From Death To Glory – Mozart 270 | Finzi 125

On Halloween weekend, join the Choirs of Robinson College Cambridge, St Pancras New Church, St James' Piccadilly, and the St Pancras Chorus on a journey from Death to Glory, accompanied by the Orchestra of Southern Opera.  Under the expert batons of Maestri Tang and Sims, listen to the depths of Mozart; from his most famous piano concerto, to his very last work - the Requiem.  Then joined by stellar soloists from around the globe, experience Finzi; one of England's most sublime composers in four contrasting works heard rarely in its full orchestral form.

Programme:

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 – 1791)

• Piano Concerto in No. 20 in D minor, K.466

• Requiem in D minor, K.626

Gerald Raphael Finzi (1901 – 1956)

• Five Bagatelles (Op.23)

• Eclogue (Op.10)

• Lo, the full, final sacrifice (Op. 26)

• God is Gone Up (Op.27)

Performers:

Douglas Tang is an award-winning conductor, keyboardist and coach whose career has spanned Europe, Asia, the United States, and Australia. Internationally recognised for his versatility, he has built a reputation for artistic excellence, technical prowess and an unwavering commitment to musicianship and the English choral tradition. His career has taken him as a soloist to many of the world's leading venues, including the Sydney Opera House, the Royal Albert Hall, Wigmore Hall, Cadogan Hall, the Kimmel Centre, St Paul's Cathedral, Birmingham Symphony Hall, the Esplanade Singapore, QPAC, and Washington National Cathedral - to name but a few. A diploma level pianist and flautist by age 13, he won scholarships to Harrow School and Dulwich College. Being from Hong Kong, he was ‘encouraged’ to attend Oxbridge as opposed to conservatoire, so he took up the organ to apply for a scholarship, before accidentally being appointed as organist of one of the world’s most famous choirs whilst studying - the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge.

Will Sims is the Director of Chapel Music at Robinson College, Cambridge, where he directs the Choir for their weekly service schedule and busy concert, touring, and recording calendar, and supervises undergraduates in the Faculty of Music. In this role, he has directed the Choir’s first three commercial recordings (Convivium & Prima Facie Records) to critical acclaim, led worship in the Thomaskirche and Sagrada Família, broadcast a concert live from the Duomo di Milano, and given over fifteen premierés. Prior to this, Will was the Director of Music at University College, Durham; his recording of Durufle’s Requiem (Priory Records) is regularly broadcast on Radio 3’s Essential Classics. He is a prize-winning Choral Director of the Royal College of Organists, and was an inaugural member of the Yale Sacred Music Academy.

Katrina Suroveca (piano, Mozart’s Concerto No. 20)  is a Latvian pianist whose artistic career combines international concert activity, creative entrepreneurship, and a strong commitment to bringing classical music to contemporary audiences.  Born in Riga, Latvia, in 1995, she began her musical education in Latvia before continuing her artistic development internationally. Since 2022, she has been pursuing her studies in Germany, and is currently completing the Konzertexamen degree at the Hochschule für Musik Carl Maria von Weber Dresden under the guidance of Professor Hinrich Alpers.  Katrina is a prizewinner of numerous international competitions, including the Yamaha Scholarship Competition, the Augustin Aponte International Music Competition, and Musical Fireworks in Baden-Württemberg, among others. Her artistic achievements have also been recognized by the Latvian Ministry of Culture and the patrons of the Latvian Academy of Music. As a performer, Katrina has appeared extensively across Europe, with a strong artistic presence in Germany and Italy. She regularly performs at the C. Bechstein Centres in Dresden and Berlin, presenting solo recitals and concert programs. In Italy, she has been featured at distinguished festivals and venues including Festival Pianistico Internazionale Larius, Mulino del Ronzone, Sala Baldini in Rome, and other important concert series.

Will Hammond (clarinet, Finzi’s  Five Bagatelles)  is a British clarinettist and recent graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, where he completed his Master’s studies. Originally from Driffield, East Yorkshire, Will began playing the clarinet through the East Riding Youth Orchestra, later studying at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire before continuing his training at the Royal Academy of Music. As an orchestral musician, Will has performed with ensembles including the BBC Concert Orchestra, Knussen Chamber Orchestra, English Touring Opera and Welsh National Opera, including broadcasts on BBC Radio 3.  As a soloist, Will has performed concertos by Mozart, Weber and Copland with orchestras across the UK. His chamber music work has included recent performances of Stravinsky’s The Soldier’s Tale, Schoenberg’s Pierrot Lunaire and Françaix’s Octet.

Minah Lee (piano, Finzi’s Eclogue) is a British-Korean pianist based in London, primarily working as a solo performer alongside an active practice in collaboration with singers and instrumentalists. Her repertoire spans the Classical and Romantic traditions through to French impressionism, with particular interests in Mozart, Chopin, Debussy and Rachmaninoff. Her performances are shaped by a strong emphasis on musical communication, colour and expressive freedom, seeking an immediate connection between performer, music and audience.  Minah has performed as a soloist and collaborative pianist at venues across the UK and internationally, including St James’s Piccadilly, St John’s Smith Square, the Old Royal Naval College, St Alfege Church Greenwich, the Mozarteum in Salzburg, and venues in Latvia. She regularly works with singers and instrumentalists, exploring the dialogue between different musical voices.