PROGRAMME

John Dowland - Lachrimae Pavan; Fantasia No.7

Silvius Leopold Weiss - Sonata XXIII

Leo Brouwer - El Decameron negro

Rautavaara - Serenades of the Unicorn

Born in the UK and raised in Europe, South America and Africa, Michael Matthews’ flamboyant and expressive performances are placing him at the forefront of the young generation. He has been praised for a rigorous technique alongside his natural musical perception by leading figures in the field.

His concerts are communicative, eccentric and have been described as truly beautiful and professional. He brings a new identity to traditional repertoire as well as verve and dynamism to contemporary and lesser-known works. Since his youth, Michael has studied with distinguished and unorthodox teacher and performer Rob Johns, completing his First Class Honours Degree in 2016 with distinction in performance. He has subsequently performed in recitals, masterclasses and competitions across the country and abroad.

Recently, he has given solo recitals with an emphasis on the Renaissance and its links to contemporary music. In the spring of 2017, Michael gave his debut performance of Joaquin Rodrigo's Concerto de Aranjuez with the Sheffield Chamber Orchestra. In 2018 Michael was chosen by the Tillett Trust to give recitals across the UK during the 2018/2019 season. He was also selected by the Concordia Foundation to perform in outreach projects and recitals in central London and abroad. Upcoming engagements include a performance of Rodrigo's Fantasia para un Gentilhombre, a solo recital at St James’s Church Piccadilly and his debut appearance at the Wigmore Hall.