Rebecca Clarke’s celebrated Viola Sonata sets the scene for some thrilling, sensuous music by her European contemporaries in this ingenious programme.
Join pianist and conductor Simon Crawford-Phillips for a series of performances this spring with friends at LSO St Luke's, just outside the City.
The Music
Rebecca Clarke, a violist herself, submitted her rhapsodic Sonata for an American competition in 1919 under a male pseudonym. It came a close second to Bloch’s Suite, and the Sonata went on to launch her international career. Bloch’s prize-winning Suite is darkly inventive throughout, and it is easy to see why it impressed the committee.
Martinů’s Sonata is a late work, but its Allegro bustles with playful energy. Ravel’s first Violin Sonata, in one lyrical movement, was first published decades after his death. Wistfully elegant throughout, it is delightfully contrasted with Bartók’s rambunctious Romanian Dances.
The Performers
Lawrence Power is one of the most engaging chamber performers working today, equally skilled on the violin as the viola. He and the highly versatile pianist Simon Crawford-Phillips are equally gifted at curating fascinating recital programmes.
Time: Friday 17 April 2026, 1pm
Tickets: £16 (£14 concessions, £6 under-18s) + £1.50 booking fee per transaction
LSO St Luke's is located just outside the City of London boundary.