Works by Beethoven and Mozart
Sonata in A-minor no:4, Op.23 Ludwig van Beethoven
Presto
Andante scherzoso, piu Allegretto
Allegro molto
Sonata in A-major no:6, Op.30 Beethoven
Allegro
Adagio molto espressivo
Allegretto con variazioni
Intermission
Sonata in A-major no:2, op.12, Beethoven
Allegro vivace
Andante, piu tosto Allegretto
Allegro piacevole
Sonata in F-major no:5, Op. 24, “Spring” Beethoven
Allegro
Adagio molto espressivo
Rondo: Allegro ma non troppo
Bios
Lucy Russell is renowned for her versatility as a violinist. As leader of the eminent Fitzwilliam String Quartet, celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year, she has performed and recorded extensively for three decades. With the quartet she performs music from Purcell to the present day, using - where appropriate - gut strings to connect with and convey the sound world of a given composer. The group has recently recorded Schubert’s Death and the Maiden quartet and the A Minor on gut (to be released in 2019), having already put down works by Haydn, Brahms and Bruckner on these setups. The strong association with the quartets of Shostakovich has continued with re-recording his last three quartets (also for release in the Anniversary year), and with a planned collaboration with a quartet of dancers and with an artist who will paint to live performance.
Lucy has achieved recognition for her thoughtful and committed performances as a soloist, and also as leader of various other ensembles. She is equally at home on modern or period set-ups and is dedicated to teaching the importance of versatility, flexibility and curiosity to her students, on any instrument. She teaches in a number of institutions, and is Professor of Baroque Violin at the Royal College of Music, a visiting tutor at Birmingham Royal Conservatoire, a visiting Professor at St Andrews, and a director of the York University Baroque Ensemble. She has given masterclasses in Russia and America to great acclaim. Her teaching is a very important part of her work as a musician and she endeavors to enable and inspire her students, at whatever level.
Her recording of Bach's Obbligato Violin Sonatas with John Butt was highly praised, receiving a five-star review from BBC Music Magazine: "for sheer freshness, insight and life-enhancing joy, this newcomer goes to the top of the class alongside Podger and Pinnock, Manze and Egarr".
Lucy and Sezi recorded a CD of Beethoven Sonatas 4, 5 and 6 (opp. 23, 24 and 30/1 respectively) in August 2019 for Acis Label.
Sezi Seskir received her first degree in piano in her native, Ankara, Turkey. She went on with her studies in Lübeck Musikhochschule and then completed a D.M.A. degree with Malcolm Bilson in Cornell University. She concertized widely in Europe and the US and is currently in a duo with violinist Lucy Russell. Seskir has given guest lectures at schools such as UC Berkeley, University of Toronto, Williams College and at the Royal Conservatoire of the Hague among others. Her articles appeared in collected editions titled “Schumann Interpretieren” and “Schumann Studien 11” respectively by Studio Punkt Verlag. She is currently an assistant professor of music at Bucknell University and is an editor of Schumann's keyboard works for the Schumann complete edition for Schott and Bärenreiter publishing houses.