First Light — Vesna Piano Trio

The Vesna Piano Trio plays music by Boulanger, Glière, Debussy and Mendelssohn's D minor Trio. Violinist Roman Lytwyniw, cellist Hugh Mackay and pianist Julian Chan launch the Vesna Piano Trio. All three open the evening with Lili Boulanger's radiant D'un matin de printemps. The first half then turns to the trio's partnerships: violin and piano in Glière's early Romance, violin and cello in his Op.39 duos, and cello and piano in Debussy's late Sonata. After the interval, the trio reunites for Mendelssohn's Piano Trio No.1 in D minor, one of the best-loved works in the repertoire. Vesna is Ukrainian for spring, and Boulanger's spring morning opens the programme. Programme • Lili Boulanger: D'un matin de printemps • Glière: Romance for violin and piano, Op.3 • Glière: Duos for violin and cello, Op.39 (selection) • Debussy: Cello Sonata, L.135 Interval (15 minutes) • Mendelssohn: Piano Trio No.1 in D minor, Op.49 • Encore Tickets Full price £25. Concessions £15 for students, under-18s and people on income-related benefits. The performers Roman Lytwyniw, violin Roman Lytwyniw is a British-Ukrainian violinist whose compelling, sensitive musicianship is distinguished by a desire to explore the connection between performer, instrument and audience. His debut CD, Glière's Violin Concerto and Orchestral Works, with Kirill Karabits and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, will be released in February 2027. He has led the Miloš Karadaglić and Jess Gillam ensembles, co-led the Royal Northern Sinfonia and Manchester Camerata, toured the UK as "The Fiddler" in the Olivier Award-winning 2025 production of Fiddler on the Roof, and was Musical Director for Golden Boy at the Almeida Theatre. Hugh Mackay, cello Scottish cellist Hugh Mackay has performed at Wigmore Hall, the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg and the Palace of Versailles. He holds a chamber music fellowship at Villa Musica in Germany and is a founding member of Ensemble Jackalope, Young Artists in Residence at Britten Pears Arts in 2026. He has won trials for Principal Cello with the CBSO and the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, and appears as Guest Principal with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Julian Chan, piano Praised by International Piano for the "sheer beauty and timbral variety" of his playing, Malaysian-born pianist Julian Chan released his debut album, Godowsky's Java Suite, on Linn Records in 2025. It was named Album of the Week by NPO Klassiek and Classical Record of the Day by Radio France. A prizewinner at the Nanyang International Music Competition, he has performed at Wigmore Hall, Southbank Centre and Palau de la Música Catalana. Supporting Ukraine These concerts support the British Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal, which provides humanitarian aid in Ukraine and help for families who have fled the war, including here in the UK. Roman's grandmother tragically passed away as a result of the war in Ukraine. If you are able to, please consider donating to our JustGiving page: justgiving.com/page/roman-lytwyniw-4 — your support would mean the world to us and to the Ukrainians struggling this winter. Thank you! (A reminded that if you're a UK taxpayer, Gift Aid adds 25% at no cost to you.)