Concerts in Association with the German YMCA in London
Programme
Programme
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791)
Adagio and Allegro in F minor
for a mechanical organ K. 594
Samuel Wesley (1766–1837)
Duett for the Grand Piano Forte KO 825
Larghetto
Allegro spiritoso
Largo
Commodo
Presto
Franz Schubert (1797–1828)
8 Variations on a French song in E minor, D. 624
Peter Warlock (1894-1930)
Capriol Suite
Basse-Danse
Pavane
Tordion
Bransles
Pieds-en-l’air
Mattachins (Sword Dance)
The Schubert Society of Britain
in association with
The German YMCA
presents
​
Duality
​​​Four Hands on One Keyboard
​
​
with
​
​​
Emma Abbate
and
Julian Perkins
​​​​​​
​​​
Thursday, 30 October 2025, 14:00
St. James's Church
Sussex Gardens
W2 3UD
As passionate advocates for the rich repertory for four hands on one keyboard, Emma Abbate and Julian Perkins perform widely, with appearances for the Mozart Society of America and at many UK venues, including the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, St George’s Bristol, Sinfonia Smith Square, Hatchlands Park and Edinburgh's Russell Collection.
Praised for their ‘‘impressive sensitivity’’ (Early Music Reviews) and for telling ‘‘a totally convincing story with every piece’’ (The Arts Desk), their recordings have received five-star reviews in BBC Music Magazine and Het Nieuwsblad.
Their varied discography includes Mozart’s complete sonatas for keyboard duet on period instruments, Weber’s Complete Keyboard Duets on an original Viennese fortepiano, as well as Tournament for Twenty Fingers featuring works by British composers from the twentieth century.
Their latest disc is Summer Dreams which brings together the complete works for piano duet by three major American composers: Edward MacDowell, Amy Beach and Samuel Barber. This was Album of the Week at Radio 3 Berlin-Brandenburg.
Emma and Julian have each been elected Associates of the Royal Academy of Music in recognition of their 'significant contribution' thus far to the music profession.
Emma Abbate
Italian pianist Emma Abbate enjoys a demanding career as a piano accompanist and chamber musician. Described as "an amazingly talented pianist" by the leading Italian magazine Musica, she has performed in duo recitals for international festivals and concert societies throughout Europe and at UK venues such as the Wigmore Hall, Southbank Centre and the Aldeburgh Festival. She also regularly broadcasts on BBC Radio 3 and has recently presented an episode of Inside Music.
Emma is making a series of acclaimed recordings devoted to 20th century Italian vocal chamber music, the latest of which is the world-première Franco Alfano: Songs with the leading Italian soprano Anna Pirozzi. Previously, Emma has released Sera d'inverno: Songs by Ildebrando Pizzetti with mezzo-soprano Hanna Hipp, and Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco: Shakespeare Sonnets with bass-baritone Ashley Riches. A keen advocate of contemporary music, Emma has also released two discs devoted to works by Stephen Dodgson that include his piano quintets with the Tippett Quartet.
Based in London, Emma is a professor at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and a staff coach at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
Julian Perkins
Julian Perkins is Artistic Director of the Portland Baroque Orchestra in Oregon, USA. Based in the UK, he is also Artistic Director of Cambridge Handel Opera and Sounds Baroque. He performs regularly at the Salzburg Festival, has directed groups ranging from the Academy of Ancient Music to the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera, and featured as soloist in concertos with groups such as the Royal Northern Sinfonia, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Florilegium.
Julian has appeared as solo harpsichordist / fortepianist at the Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and Welsh National Opera, among others. He features regularly on the BBC Early Music Show and In Tune, and has performed as a soloist at London’s Wigmore Hall, New York’s Lincoln Center and Sydney Opera House. Shortlisted for the 2021 Gramophone Award for his recording of Eccles’ Semele, Julian's playing and conducting has been praised for its ‘‘demonic intensity’’ (BBC Music Magazine – Recording of the Month) and ‘‘fluid and natural pacing’’ (Gramophone – Editor's Choice), conducting ‘‘as if every bar means the world to him’’ (Opera Disc of the Month). In August 2023, his latest solo clavichord disc, Handel's Attick, was Instrumental Choice in BBC Music Magazine.