11am
Mark Bebbington
Huntingdon Hall
Buy tickets: £18/ £12

John Ireland: Decorations
1) The Island Spell (1912)
2) Moon-Glade (1913)
3) Scarlet Ceremonies (1913)
Benjamin Dale - Piano Sonata in D minor (1902)
Elgar transcribed Karg-Elert: Symphony No.1 (1908)

The critical acclaim which has greeted Mark Bebbington's recent performances and recordings has singled him out as a young British pianist of the rarest refinement and maturity. Increasingly recognized as a champion of British music, Mark has recorded extensively for SOMM "New Horizons" label to unanimous
critical acclaim.

Over recent seasons Mark has toured extensively throughout Central and Northern Europe, the Far East and North Africa both as a recitalist and as concerto soloist with many of the world's leading orchestras. He has appeared with the London Philharmonic and Philharmonia Orchestras and the London Mozart Players in all the major London concert halls and at Birmingham's Symphony Hall, and has featured both on BBC Television & Radio and on Radio France.

Mark's programme for Worcester Three Choirs Festival celebrates the centenary of the first performance of Elgar's 1st Symphony, combined with one of the finest examples of English late romantic piano writing in the stunning sonata by B J Dale. The John Ireland set of three pieces include his most famous piano work - The Island Spell - and these three gems are fine examples of English musical Impressionism.

''a magically effective evocation of the already profoundly complex original....spectacular, as is Bebbington's performance.''
Paul Driver, SUNDAY TIMES, October 14th, 2007

www.markbebbington.co.uk