News

In Recital..

24th February, 2015

Pianist Eugene Asti will accompany mezzo-soprano Sarah Connolly for two recitals in March - at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester on 24 March as part of their International Concert Series at 19.30 and then again in the beautiful Cotswolds town of Painswick with the Painswick Music Society on 28 March at 15.00. With a varied programme that encompasses mainstream Lieder repertoire (Schumann's Frauenliebe und Leben and Mahler's Rückert Lieder) and slightly more obscure pieces in some French song by Albert Roussel, these recitals will have something to please everyone. Eugene has known and worked with Sarah Connolly for many years, and feels honoured to do so.

Eugene is one of the foremost accompanists of his generation and has performed with many great artists including Dame Felicity Lott, Dame Margaret Price, Sir Willard White, Sir Thomas Allen, Angelika Kirchschlager, Bryn Terfel and of course Sarah Connolly whom he’s known for many years.

“I love working with Sarah Connolly. She is one of the greatest singers I know- she is a consummate musician and artist and she is also a dear friend. We've known each other for a very long time and have worked together a great deal. I feel we completely 'click' musically and we can totally trust each other on the recital platform. For our upcoming programmes in Manchester and Painswick we have chosen two masterpieces of the mainstream, core Lieder repertoire (Schumann's Frauenliebe und -leben and Mahler's Rückert-Lieder) that we have performed together many times. This music takes us on such a profound emotional journey.. The rest of the programme is a bit of lesser-known, slightly esoteric French song by Albert Roussel (highly atmospheric, a bit quirky, and wholly unique music) and some English song by Britten and Finzi as well as a rather jazzy piece to finish by the late Sir Richard Rodney Bennett (a nostalgic setting of poems by the composer's sister about the "tea dance"). I feel privileged to perform such wonderful music - and Sarah is the ideal partner for this repertoire.”

In addition to his work as an accompanist, Eugene teaches at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and is also Vocal Accompaniment Coordinator at Trinity College of Music in London. In 2009 Eugene became an official Steinway Artist.