Programme
Prelude and Fugue in C-sharp major by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
Prelude and Fugue in C-sharp minor
from The Well-Tempered Clavier Book II
Piano Sonata no. 2 in F major, K. 280 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791)
Allegro assai
Adagio
Presto
from Twenty mazurkas, op. 50 by Karol Szymanowski (1882–1937)
19. Poco vivace
11. Allegretto
5. Moderato
6. Vivace
Regard de l'Esprit de joie by Olivier Messiaen (1908–1992)
(Contemplation of the joyful Spirit from Vingt Regards sur l'enfant-Jésus)
Pianist and composter, Mateusz Rettner, enjoys a career as successful as it is diverse. In his recitals he often couples works from the standard repertoire with lesser known pieces and includes new works, many of them written especially for him.
His recent achievements include receiving the Mercers' Arts Award given to exceptional Postgraduate students in the UK, 1st prize in the Brooks-van der Pump Competition in London as well as releasing a multi-award winning CD on the DUX label with works by Grażyna Bacewicz.
Rettner’s performance career as a soloist and chamber musician has taken him to some of the most prestigious venues in the UK as well as Poland, Germany and Spain, such as: Wigmore Hall, St. John’s Smith Square, the Royal Over-Seas League, Warsaw Philharmonic, Ambika P3, Lodz Philharmonic, Victoria and Albert Museum, Gdansk Philharmonic, Chopin Museum in Warsaw, Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall in London and others. In 2016 he made his concerto debut with the Lodz Philharmonic.
He has worked closely with many young musicians, but also with well-established composers, such as: Steve Reich, Chaya Czernowin, David Lang, Marco Stroppa, Michael Finnissy, Zygmunt Krauze and others.
Upcoming projects include giving premieres of 12 new works written for La Tache Ensemble (a new music group founded by Mateusz Rettner) as well as a concert tour presenting the piano works of Bogusław Schaeffer, Grażyna Bacewicz and Roman Palester.
The artist has obtained a Master’s Degree (with distinction) from the Royal College of Music, London where he studied with prof. Dina Parakhina and prof. Leon McCawley as an RCM Award Holder supported by a Jenny Marsh Chapman Memorial Award as well as a Nina Polani Award. He has recently obtained a PhD under the supervision ofprof. Marek Szlezer at the Academy of Music in Kraków.
Previously he studied at the Musikhochschule Stuttgart, Germany (with prof. Nicolas Hodges) and the Academy of Music in Lodz. He has attended masterclasses led by: Dmitri Bashkirov, Kirill Gerstein, Andrzej Jasinski, Dmitri Alexeev, Philippe Giusiano, Katarzyna Popowa-Zydron, Michel Beroff, Ewa Pobłocka, Laurent Lamy, Wojciech Switala and others.
Chichester Cathedral's Lunchtime Concert series is self-supporting, and thrives through the generosity of its audiences. While there is no charge for admission, we suggest a minimum donation of £3 per person, with Gift Aid applied if possible.