Elodie Chousmer Howelles

Elodie Chousmer-Howelles and Stella Marie Lorenz

Genre
Classical

Tickets
Free, booking required

Book tickets
Beethoven Violin Sonata No. 6 in A major, Op. 30
Coleridge-Taylor Violin Sonata in D minor
Beach Romance
Elodie Chousmer-Howelles violin
Stella Marie Lorenz piano

Elodie Chousmer-Howelles (violin) and Stella Marie Lorenz (piano) will perform a varied programme of works by Beethoven, Coleridge-Taylor, and Amy Beach in this lunchtime recital.

One of Beethoven’s calmest violin sonatas, Sonata No. 6 in A major, is contrasted alongside the often neglected, tempestuous D minor violin sonata by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. The programme closes with one of Amy Beach’s most luscious compositions: her Romance for violin and piano.

The centrepiece of this programme is the Violin Sonata in D minor by mixed-race British composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. During his lifetime he achieved much recognition, even hailed in the United States as ‘The Black Mahler’. However, after his death his name fell into obscurity. For many listeners this will be a wonderful introduction to his music, and to others already familiar with some of his more famous compositions, this may be a new discovery.

Another important element of this programme is the inclusion of a work by one America’s first most significant female classical composers. Amy Beach was a child prodigy who was discouraged from continuing her piano career upon marrying her husband. Living at a time when women’s voices were still largely suppressed, she became the first female composer to have her symphony published. The Romance is an incredibly fine example of her most lyrical and sensitive writing.

This programme should appeal to Beethoven fans but also to those with a romantic heart and an open curiosity to hear from under-represented composers.

Part of the Lunchtime Concert Series.

Presented in partnership with BlackFest.

Elodie Chousmer-Howelles

Elodie square
Elodie Chousmer-Howelles Rising to prominence as a BBC Young Musician 2018 string finalist, Elodie made her debut as soloist with The BBC Singers in 2019 in an arrangement of Vaughan Williams’ 'The Lark Ascending' for solo violin and mixed choir. In Fendation's ‘Let Her Musicbruary 2024, Elodie performed as part of the Donne Fou Play’ campaign, which has made history as the world's longest live streamed concert performing works by female and nonbinary composers. Elodie currently performs regularly with duo partner Stella Lorenz. 2023 saw performances with: Ed Sheeran, Little Simz, Joan Armatrading, Ellie Goulding, Noel Gallagher, and concluded with a UK Tour in December with classical guitarist Alexandra Whittingham. As a member of the Chineke! Orchestra, Elodie led the Chineke! Quartet at the 2020 Booker Prize Ceremony, performed at the 2022 Paris Louis Vuitton fashion show, and has been involved in BBC Proms performances. Solo concerti performances have included: Vasks' Violin Concerto in Edinburgh, Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in Witham (Essex), Glazunov Concerto in Brentwood, and Coleridge-Taylor’s Violin Concerto with The Orchestra of St John’s in Oxford.

Stella Marie Lorenz

Stella square
Stella is a German chamber musician and song accompanist who has performed on international stages in Germany, Austria (Konzerthaus Wien, Musikverein Wien), France, Spain and the UK, at The Leeds International Concert Series and the Wigmore Hall. In Vienna, she was awarded a Master of Vocal Accompaniment with first class distinction at the University of Music and Performing Arts. Having previously studied with Roger Vignoles, Gerold Huber and Markus Hadulla, she has participated in master classes with Graham Johnson, Helmut Deutsch and Christa Ludwig. Stella is passionate about juxtaposing the known and unknown in classical music, encouraging listeners to engage in and discover new music. Regularly playing classical standards alongside 20th/21st century music, she has performed several world premieres. In 2021, she was awarded the Historical Female Composer Prize, a Help Musicians Postgraduate Award and was named A Young Artist at the Leeds Lieder Festival. Currently supported by a generous scholarship, Stella is completing her Advanced Diploma at the Royal Academy of Music with professors Malcolm Martineau, Michael Dussek and James Baillieu.

Access seats are available to visitors with additional access requirements such as wheelchair users. Sign-up to the access scheme to book these seats.

If you book tickets for a free lunchtime concert and are subsequently unable to attend, please email [email protected].

This performance is not likely to be suitable for children under 5 due to the acoustics in the auditorium. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Under-10’s are not permitted to sit on the balconies.

Please note no food or drink other than bottled water is permitted in The Tung Auditorium.

This concert will last approximately 50 minutes.