with James Redfern and Laura Pauna

Thursday, 13 March 2014

ODEION

19:30

Press:

“The whole country deserves to hear the Redfern-Pauna duo.”

  Paul Boekkooi, Beeld newspaper, South Africa, 2013

“Probably the best duet I have yet been fortunate to hear”

J Holloway, Durban Friends of Music review, South Africa, 2011

The Redfern & Pauna Piano Duo has been described by Paul Badura-Skoda as “a piano duo of first class”. Their performances during 2013 of Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring - to mark the work’s centenary - have been met with great critical acclaim.  Their performances of original masterworks for four hands have taken them across the globe.  They have appeared at festivals such as the 50th Anniversary Liszt Festival (Weimar), Piano Fortissimo Festival (Croatia), the Manchester Keyboard Festival and the UNISA Concert Series.

LAURA PAUNA

“… lavishly performed… frenziedly and brilliantly… Bravo” was written in a Carnegie Hall review in 2007. 

Laura Pauna was born in Bucharest (Romania), starting her studies at the Dinu Lipatti- and George Enescu music schools. She completed her KA degree at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater (Hannover) with the highest distinction.

Laura performed with orchestras including the Deutsche Kammerakademie Neuss am Rhein; Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra, Pro Musica, the International Mahler Orchestra and more.  Opening the 2008 Mozarteum International Summer Academy, Laura’s performance was described as “inspired… perfectly synchronised brilliance” (Horst Reischenbroek, Drehpunkt Kultur, Salzburg).  During her time in Germany, Laura was the recipient of many scholarships and awards, including the Ottilie-Selbach award and the Ritter Foundation, in addition to winning internal scholarships.

Her numerous competition prizes include being the overall winner in 2006 of the IBLA Grand Prize,  winning the Valentino Bucchi competition (Rome, 2006), the Mozarteum Prize (Salzburg, 2009) and 1st prize at the Grieg International Piano Competition (2009).

As a soloist and chamber musician, Laura has performed all over the world, including tours of the United States, Europe and Africa.  She has performed at such prestigious venues as Carnegie Hall, Salzburg Grosse Saal, Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), Jerusalem Theatre (Israel), George Enescu Piazza (Bucharest) and St Martin-in-the-Field (London).

JAMES REDFERN

“A solo pianist of the highest calibre” – Paul Badura-Skoda (2013). 

James Redfern is a leading young English pianist. He began his studies in the UK at Chetham’s School of Music and the Purcell School, with Tessa Nicholson at the Royal Academy of Music. James continued his study under the tutorship of Paul Badura-Skoda.

James performed Mozart’s Jeunhomme concerto at St John’s Smith Square (London) at the inaugural concert of the International Mahler Orchestra, under the baton of Yoel Gamzou. He subsequently toured the Ukraine performing Brahms Concerto no. 1. Other prestigious appearances include the Purcell Room, South Bank Centre, St. Martin-in-the-Fields (London), the Bucharest Festival (Romania), the Deutsche National Theater and Stadskapelle Weimar (Germany), ZK Matthews Hall (Pretoria) and more.

In 2005 he won the first prize and chamber music prize at the Franz Liszt Competition (Weimar) and in 2010 he was the overall winner of the EPTA Competition (London). In 2011 James won fourth prize at the Dudley International Piano Competition.

ADMISSION:

R130 (adults), R90 (pensioners), R70 (UFS staff), R50 (students & learners)

R50 (block booking of 10+)

PROGRAMME:

Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Beethoven: Grosse Fugue, Op. 134

Ravel: Spanish Rhapsody (1. Prelude a la nuit; 2. Malaguena; 3. Habanera & 4. Feria)