Social Media

Wensleydale Concert Series

Benjamin Frith & Heidi Rolfe

Concerts
benjamin-heidi
  Saturday, 6th July 2024

  St. Andrew's Church, Aysgarth

Programme:

John Field - Air Russe Varié in A Minor

Erik Satie - Morceaux en forme de Poire

Franz Schubert - Rondo D.951

Johannes Brahms - Hungarian Dances Book 4

*** Interval ***

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov - 'Scheherazade'

Benjamin Frith & Heidi Rolfe, piano

benjamin frithBenjamin Frith

Prolific recitalist and recording artist, Benjamin Frith is one of the most versatile, respected and engaging pianists in the UK. With over 60 recordings - from Scarlatti to MacMillan - and many acclaimed reviews, Frith is at the forefront of the craft of music making.

Gold Medal winner of the Artur Rubinstein Piano Masters International Competition, Tel Aviv, and Top Prize Winner in the Busoni International Piano Competition, Frith has performed with many of the worlds finest orchestras and conductors. Zubin Mehta with the IPO and Mosche Atzmon with the Warsaw Philharmonic count amongst some of Frith’s memorable musical experiences.

Renowned for his critically acclaimed recordings, Frith made Gramophone ‘Disc of the Year’ with his C.V.Stanford 2nd Piano Concerto and his Schumann Davidsbundler Op. 6 won the Radio 3 ‘CD Review’. In high
demand as both soloist and chamber musician, Frith enjoys a busy and versatile career. As pianist in the Gould Piano Trio he has toured extensively and Frith has performed and recorded as part of the illustrious Nash Ensemble. Solo tours have taken him to America, Europe, the Middle and Far East with upcoming solo tours to Japan.

Benjamin lives in Yorkshire with his wife and piano duo partner, Heidi Rolfe.

heidi rolfeHeidi Rolfe

After time spent riding racehorses, both in the UK and Italy, Heidi returned to continue her musical studies. Graduating with a Masters degree in Piano Performance, Heidi was singled out for many concerto performances and was awarded the gift of a Grand Piano. Throughout her education she was privileged to work with eminent pianists including the legendary Andre Gavrilov and take musical guidance from the late Dame Fanny Waterman.

Heidi was honoured to be asked to give a Piano Duo Day at the Wigmore Hall performing four hand and two piano repertoire with her husband, international concert artist Benjamin Frith. They have both explored the wonderful piano duo repertoire in recitals throughout the UK, both four hands at one piano and two piano works including recitals featuring the letters of Clara and Robert Schumann and Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn. Double Piano Concerto dates have included the Poulenc with the English Pro Musica. Heidi has also collaborated with the C.B.S.O players in many symphonic chamber arrangements.

Heidi’s varied repertoire includes works by female composers and much contemporary music. An interest in combining music and drama has led to award winning performances, broadcast by the BBC. Heidi played and tutored works by Gyorgy Kurtag at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival where she also gave the World Premiere of Tarot Conway’s Premiere Piano Concerto. Other festival appearances include the Bradfield, Corbridge and Deal Festivals.

Future recording projects include a four hand Piano Sonata written for Heidi and Benjamin Frith by Martin Ellerby and a recording of works for two pianos.

 

 

List of Dates (Page event details)


  • Saturday, 6th July 2024 19:30

Further Information

Venue: All of our concerts are at St. Andrew's Church, Aysgarth at 7.30pm.

Parking: There is very limited parking at the church for people with mobility issues - please let us know if you need to use this. Everyone else should park at the adjacent pay and display car park - the evening rate is £1.70 - please bring the correct change.

Dogs: A number of people have asked if dogs can be brought to concerts. To save confusion we have decided that only registered assistance dogs will be allowed.

Help to access concerts/help with transport:

Would you love to come to concerts but need help with transport or mobility issues?

We have funding from the 2020 Coop Community Fund aimed at providing transport from different parts of Wensleydale using taxis and minibuses, and if there is sufficient demand a general bus service to and from concerts. If you need help please contact us and we will see what we can do to help. If you need somebody to bring you to a concert we can help by providing a free 'carer' ticket - this is aimed at people who would not otherwise buy a ticket.  To discuss your particular needs please call Carol or Liz on 01969 663026.


♦♦♦♦ Past Concerts ♦♦♦♦