WC2R Area Guide

This immersive weekend offers the unique experience to hear all of Beethoven’s major chamber works with piano – violin sonatas, cello sonatas and piano trios – in six concerts, performed by three of Britain’s leading chamber players. Beethoven was a brilliant pianist as well as a composer, and performed all of his piano parts himself until deafness prevented him from playing in public for the last part of his career. Therefore, through these works, an insight is glimpsed into Beethoven’s unique and groundbreaking genius as it emerged through his chosen instrument and his own fingers at the keyboard. From the magnificent Op. 1 piano trios with which he announced himself to the Viennese public, through the Spring and Kreutzer sonatas to the Ghost and Archduke trios, every aspect of Beethoven’s musical persona is on show. Daniel Tong has been playing Beethoven’s works since he was a teenager, and gave his first cycle of the violin sonatas a quarter of a century ago. He has recorded these works for SOMM Recordings, and the cello sonatas (alongside Robin Michael) and a disc of Beethoven’s solo piano sonatas for Resonus Classics. His book on the Beethoven violin sonatas is published in 2025. Daniel is the pianist in the London Bridge Trio and director of the Wye Valley Chamber Music Festival. Joining him for this weekend will be two long-time musical partners, the violinist Sara Trickey, member of the Rosetti Ensemble and regular concerto soloist around the UK, and Robin Michael, principal cellist in Les Siecles and the Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique. Step into the world of Beethoven for the entire weekend, or join us for individual events. Concerts are complemented by illustrated talks from musicologist and broadcaster Richard Wigmore. All ages. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. Price: All ticket prices include a £1 booking fee Access Information: This event is in the Main Hall, which is located on the ground floor. All the ground-floor rooms are fully accessible by wheelchair. Main Hall (street access, step-free), Brockway Room (street access, step-free), Bertrand Russell Room (street access, shallow ramp), Cafe (street access, step-free). There is also an accessible toilet on the ground floor opposite the Brockway Room.