Recital Programme

Beethoven - Sonata in D Major op. 102, No. 2
Schumann - Fantasiestucke Op. 73

Debussy - Sonata in D Minor
Godard - Sonata in D Minor

Corinne Morris (cello)
Nico de Villiers (piano)

Venue: St. Andrew's Church, Aysgarth

Corinne Morris, cellist

Website: www.corinnemorris.com

“My warmest wishes are for Corinne and her art, as I have unlimited confidence in her”

Paul Tortelier

Described as ‘a triumphant assertion’ by Classical Music Magazine, Corinne Morris’s relaunch album ‘Macedonian Sessions’ recorded with the Macedonian Radio Symphony Orchestra, marks the British/French cellist’s return to the platform after a debilitating shoulder injury brought her career to a halt for over 5 years.

Corinne has a long list of professional accomplishments, including being a prizewinner of the Maria Canals International Cello Competition in Spain, and the International French Music Competition in France. Corinne was chosen by Rostropovich to perform at his festival in Evian (where he affectionately nicknamed her Corinotchka). She was also invited to perform and take part in the world-famous Verbier Academy in Switzerland, as well as the international Cello festival in Kronberg in Germany. Corinne has performed throughout Europe and beyond, including chamber music performances with Schlomo Mintz at the Jerusalem Conservatory. She has made several recordings for France Musique, Bayerischer Rundfunk (Germany) and ORF (Austria). Her BBC debut recital was broadcast on Radio 3, and she is on the list of solo artists for Radio 3 programmes.

“Macedonian Sessions, album of wide-ranging repertoire is a triumphant assertion that she (Corinne Morris) is back in business”

Classical Music Magazine

Corinne started the cello at the age of 8 and was a student of Raphael Sommer, a major disciple of Paul Tortelier. At age 16, she obtained an ARCM with honours (Royal College of Music, London) and continued her training at the prestigious Conservatoire in Paris where she graduated with a first prize in both cello and chamber music. She then completed a post-graduate solo cello performing degree at the University of Music in Vienna, Austria. During her studies, Corinne had the privilege to work with Paul Tortelier, Mtislav Rostropovich, André Navarra, Bernard Greenhouse, Ralph Kirshbaum and Franz Helmerson.

"Morris drew every ounce of expression from the slow movement, and built up a fine head of steam in the finale, combining momentum and agility"

The Strad Magazine

Corinne’s story has inspired many in the music industry and beyond. She has given several interviews for publications including International Arts Manager, Classical Music Magazine, Gramophone and Australia’s Limelight Magazine. Most recently Corinne has been featured on BBC radio 3’s ‘In Tune’ programme and she was invited to Classic FM’s weekly Webchat. She is currently discussing the possibility of a documentary about her extraordinary story of courage and determination and the implications of re-launching a performing career in the 21st Century.
Further afield Corinne has been invited to China to give a series of concerts and masterclasses and she will also be appearing in recitals and concerto appearances in the UK, Germany, France and South-Africa.

"full of ebullience and unabashed technical high jinks”

The Strad Magazine

Corinne plays a cello by C.A. Miremont dated 1876 on loan to her by a private investor.

Nico de Villiers

Website: www.nicodevilliers.com

South African-born pianist Nico de Villiers is an accompanist, teacher and coach, based in London. He holds degrees from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, the University of Michigan, as well as the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where he is currently undertaking his doctoral study.

In his formative years in South Africa Nico studied with Johan Cromhout and was a prize winner at various national music competitions. In 1999 he made his debut with the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra. The following year he performed with the Odeion Sinfonietta and the Odeion String Quartet, both ensembles resident at the University of the Free State, South Africa.

After winning an International Undergraduate Scholarship from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music Nico graduated with a Bachelor of Music (Honours) Degree in Piano Performance. Following a personal invitation to study with Martin Katz Nico graduated as Master of Music in piano performance (accompaniment and chamber music) at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA in 2007. During his master study he was a Scholarship holder and Graduate Student Staff Assistant at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance. Nico furthered his studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London where he focused his research and performance on the complete published keyboard chamber music of Hungarian composer Ernst von Dohnányi in 2008. The following year he became a Junior Fellow and Guildhall Artist at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Nico has been the recipient of various awards including international scholarships from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, the Mary Paton Memorial Trust, Ernst Oppenheimer Memorial Trust, University of Michigan and the Guildhall School of Music. Nico has won various awards as an accompanist at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow as well as the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. He was awarded the Accompanist Prize at the Thelma King Award in Bath in March 2010.

Nico has worked with various ensembles as accompanist the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Pro Cantione Antiqua Choral Festival, Cape Philharmonic Orchestra Norwegian Music Academy, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra Chorus as well as at the Pro Cantione Antiqua International Choral Festival in Provence, France. He made his Kennedy Center (Terrace Theatre) debut in Washington DC in 2007, which was followed by performances at the Birmingham Symphony Hall, the Barbican in London and the Mozarteum Grosser Saal in Salzburg. Important festival performances include appearances at the Salzburg Festival and Edinburgh Festival. Nico founded the De Villiers Ensemble with previous fellow students from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and perform chamber music recitals annually across Sweden with them.

Nico is increasingly in demand as a coach for singers and ensembles since he was an assistant faculty member at the International Music Academy in Pilsen, Czech Republic in 2006 and 2008. He was a coach at the American Institute of Musical Studies (AIMS) in Graz, Austria since 2008-2012. Nico is a senior lecturer in piano at the Leeds College of Music as well as the Junior Department of Trinity College of Music in London.

Review: Northern Echo

The Romance of the Cello, Aysgarth Church

The audience was spellbound by a stunning world-class performance by cellist Corinne Morris and pianist Nico de Villiers on May 13.

It was hard to believe one was sitting in a church in Wensleydale listening to such an awe-inspiring recital. One person commented: “ It was a magical evening and an incredible performance.”

The concert truly lived up to its title, The Romance of the Cello. It began with Beethoven’s Sonata in D Major, with its dramatic opening movement, followed by the haunting Adagio and a dancing fugue to finish.

This was followed by Schumann’s Three Fantasiestucke, which captivated the audience from the tender, yet passionate first piece to the fiery finale.

The second half started with a 20th century work, Debussy’s Sonata in D Minor, in which Morris displayed her supreme virtuosity and versatility. The audience were kept on the edge of their seats with sudden changes of tempo and dramatic effects.

The climax of the concert was the memorable Sonata in D minor by the 19th century French composer Benjamin Godard, which emphasised the enthralling partnership between Morris and de Villiers. After this performance, many wondered why Godard was not better known as a composer.

And if that wasn’t enough, for the encore, Morris played the slow movement from Rachmaninov’s Cello Sonata, reducing at least one member of the audience to tears.

The best news following this concert is that Morris was made so welcome in Wensleydale and was so captivated by the scenery that she has promised to return.

She thanked Carol Haynes and her friends for making it such a wonderful trip. This included holding a cello workshop in Carperby for eight musicians, time to relax and, she said, lots of laughter.

Photo: Corinne and Nico in Aysgarth © 2015 Pip Land