The
Performers
Tamsin Waley-Cohen's "interpretation is technically beyond reproach and musically imaginative."
Gramophone
British-American violinist Tamsin Waley-Cohen is known for her visceral and deeply expressive performances in repertoire spanning six centuries. With musical storytelling central to her approach, she has gained a reputation for her “undeniably-fabulous playing” (Classical Source) and poetic performances that go straight to the heart. In addition to concerts with the Royal Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, Hallé, Liverpool Philharmonic, Czech Philharmonic, she has twice been associate artist with the Orchestra of the Swan and worked with conductors including Andrew Litton, Vasily Petrenko and Ryan Bancroft.
She is Artistic Director of the Two Moors Festival and has previously been Artistic Director of the Music Series at the Tricycle Theatre, London, and the Bargello festival in Florence. Often accompanied by Huw Watkins, their 2026 album Reflection - featuring a number of works to be performed in this concert - was described by Gramophone as "as near perfection as an album ... can reasonably be."
Huw Watkins is notable for his equal renown as a pianist and composer. Andrew Clark of the Financial Times describes him as “one of the most rounded composer-musicians in the UK.” As a pianist, Watkins has performed with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia, and the London Sinfonietta, as well as giving recitals at venues such as Wigmore Hall, the Smithsonian, and the Library of Congress. His chorus and orchestra work The Moon premiered at the 2019 Proms in London, and his Dawning was performed in early 2020 by the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. Watkins has written numerous chamber works, including string quartets for the Carducci and Calidore quartets, and a piano quintet for the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. Watkins has a large catalogue of vocal works including a pair of song cycles, Remember (2014) and Echo (2017), for soprano Ruby Hughes.