Ben Socrates

Almost four years since his last performance in Brighton, classical pianist Ben will be putting on an informal Sunday morning piano concert; the first in a new series at the Purple Playhouse Theatre, a very cool newly refurbished performance venue, near Seven Dials between Brighton and Hove.

Ben has been exploring piano music of the last 400 years that is either driven by unusual, dancing rhythms, or creates a powerful sense place and atmosphere in the mind - the programme is called 'Visions and Dances'. It centres around three sonatas by Scarlatti, three of Brahms' Hungarian Dances, and selections from three of Debussy's piano suites. Also featured will be In The Quiet of the Night, by the acclaimed Brighton based composer Lee Westwood, which seems to sit somewhere between these two conceptions.

Ben has also been keen to find music that is suited to the intimacy of the venue, and the unique qualities of an upright piano, and the programme is likely to feature miniatures by George Gershwin, Francis Poulenc, Sergei Prokofiev, Nikolai Medtner or Chilly Gonzales.

Ben will be explaining a little about the significance of this music to him, how it works and it's place in the mad history of music, and inviting plenty of informal discussion from the audience.

Tickets are going to be £7.00 with a coffee included. Perfect to clear your Sunday morning heads!