Skip to main content Skip to footer

Music at Clare Hall: ‘extremely gifted’ young musician to give concert next weekend

26 October 2022 College life

Clare Hall is delighted to be presenting a concert by pianist Thomas Kelly next weekend, within our much-loved Intimate Engagements series.

During his concert on Saturday 5 November, Thomas Kelly will play Brahms – Variations on a Theme by Schumann, opus 9; Beethoven – Eroica Variations, opus 35; and Schumann – Symphonic Etudes in Variation form, opus 13, putting into perspective three works belonging to the genre of themes and variations.

The Music Committee shares:

‘Brahms wrote his opus 9 shortly after Schumann’s suicide attempt, and it is one of his most daring and moving works. Beethoven’s Eroica Variations are yet another work written on a theme that would be most famously illustrated in the finale of his 3rd Symphony. Schumann’s opus 13 is one of his grandest creations, and the most enduring works he wrote for the piano.

Thomas Kelly is an extremely gifted young musician, who has emerged on the international scene. A laureate of the Leeds and Hastings competitions, he is known both for his formidable abilities at the keyboard and his thoughtful interpretations.’

Join us

£20 General Admission, £15 Clare Hall members, £5 students and children – please purchase via Eventbrite:

In our days, when language has become so hyperbolic as to become meaningless, it is difficult to make a case for something that is truly special. This is what I want to try to do for Thomas Kelly, who will be playing at Clare Hall on Saturday 5 November. At only 23 years old (he will actually celebrate his birthday on the day of this concert) I have followed his development for a few years now, and it has been a constant source of wonder. His performances are not simply those of a gifted student – they are already of a mature artist with something personal to say, as well as supreme craftsmanship. This concert is something that Clare Hall is proud to host, and I hope to see many of you there.

Patrick Hemmerlé, Artistic Director of the series
Thomas Kelly plays Beethoven’s 4th piano Concerto with Sakari Oramo

Intimate Engagements is a chamber music series in which outstanding musicians accompany their performances with informal presentations, sharing with the audiences their musical journey of the programme performed. The series started in 2008 and has since then established itself as a uniquely enjoyable and stimulating contribution to musical life in Cambridge.

Discover details on the wider 2022/23 series, featuring Jeremy Thurlow, Poppy Beddoe, Henry Chandler and Tim Lowe; Pixels Ensemble; and Fair Oriana.

Please note that a photographer will be taking photos during this event, and these images will be shared via Clare Hall’s digital and print communications.