Lunchtime Recital Friday 7th October
Gina Kruger (piano) and Jean-Samuel Bez (violin)

 

Programme

Violin Sonata No 1 in A major –  Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)

Fantaisie élégiaque – Gustave Samazeuilh (1877-1967)

Sonata in A Major for Violin and Piano César Franck (1822-1890)

1) Allegretto ben moderato
2) Allegro
3) Recitativo-Fantasia: Ben moderato
4) Allegretto poco mosso

BIOGRAPHIES:

Jean Samuel Bez, violin:
Born in Pontarlier (France), Jean Samuel attended the Royal Conservatory of Music of Brussels (Belgium) where he passed his diplomas with High Distinction and was granted the Pappaerts Prize in 2016. He then attended the Universität für Musik und Darstellende Kunst (Performing Arts) in Vienna.

Jean Samuel is a laureate of numerous prizes, scholarships and international competitions, ap pearing as soloist including the Ensemble Orchestral of Dijon (France), the University Orchestra of Burgondy (France), the Budweis Philharmony (Czech Republic) and the Sotiropoulos Camerata of Brussels (Belgium).

As a chamber musician, Jean-Samuel plays regularly within various groups throughout the world. During the last few years he had the opportunity to play with Jean-Claude Vanden Eyden, Hagaï Shaham, Gil Sharon, and Istvan Varga. Reflecting his interest in contemporary repertoire, in 2015 Jean Samuel was the laureate of the Young Bozar Project within the Alternative Violin Duet 2Väinö. With this duet he explores new alternative formulas to traditional concerts, mixing arts and means of expression. He also plays regularly within the Icelandic group Arstiđir.

Gina Kruger – Piano
Gina holds degrees in piano from the United States and a post-graduate diploma from the Royal College of Music, London. During her studies at the Royal College of Music, she won the Fossat Award for Chamber Music which resulted in performances for the Queen of Denmark and a residency in France. She continues to appear as a recitalist locally and internationally. Her performance in the National Concert Hall, Dublin, featuring Spanish repertoire was deemed a ‘finely turned performance’ by the Irish Times in 2010. Other international venues have included solo performances in Altdorf Switzerland and in the Vienna Conservatory. She has performed extensively in Croatia, as a soloist, and with guitarist Igor Paro.

Lunchtime Recital 7th October – Gina Kruger and Jean-Samuel Bez

Gina is a regular at our Lunchtime Recitals, but it’s a special treat when she brings one of the many artists she accompanies – a sort of “two for one” bargain. This time it was Jean-Samuel Bez- unmissably French – and a program of pieces for violin and piano with a decidedly French flavour.

We had Ravel’s Violin Sonata No.1 in A major, a Fantaisie élégiaque by Gustave Samazeuilh (the student) and then a piece by the master (so Jean-Samuel said) César Frank, Sonata in A Major for violin and piano.

It is such a privilege to have such artists with us close up, to enjoy music of great clarity and share their emotions and the subtle teamwork as they perform.

I was well into our thanks before Gina offered us a final unplanned short piece, Sérénade Espagnol by Cécil Chaminade – a lovely piece to finish up on.

A lovely recital, followed by a good charity lunch.