excerpt), Trinklied, Ständchen and An Silvia. The duo aptly close with Welsh favourites by Dilys Elwyn Edwards, Meirion Williams and Bryan Davies.
Catrin Finch
Prestigious Welsh harpist Catrin Finch (Thurs 17 Dec, 1pm) presents three more Schubert masterworks including The Maiden’s Lament in a captivating concert bookended by John Parry’s Sonata No 1 in D (Allegro) and Faure’s Impromptu No 6 in D flat.
The Gould Piano Trio
The series closes in style with The Gould Piano Trio (Fri 18 Dec, 1pm) performing Schubert classics either side of a World Premiere of Kashperova’s Piano Trio in A minor.
- All the BBC Radio 3 recitals at St David’s Hall can be listened to live at 1pm from from Tuesday 15 – Friday 18 December, or for 30 days after broadcast via BBC Sounds.