Music written before a new life in a new world. Music written when it seemed like the world was ending...

Piano Trio No.4 "Dumky" - Antonín Dvořák

Quartet for the End of Time - Olivier Messaien

Violin - Anna Tulchinskaya, Cello - Nicholas Trygstad, Clarinet - Rosa Campos, Piano - Benjamin Powell

&Piano 2025 presents a very exciting gig in a very new venue for the festival, we're moving the piano next door over to the warehouse-cum-performance space of Zapato Brewing to perform two iconic pieces of classical chamber music. Czech composer Antonín Dvořák was at the height of his musical career, celebrated around the world around the time he wrote his 4th Piano Trio (which is a Piano, Violin & Cello combo) in 1891. It broke traditional conventions - comprised of more than the typical 3 movements found in most piano trios - and the music was written around "Dumky" - the plural of "Dumka", a Ukranian word referring to epic ballads or songs of lament or deep reflection. Many Slavic composers used the term to write music which featured a gentle, pensive section interspersed with a more lively, cheerful section.

The music is full of czech and slavic folk-inspired melodies and rhythms, and the piece was so popular that Dvorak ended up performing it on his 40-concert farewell tour before he embarked on a new adventure as Director of one of the first specialist music colleges in New York, America.

Exactly 50 years later, approaching the end of two global wars, the world is forever changed, both geopolitically and culturally - artists needed to express this new, harsh, brutal world with new ideas, sounds and colours. French composer Olivier Messiaen was 32 years old when he was captured by German soldiers and imprisoned in a prisoner of war camp. Among the prisoners were a clarinetists, a violinist and a cellist - he was a pianist. Using what resources he could, and relying on the kindness of a sympathetic German soldier, he managed to obtain some paper and a pencil and write his 'Quartet for the End of Time' (Quatour pour le fin de temps), which was premiered in the German camp on January 15th 1941 in front of about 400 prisoners and guards.

The music is incredibly powerful and poignant, with equal moments of discomfort, calm, frenzy and reflection, tension and resolution - it summarised a new world, forever changed by the brutality of power and war.

Performed by a stellar line-up of incredible musicians based around the region, including former principal-cellist of the Hallé Nicholas Trygstad and award-winning pianist Benjamin Powell who regularly works with BBC Philharmonic, the Hallé, Manchester Camerata - don't miss the opportunity to experience this incredible history-revealing music.

Please note the earlier start time of 6pm. Doors will open 5:30pm. This performance is in a warehouse and most seating will be on benches. Please let us know if you require alternative seating. Email info@andpiano.co.uk if you have any additional access needs that we can accommodate.

Zapato Tap House is open from 10am on Sundays. A food vendor will be on site typically serving until 6pm.