Programme
Michael Haydn (1737–1806) : Polonaise in C major
Frédéric Chopin (1810–1849) : Three Polonaises, op. 71
No.1 in D minor
No.2 in B flat major
No.3 in F minor
Modest Mussorgsky (1839–1881) : Night on a Bare Mountain (arr. Crossland)
Biography
Neil Crossland started his career studying at the Royal College of Music, where he won major prizes in both piano and composition. Since then he has performed extensively at home and abroad, playing at many major London venues, and has made frequent appearances elsewhere as well as performing all 32 Beethoven piano sonatas in a concert series at St James’s Piccadilly. He has also been active as a chamber musician, founding the Piano trio Trilogy as well as performing his own works for piano trio – Trio Requiem and Damage. He has made over 20 recordings on the Deltatel label, including the complete cycle of the Beethoven piano sonatas. One of his many other projects has been to revive and record the piano compositions of the late astronomer, Sir Patrick Moore. As a composer, Neil is known for his original, but accessible style. His latest compositions include songs set to poems by the three Brontë sisters for piano and soprano Op. 52. He is also recognised for his ability to write successful transcriptions and convincing works in older styles. In 2015 Neil completed his Op. 54 set of songs for soprano and piano. Next year, Neil began recording Mozart’s piano sonatas – the first two CDs of this project are now available. Neil’s newly completed song cycle were recently given their premieres, as well as his piano duo work, Variations and Finale on Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, Op.28. In 2019, Neil played in several festivals performing works arranged by himself – including Rachmaninoff’s How Fair This Spot. More recently, Neil returned to Doncaster Museum in 2019 where he performed his own third Piano Sonata and his wonderful Freddie Mercury transcriptions. In 2021, Neil joined forces with cellist Kirsten Jenson from Icon Strings and performed the Shostakovich and Chopin Cello Sonatas in Aylesbury at St Mary’s Church.