Themed programmes for societies or festivals

Concert and festival promoters often speak of a preference for themed recital programmes, so here are three new themes which Sarah is presenting alongside her many other attractive mixed programmes.

All the programmes are based on Sarah’s past or forthcoming recording projects. Her recordings have won major plaudits including Gramophone Editor’s and Critic’s Choice Awards.

All these programmes could also be cut down to form well balanced lunchtime recitals

Variations Plus

This idea came from her most recent (2023) release entitled Variations – ‘an exceptional CD’ Rob Cowan. All works in the programme are either a set of variations in name, contain a movement in variation form or take on the Variations mantle. Chopin’s Berceuse and 4th Ballade, for example may not be works that most listeners would immediately think of as Variations, but careful listening certainly highlights them as such. This programme has been hugely popular with promoters with Mendelssohn’s Variations Serieuses winning particular praise.
Variations Plus programme options are numerous, but two are listed below. Programme A is a recital for promoters who would perhaps like to introduce their audiences to something new. It highlights Sarah’s interest in the music of Austrian British composer Hans Gál whose Piano Concerto she made the world premiere recording of, to much acclaim. His only Piano Sonata (1927) contains a set of Variations as its haunting third movement. In Programme B, every work will be familiar to most regular concert audiences.
Alternative options might include, for example, Brahms’s terrific Handel Variations which Sarah has also recorded.

The Austrian Connection

The timing of the release of Sarah’s highly acclaimed disc of this name, which gained 5 stars from Musical Opinion ‘Lyricism and dance are the watchwords of Briggs’ beautifully prepared performances…a player at the height of her powers’ was unfortunate, as it coincided with the early part of Lockdown (2020) and numerous concert cancellations, so she now looks forward to returning to this fascinating mix of repertoire in the concert hall.
Hans Gál was perhaps the last great composer to uphold the tonal Austro-German tradition that began in the late-eighteenth century with Haydn and Mozart. In this programme, Sarah traces ‘The Austrian Connection’ between Gál and those two great antecedents in the Classical era, as well as Schubert at the dawn of Romanticism. To complete the programme, she adds two great late sets of romantic piano pieces by Johannes Brahms – an adopted son of Vienna, who spent much of his professional life there.

Small Treasures

Sarah’s Schumann – Brahms album of 2019, awarded 5 stars by International Piano and described as ’81 minutes of pianistic heaven’ included some great piano miniatures – Schumann’s Kinderszenen and Brahms’ Intermezzi and Klavierstücke op 117 and 118. In her next projected recording, she plans to return to miniatures and to Schumann and Brahms (Schumann’s last major cycle and Brahms’ final work for solo piano) but also to showcase a broader range of composers. This programme includes a selection of repertoire planned for that disc – a celebration of the miniature!