Pallant Proms: A Harmonious Revival

Ruifan Xuan is an internationally acclaimed concert pianist with an Artist Diploma in Performance from the Royal College of Music. Beginning her piano studies at four with her mother, Ruifan quickly developed a passion for performance. She studied at the China Conservatory of Music, winning numerous prestigious awards, including 1st Prize at the Vienna IPP International Piano Competition in 2015. Ruifan earned her undergraduate degree from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and her Master’s from the Royal College of Music. She has performed at notable venues such as The National Gallery and St James’s Church Piccadilly. Currently, she is a Collaborative Pianist at Royal Holloway University of London.

Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Wanderer Fantasy in C Major, Op.15

Sergei Rachmaninov (1873-1943)
Moments Musicaux, Op.16
v. Adagio sostenuto
vi. Maestoso

Franz Liszt (1811-1886)
12 Lieder von Franz Schubert, D.558
iv. Erlkönig
xii. Ellens dritter Gesang (Ave Maria)

John Ireland (1879-1962)
Decorations
1. The Island Spell
2. Moonglade
3. The Scarlet Ceremonies

Louis-Victor Bak, born in France and based in London, is a distinguished solo and chamber pianist. He began playing piano at fourteen after seven years of flute studies and trained under Chrystel Saussac and Laurent Boullet. In 2019, he moved to London to study at the Royal College of Music, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Music and is currently pursuing a Master of Performance. Louis-Victor has performed at prestigious venues like La Seine Musicale and Steinway Hall and has won numerous international competitions. He is a Talent Unlimited UK artist and a recipient of the Royal Philharmonic Society Julius Isserlis Scholarship. His debut recording featuring Cécile Chaminade and Claude Debussy will be released in 2024.

Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
Images, Book 1:
1. Reflets dan l’eau
2. Hommage à Rameau
3. Mouvement

Images, Book 2:
1. Cloches à travers les feuilles
2. Et la lune descend sur le temple qui fut
3. Poissons d’or

Cécile Chaminade (1857-1944)
Piano Sonata in C Minor, Op.21
i. Allegro appassionato
ii. Andante
iii. Allegro

Italian pianist Giulia Toniolo is currently pursuing an Artist Diploma at the Royal College of Music (RCM) in London as an RCM Scholar, studying under Norma Fisher, Dmitri Alexeev, and Ian Jones. She completed her Master of Performance degree with Distinction in 2023. Giulia began her studies with Professor Maddalena De Facci and graduated with full marks at 16 from the Music Conservatory “A. Buzzolla” in Adria, Italy. She has performed at renowned venues including the Royal Albert Hall and St James’s Church Piccadilly. Giulia has won multiple international competitions, including the 27th International Piano Competition “Stefano Marizza 2023” and the 13th International Competition “Premio Crescendo 2022.”

Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953)
Ten Pieces from Romeo and Juliet, Op. 75
1. Folk Dance
2. Scene
3. Minuet
4. The Young Juliet
5. Masks 6.
The Montagues and Capulets
7. Friar Laurence
8. Mercutio
9. Dance of the Girls with Lilies
10. Romeo and Juliet before Parting

Lowell Liebermann (b. 1961)
Gargoyles Op. 29
i. Presto
ii. Adagio semplice, ma con molto rubato
iii. Allegro moderato
iv. Presto feroce

Béla Bartók (1881-1945)
Out of Doors, Sz. 81
1. With Drums and Pipes
2. Barcarolla
3. Musettes
4. The Night’s Music
5. The Chase