Mera Horn Trio & Alexandra Lowe

GEORGE STRIVENS (French horn)

ISOBEL HOWARD (violin)

JULIAN CHAN (piano)

ALEXANDRA LOWE (soprano)

R. Strauss

Alphorn 

Andante for horn & piano

Violin Sonata, Allegro 

Four Last Songs

M. Bussey

The Rites Observed (solo horn)

C. Schumann

3 Romances (violin & piano)

J. Brahms

Horn Trio

This will be a real Romantic treat. In the first half, we mark the 160th Anniversary of Richard Strauss’s birth with four works: the song Alphorn for soprano, horn & piano; an early Andante for horn & piano; the Allegro from his Violin Sonata; and a skilled arrangement for Soprano and Horn Trio by George Strivens of the immortal Four Last Songs, a work that Alexandra Lowe knows well in the orchestral version. Strauss’s father was a noted horn player, giving the composer an especial affinity with the instrument. George opens the second half with The Rites Observed by Martin Bussey, a fine work for solo French horn drawn from A Brother Abroad, which Martin wrote for PMF21; this elaboration centres on themes associated with the solemnity of Peter’s consecration of the church, his intense spirituality, and also his colourful life. Isobel and Julian follow this with Clara Schumann’s lovely Three Romances. The concert concludes with the wonderful Horn Trio by Brahms (who played horn in his youth), one of the glories of Romantic repertoire.

George Strivens has a diverse career of solo, chamber & orchestral performance, currently trialling for Principal Horn with three major orchestras. George is a Chamber Music Fellow at RAM in Ensemble Renard and an arranger, Boosey & Hawkes publishing Four Last Songs.

Isobel Howard plays extensively as soloist, chamber & orchestral musician; prize-winner at 2020 & 2021 Verao Classico (Lisbon). Debut with Brahms Violin Concerto in ’23 & playing Vivaldi Four Seasons with Piccadilly Sinfonietta, ’24. Izzy is finishing her Masters at RAM.

An innovative pianist, Julian Chan performs diverse composers in a captivating way. 1st Prize & Sonata Prize at Nanyang Competition, Singapore; 2nd Prize at Jāzeps Vītols Piano Competition, Latvia; 1st Prize at Coulsdon & Purley Festival. He holds Ronald & Rita McAulay Award at RAM.

Alexandra Lowe is a Spanish-born British soprano – a recent Royal Opera House Jette Parker Young Artist – and has left an indelible mark on critics & audiences – “superbly expressive.” She has sung at many UK & European opera houses & concert halls. Her debut solo album, Le Voyage, French Romantic song, was released last year (Champs Hill).