Collaborations, Variations, Potraits, Cycles 

As part of the Department of Music's PureGold Festival, we are delighted to welcome back violinist Peter Sheppard Skaerved and pianist Roderick Chadwick to Deptford Town Hall.  

Programme:  
Olivier Messiaen - Thème et variations (1932)  
Sadie Harrison - An Amaranth to the Shade*  
Melanie Daiken - Viola Sonata  
Hans Werner Henze - Zwei Hirtenlieder *  
Edward Cowie - Skylark (From 'Bird Portraits') *  
David Hackbridge Johnson - 4th Sonata *  
Michael Hersch - Zwischen Leben und Tod ( selections)  

* dedicated to/premiered by these artists 

Peter Sheppard Skaerved and Roderick Chadwick bring an extraordinary programme celebrating some of the composers that inspire their work. Peter worked with Messiaen on his chamber music in his late teens, and Roderick is acclaimed for his performance of, and writing about Messiaen's piano music. The composer Melanie Daiken studied in Messiaen's class in Paris, and was one of the first composers to write for Peter. Peter worked in close collaboration with Hans Werner Henze at the beginning of his career: these two 'shepherd's songs' come from the first work Henze dedicated to him. Roderick and Peter are celebrated for their performances and recordings of the works of Edward Cowie: indeed, they gave the public premiere of Bird Portraits here at Goldsmiths.

They are currenly completing their recording of the complete sonatas by the South London-based David Hackbridge Johnson. Peter first worked with Sadie Harrison here at Goldsmiths; next month he will premiere her newest work dedicated to him, at the Tremenheere Sculpture Garden in Cornwall.

This concert marks the release of their world premiere recording of American Michael Hersch's epic 'Zwischen Leben und Tod' on the Metier Label. Copies will be available at the concert for purchase, as well as the artists' recordings of Henze, Messiaen, Cowie and Hackbridge Johnson.

Image - from the the manuscript of 'Zwischen Leben und Tod'