French and Ukrainian Music with Annabelle Berthomé-Reynolds and Guest

The Embassy of France is pleased to welcome French violinist Annabelle Berthomé-Reynolds and Georgian pianist Luka Okros for an evening featuring music from France and Ukraine. Berthomé-Reynolds and Okros recently recorded a CD featuring Ukrainian composer Valentin Bibik’s three sonatas for violin and piano, which will be released on June 16. Bibik’s work is of particular importance; one of the great Ukrainian composers of the twentieth century, his music is coming into its own as a fixture in the classical repertoire. The rest of the program will feature famously French or France-related composers such as Lili Boulanger, César Frank and Igor Stravinsky. 

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

French violinist Annabelle Berthomé-Reynolds is a highly versatile phenomenon, surfing with stunning ease between world premiere creations, teaching the next generation and teacher seminars on brain strategies. 

An alumna of London’s Royal Academy of Music where she studied with Lydia Mordkovitch and Hu Kun, Annabelle is an artist keen on sharing the forgotten and undiscovered “gems” in the violin repertoire. 

Annabelle also co-creates music with contemporary composers, namely Régis Campo, Nicolas Bacri and David Chaillou. She recently made the world premiere of Denis Bosse’s new Violin Concerto for Belgium’s Ars Musica Festival in Fall 2022. 

Annabelle has also developed a unique approach to teaching music, based on her research into learning profiles at the University of Cambridge where she received an MEd / MPhil, on which she takes ground for her work as a Strategic Pedagogy Consultant for the Belgian Council of Education (CECP).

London-based Georgian concert pianist Luka Okros has established himself as one of the most outstanding pianists of his generation and a social media influencer. The Guardian’s Observer has praised his performance as “An impressive display of virtuosic pianism”. Spanish newspaper Levante described him as “An Artist of the Sound.” 

Okros has performed in many of the world’s most prestigious concert halls, including Carnegie Hall, Het Concertgebouw, Southbank Centre, Konzerthaus Berlin, Wigmore Hall, Harpa, Liszt Academy, Musiikkitalo, Oslo Konserthus, Palau de la Musica Valencia, Vienna Konzerthaus.

Luka has recently been appointed as the Assistant Artistic Director at Bechstein Hall – London’s new concert venue.

PROGRAM

Valentin Bibik — Sonata No. 3 for violin and piano (19’)

Igor Stravinsky — Suite italienne for violin and piano (18’)

Lili Boulanger — D’un matin de printemps for violin and piano (4’)

César Franck — Sonata in A major for violin and piano (28’)