A special programme from cellist Raphael Wallfisch and pianist Dr Simon Callaghan, including Frank Bridge’s Cello Sonata and Britten’s Elegy for Solo Cello.

This evocative programme continues our Britten Weekend reflection on the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and the liberation of concentration camps.

Frank Bridge’s Cello Sonata, composed during the First World War, embodies his deep despair over the futility of war. Contrasting movements span lyrical passages and intense dissonance, mirroring the emotional turmoil of the time. Britten’s Elegy for solo cello, originally written for viola, was composed as a tribute to the memory of Bridge, his teacher.

The programme also includes works by Henriëtte Bosmans and John Ireland, offering a poignant reflection on the impact of war and the enduring power of music to express collective memory and resilience.

Raphael Wallfisch cello
Simon Callaghan piano