Cello Recital with Maxim Calver (BBCYM 2018 Finalist)

Programme

J.S. Bach – Suite for Solo Cello in G major
i. Prelude
ii. Allemande
iii. Courante
iv. Sarabande
v. Minuets I&II
vi. Gigue

Rachmaninoff – Sonata in G minor for Cello and Piano, Op.19
i. Lento – Allegro moderato
ii. Allegro scherzando
iii. Andante
iv. Allegro mosso

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Performers

Cello: Maxim Calver

Piano: Gorka Plada Girón

Biography

British cellist Maxim Calver made his concerto debut in Symphony Hall, Birmingham as part of the Grand Final of BBC Young Musician 2018. His performance of Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra conducted by Mark Wigglesworth was broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 and BBC4. Earlier in the competition he won the Strings Category Final performing works by Lutoslawski, Brahms and Stravinsky.

Maxim, from Gorleston-on-Sea, is a pupil at the Yehudi Menuhin School where he has been a student of Thomas Carroll for ten years. In September, Maxim takes up an RCM scholarship to continue his studies at the Royal College of Music with Melissa Phelps. He has participated in masterclasses with leading cellists including Steven Isserlis, Heinrich Schiff, Julian Lloyd Webber, Paul Katz and Guy Johnston.

Maxim has performed in major venues throughout the UK and Europe, including Wigmore Hall, the Royal Festival Hall and BOZAR (Brussels). Festival appearances include the Gstaad Menuhin Festival in Switzerland, Southwold Arts Festival and the Wimbledon International Festival, where his performance of Delius’ Cello Sonata was singled out for its ‘depth of tone and passionate intensity’ (Planet Hugill, 2014).

A committed chamber musician, in 2018 Maxim toured the Netherlands as part of Trio Pantoum, appearing at venues in The Hague, Ede and Amsterdam. Their performance of Ravel’s Piano Trio was broadcast live from the Concertgebouw on Dutch Radio. Maxim has also released a CD of Schoenberg’s String Quartet No.1, recorded with fellow participants of the chamber music course ‘MusicWorks’, with whom he was invited to perform the work at the Lewes Chamber Music Festival.

MusicWorks, the National Children’s Orchestra and Pro Corda were critical in laying the foundations for Maxim’s musical development. With NCO, he was honoured to perform as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Celebrations as well as concerts in the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Cadogan Hall and Colston Hall. Maxim is very grateful to have the support of YCAT through their aftercare scheme for finalists of BBC Young Musician.

Maxim plays an Alberto Aloysius, dated 1906.