Lunchtime Concert: Celebrating Jane Austen and Clara Schumann

Another chance to hear this programme, inspired by Jane Austen and Clara Schumann, which Trio 240 performed in the Classical Weekend in March. Lucy Phillips (violin), Jonny Ingall (cello) and Andrew Marples (piano) will perform music by composers who featured in Jane Austen’s music collection: Lady Caroline Lee, Miss Mellish, Signor Giordani, and Maria Hester Park. For this concert they will also add a movement from a trio by Ignace Pleyel, who was one of thee biggest names at the time. Jane Austen was a keen pianist, who would practise for an hour each morning, and during her life she and her family amassed a huge collection of music.

The second part of the concert will be a performance of the Piano Trio in G minor by Clara Schumann (née Wieck). Born just two years after Jane Austen died, the role of music in Clara’s life was the complete antithesis. Whereas for Jane Austen music was just something to be enjoyed in the privacy of the home and the idea of a woman becoming a professional performer would have been scandalous, Clara Schumann was pushed by her father to become a virtuoso, and she enjoyed a lengthy career as one of the greatest pianists of her time.

Come along to Chesterfield Library on Saturday 21st June at 11:45am. Free entry; retiring collection.