The Complete Chopin Cycle, Concert 11: Sonata No. 3

This is the eleventh and final concert in Warren Mailley-Smith's superb marathon cycle of all Chopin’s 200+ works for solo piano, from memory at St John’s Smith Square.

Warren is an international concert pianist who has made solo debuts to critical acclaim at Wigmore and Carnegie Halls, has performed as concerto soloist with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and has been invited on many occasions to play at private functions for the British Royal Family at Buckingham Palace, Highgrove and Sandringham. He has performed widely in the UK, Europe, USA, China and on the most prestigious luxury cruise liners. He has been described by Classic FM as 'Stunning...', 'Fantastic...' 'Sensational', 'Huge UK talent...’ and by BBC Music Magazine as ‘Rising Star – Great Artist of Tomorrow”. The latest of his ten solo CDs, Rhapsody in Blue, was selected as Classic FM's Disc of the Week .

There have been glowing reviews of the series so far: " .. triumphantly confirmed Mailley-Smith’s Chopin credentials .. formidable technique .. breathtaking command of dynamic gradations .. wholly exceptional .. This quite memorable recital was justly rewarded with a spontaneous standing ovation .. brilliant account of the youthful G sharp minor .. subtle, atmospheric performance of the Opus 72/1 Nocturne marked by a beautifully played remote accompaniment and effortless drifts of decoration .. elegant tone and emotional refinement .. assured technique .. each (Etude)was a minor miracle, sensitively rendered and deftly delivered .. overall result was exceptionally engaging and intense .. intensely poetic: under his sensitive touch the music grew and ramified persuasively .. the Mazurkas themselves emerged pristine: he caught the sweet artlessness and abrupt mood-changes to a T .. consistently high technical and expressive standard.. his mastery of phrasing and a quite magical graduation between piano and pianissimo passages .. exceptionally well conveyed .. admirably convincing .. finely observed .. one has nothing but high praise .. outstandingly well performed .. full of considerable interpretative understanding, and possessing an organic cohesion which did full justice to Chopin’s profoundly expressive originality .. Chopin would have enjoyed the beauty, sensitivity and intellectual nous that Warren Mailley-Smith brought to his performance. "

It is fitting that the series should finish with Chopin’s Piano Sonata No. 3. Not only was it one of his last published masterpieces, but it contains some of his most inspired and powerful piano writing, suggesting that his ideas and inventiveness were potentially limitless, if only he had had more time! A selection of early works and the remaining Mazurkas round off a unique presentation of Chopin’s complete piano music.

Warren studied at the Royal College of Music where he won numerous postgraduate prizes. He has studied with John Barstow, the late Ronald Smith and Peter Feuchtwanger. He is in demand for his teaching expertise both privately and in master classes, appearing regularly on the faculties of Pro Corda and Piano Week as well as teaching and coaching at the Royal College of Music and Trinity junior departments.

PROGRAMME:
Pre-concert event at 6:30pm
Concert at 7:30pmIntroduction & Variations on a German Air Der Schweizerbub in E

Mazurka No. 51 in F minor Op. 68 No. 4 (revised version)
Mazurka No. 52 in B flat 

Mazurka No. 53 in G

Mazurka in B flat
Mazurka in D B.71

Mazurka in D

Cantabile in B flat 

Nocturne No. 11 in G minor Op. 37 No. 1
Nocturne No. 12 in G Op. 37 No. 2
Polonaise in G minor Op. posth.
Polonaise in B flat minor Op. posth.
Polonaise in A flat Op. posth.
Mazurka No. 57 in C

Mazurka No. 58 in A flat 

Sonata No.3 in B minor Op.58
Allegro maestoso
Scherzo: Molto vivace
Largo
Finale: Presto ma non tanto