Aylesbury Lunchtime Music presents

Nicholas Ventura

Print version
23 July 2026

Starts: 12:45pm, Doors: 12:15pm

Duration: 1 hour (approx.)

St Mary the Virgin, Aylesbury

£7 adults on the door (<18s & carers free)

Nicholas Ventura piano

Programme

  • 1683-1764

    Suite in D Major, RCT 3 (Rameau)
    i Les Tendres Plaintes. Rondeau, iv La Joyeuse, viii Les Cyclopes, x La Boiteuse

    The French Baroque composer Jean-Philippe Rameau wrote three books of Pièces de clavecin for the harpsichord. This is a selection from book 3.

  • 1891-1953

    Scythian Suite, Op. 20 (Prokofiev)
    i Invocation to Veles and Ala, ii The Evil God and the Dance of the Pagan Monsters, iii Night – the Evil God harms Ala, iv The Glorious Departure of Lolli and the Cortège of the Sun

    Prokofiev originally wrote the music for the ballet Ala i Lolli, the story of which takes place among the Scythians. Commissioned by Sergei Diaghilev, the ballet was written to a scenario by Russian poet Sergey Gorodetsky. Nicolas Ventura has transcribed a selection for solo piano.

  • 1797-1828

    Impromptus, Op. 90 No 2-3 (Schubert)
    No. 2 in Eâ™­ major, No. 3 in Gâ™­ major

    The Impromptus, Op. 90, D. 899, are a set of four impromptus for solo piano composed by Franz Schubert in 1827. They were written in the same year as the Impromptus, Op. 142, though only the first two pieces were published during Schubert’s lifetime. Together with the latter set, they have become a cornerstone of the piano repertoire.

    The second Impromptu in Eâ™­ major is a swift moto perpetuo with a ternary design. The third Impromptu is a flowing and meditative piece in Gâ™­ major, characterized by long melodic lines and unbroken triadic accompaniment.

  • 1880-1959

    Visions & Prophecies, B. 70a (Bloch)
    Selection from: i Moderato, ii Poco lento, iii Moderato, iv Adagio piacevole, v Poco agitato

    Although it is not a strictly programmatic work per se, Bloch’s 1936 Visions and Prophecies—a five-movement piece for solo piano—is an emotional, spiritual, and dramatic evocation of sentiments, incidents, proclamations, or characters in the Hebrew Bible.

  • 1685-1750

    Chaconne in D minor from Partita No. 2, BWV 1004 (Bach / Busoni)
    v Chaconne

    Busoni’s virtuosic piano transcription of the Chaconne from Bach’s Partita No. II for solo violin (BWV 1004) is an early example of the young Italian composer’s interest in the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. The work, dedicated to Eugen d’Albert, was first published in 1893 and premiered in the same year. Since then the Chaconne has secured a permanent place in the repertoire. Busoni releases an incredible range of sonority from the original violin work, approaching at times an orchestral texture.

Performers

  • Nicholas Ventura

    Piano

    Pianist Nicholas Ventura has been praised for his technical mastery and authority and limitless palate of colours

    Read More

Key information for concert goers

When

Every Thursday at 12:45pm (except August & over Christmas). Performances last around 60 minutes. Please enter quietly as there is a noon service in the Lady Chapel.

How much?

Entry is £7 per adult (card or cash), under 18s and carers are free. The price includes a programme. Donations are welcomed to subsidise the larger ensembles.

Where?

Performances are at St Mary’s Church in the heart of Aylesbury Old Town. See directions for further details.

Do I need to book?

No, just turn up. Doors open at 12:15 pm. Make sure you arrive in good time to get a seat.

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