Adam Heron

Chevalier de Saint-Georges (1745-1799)

Sonata No. 1 in C Major (Saint-Georges)

i Adagio
ii Allegro
iii Andantino

Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges (1745 – 1799) was a French violinist, conductor, composer and soldier. Moreover he demonstrated excellence as a fencer, an athlete and an accomplished dancer. Bologne was the first classical composer of African descent to attain widespread acclaim in European music. He composed an array of violin concertos, string quartets, sinfonia concertantes, violin duets, sonatas, two symphonies and an assortment of stage works, notably opéra comique.

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Overture in the French Style, BWV 831 (Bach)

i Overture
ii Courante
iii Gavotte I/II
iv Passepied I/II
v Sarabande
vi Bourrée I/II
vii Gigue
viii Echo

The Overture in the French style, BWV 831, original title Ouvertüre nach Französischer Art, also known as the French Overture and published as the second half of the Clavier-Übung II in 1735 (paired with the Italian Concerto), is a suite in B minor for a two-manual harpsichord written by Johann Sebastian Bach.

Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849)

Andante spianato et grande polonaise brillante, Op. 22 (Chopin)

i Andante spianato
ii Grande polonaise brillante

Andante spianato et grande polonaise brillante in E-flat major, Op. 22, was composed by Frédéric Chopin between 1830 and 1834. The Grande polonaise brillante in E-flat, set for piano and orchestra, was written first, in 1830–31. In 1834, Chopin wrote an Andante spianato in G, for piano solo, which he added to the start of the piece, and joined the two parts with a fanfare-like sequence. The combined work (both orchestrated version and solo piano version) was published in 1836, and was dedicated to Madame d’Este.

Performers

Adam Heron - Piano

A multidisciplinary classical pianist of Nigerian-Filipino ancestry, Adam Heron is the winner of the 2020 Harriet Cohen Bach Prize. Born in Hong Kong, then adopted by his Irish mother, Adam rose to prominence following his 2018 television debut as a BBC Young Musician piano finalist. Through his unique artistry, coupled with an innate flair for communication, he strives to become a leading ambassador for classical music.

Adam commands a demanding schedule of international recital engagements, having already performed at distinguished venues including Wigmore Hall, St Martin-in-the-Fields, and Southbank Centre. A keen linguist and traveller, his artistic endeavours have led to appearances in far-flung concert halls including the International Center for Arts in Cairo as well as the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Mumbai. Festival collaborations include The Aegean Arts International Festival, The Cayman Arts Festival, The Cheltenham Music Festival, and The GAP Arts Festival. Adam frequently engages with headlining media outlets such as BBC Radio 3 in addition to specialist broadcasters such as Colourful Radio, and he has worked alongside leading presenters including Katie Derham and Sean Rafferty.

In addition to his solo career, Adam is also a devoted collaborative pianist, composer, and conductor. He has joined forces with fellow musicians including saxophonist Amy Dickson, double-bassist Chi-chi Nwanoku CBE, violinist Daniel Pioro, soprano Francesca Chiejina, and cellist Laura van der Heijden. In 2016 Adam became one of the first ever concerto soloists to perform with the Chineke! Orchestra, and he has since worked with esteemed conductors including Jonathon Heyward, David Curtis, Dwight Pile-Gray, Pete Harrison, and Timothy Carey.