Guy Johnston, Tom Poster

A welcome return by Guy Johnston and Tom Poster, two of the Festival’s previous Young Artists whose creative partnership is now one of Britain’s most established and renowned.

Dame Ethel Smyth’s composing career, most notably in opera, was occasionally interrupted by her actions as a suffragette; here is a rare opportunity to hear her chamber music. When studying in Leipzig, she met Grieg, whose cello sonata was premiered there; it is described as ‘imbued with the soaring ecstasy of yearning wistfulness’.

The Rachmaninov sonata is perhaps his most famous chamber piece and a perfect example of the composer’s gift for sweeping, romantic melody.

Guy Johnston - cello
Tom Poster - piano

Ethel Smyth - Cello Sonata, Op.5
Grieg Cello - Sonata in A minor, Op.36
Rachmaninov - Sonata for Piano and Cello in G minor, Op.19