Baroque Connections is a striking piano programme that traces a living thread from the music of J.S. Bach through to some of the most powerful keyboard writing of the twentieth century. At its heart lies Bach’s extraordinary ability to combine intellectual rigour with deep emotional resonance – a legacy that continues to inspire composers and pianists across centuries.

The concert opens with Busoni’s monumental transcription of Bach’s Chaconne, originally for solo violin. Busoni transforms this iconic work into a vast pianistic canvas, preserving Bach’s architectural clarity while adding a Romantic grandeur that fully exploits the expressive range of the modern piano. This is followed by three Bach Chorale Preludes, intimate and contemplative in character, each one distilling complex theological and musical ideas into music of profound simplicity and depth.

Rachmaninoff’s Variations on a Theme of Corelli forms a compelling bridge between Bach and the twentieth century. Based on the famous La Folia theme, itself rooted in Baroque tradition, the work blends classical variation form with Rachmaninoff’s unmistakable harmonic language and emotional intensity.

After the interval, a selection from Shostakovich’s Preludes and Fugues, Op.87, brings the programme full circle. Directly inspired by Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier, these works reinterpret Baroque forms through a modern lens, combining contrapuntal mastery with a sharply personal, often searching voice.

Together, these works form the core of Baroque Connections, a project the pianist will explore throughout the season, revealing how Bach’s musical DNA continues to shape and challenge composers and performers alike.