An all-Enescu recital by a versatile British-Romanian duo
After the inspired "Pieces impromptues" offered by pianist Alexandra Văduva, here comes another all-Enescu recital in our soirees, this time with the great composer's signature "Impressions d'enfance", the nostalgic paean of lost childhood, performed with finesse and insight by British violinist Preston Yeo and Romanian pianist Leona Crasi.
LEONA CRASI is a progressive and versatile Romanian pianist. Her projects consist of classical solo and chamber music recitals, premiers and recordings of contemporary works, and multimedia collaborations with composers as well as visual artists and designers. In 2019 she was featured as part of the New Stages Concert Series with the performance "Analogos", and later in the Royal Academy Piano Festival and Bloomsbury Music Festival with multimedia project "Play". Her current research project focuses on extended techniques, particularly the theatrical movements such as those found in Gyogy Kurtag’s "Jatekok" collection. Leona is an active participant in national and international competitions, performing across Europe, the United States, and Africa. Most recently, she was awarded prizes in the 2018 HRH Lalla Meryem International Competition in Morocco and at the XIII Hungarian Music Competition in Romania. As an active solo performer, her concerts in recent years include appearances at the Lucerne Piano Festival in Switzerland, The Aegean Arts Festival in Greece, and the Hungarian Institute in Vienna. Leona started her music studies at the ‘Sigismund Toduta’ Music School in Cluj, Romania, she later continued to study at the Alabama School of Fine Arts in Birmingham, US, before pursuing her bachelor degree at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where she is currently a masters student of Colin Stone.
PRESTON YEO is a young British violinist who has been playing since the age of four. A sensitive player, he has enjoyed competitive success and audience acclaim, winning First Prizes and Audience Prizes at various UK music festivals. His solo performances include Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto with the Southampton University Symphony Orchestra and the Penzance Orchestral Society, and a performance at Peleș Castle (Romania) broadcasted on Romanian television, radio and online. He is also passionate about chamber and orchestral music-making as a violinist, violist, and conductor. Preston recently attained First-Class Honours for his Bachelor of Music at the Royal Academy of Music, studying with Remus Azoitei and supported by the Helen Worswick Scholarship. Throughout his undergraduate studentship he was invited to perform at many prestigious events and was awarded the Homi Kanga Memorial Prize, DM Lloyd Prize, and John Waterhouse Prize. Preston is currently pursuing his Master of Arts degree at the Academy, studying with Joshua Fisher; he is grateful for the continued support of the Helen Worswick Scholarship, as well as The Stephen Bell Charitable Trust. Preston plays on a Nicolò Gagliano c.1746 violin, kindly on loan from the Royal Academy of Music.