Date/Time
Date(s) - 09/Mar/2025
Genre - Violin and piano recitals
In a programme of Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges: Sonata for Keyboard and Violin in A major, Op. 1a No. 2, Sonata for Keyboard and Violin in G minor, Op. 1a No. 3; Pablo de Sarasate: Zigeunerweisen (Gypsy Airs); Maurice Ravel: Tzigane; Samuel Coleridge-Taylor: Two Gypsy Movements, Op. 20; Keith Jarrett: Elegy; Gershwin / Frolov: Concert Fantasy on Themes from Gershwin’s ‘Porgy and Bess’
In association with Consulate General of Hungary in Mumbai and Consulate General of Ireland in Mumbai
A classical violinist of Roma ethnicity, Antal Zalai is the 1st Prize Winner at the 2004 Rodolfo Lipizer International Violin Competition in Italy. His artistic activities have included collaborations with such distinguished conductors as Fabio Luisi, Yoel Levi, Lawrence Foster, Ludovic Morlot, Gilbert Varga, Gábor Takács-Nagy, and Zoltán Kocsis as well as appearances at the Istanbul, Yuri Bashmet, George Enescu, Budapest Spring, and Sion international music festivals. Fanfare Magazine comments, “At times Zalai plays with the aristocratic aplomb of Milstein – and with a tonal luster to match. Occasionally, he’s more eclectic: his reading of the Hebrew Melody combines Elman’s beauty of tone, Heifetz’s intensity and Grumiaux’s pure flow of sound.”
With more than 6.2 million views on his YouTube Official Artist Channel, Antal Zalai is considered by his International fans to be one of the most unique and outstanding violinists of today. The foundation of his organically growing popularity is his constantly updated videography, in which he performed pieces of the violin repertoire requiring the utmost technical mastery and musicianship including Paganini’s 24 Caprices, J. S. Bach’s Six Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin which have proved to be a grandiose success shared by several thousand viewers, and led to a number of concert engagements. The audio files of the videos – together with his previous CD recordings – are available on all of the major on-line music stores.
Born in Budapest in a poor family of Roma ethnicity. His father, grandfather and great-grandfather were gypsy musicians, and Antal is the first classical musician on the line. When he was twelve, Hollywood superstar Monica Bellucci introduced him at the UNESCO gala in Paris, which was broadcast live on RAI. A year later, he played for Isaac Stern, who predicted a bright future for the young violinist. In the same year, Zalai played with conductor Paavo Järvi at a classical gala, on Swedish television. At the age of 15, he gained international recognition by performing Bartók’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in Budapest as part of the concert celebrating the 80th birthday of Lord Yehudi Menuhin.
“An exceptional violinist, who has perfect technique, beautiful large tone, real musical finesse and maturity as well as noble personality,” wrote legendary Russian violinist Igor Oistrakh of his colleague, Antal Zalai, who is fifty years of his junior, and who is unique among his fellow violinists with his characteristic tone, mature musical phrasing and elegant virtuosity.
“Fabulous interpreter” ― Lynn Harrell
A multidisciplinary classical pianist of Nigerian-Filipino ancestry, Adam Heron is the winner of the 2020 Harriet Cohen Bach Prize. Born in Hong Kong, and then adopted by his Irish mother, Adam rose to prominence following his 2018 television debut as a BBC Young Musician piano finalist. Through his unique artistry, coupled with an innate flair for communication, he strives to become a leading ambassador for classical music.
Adam commands a demanding schedule of international recital engagements, having already performed at distinguished venues including Wigmore Hall, St Martin-in-the-Fields, and Southbank Centre. A keen linguist and traveller, his artistic endeavours have led to appearances in far-flung concert halls including the International Center for Arts in Cairo as well as the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Mumbai. Festival collaborations include The Aegean Arts International Festival, The Cayman Arts Festival, The Cheltenham Music Festival, and The GAP Arts Festival. Adam frequently engages with headlining media outlets such as BBC Radio 3 in addition to specialist broadcasters such as Colourful Radio, and he has worked alongside leading presenters including Katie Derham and Sean Rafferty.
In addition to his solo career, Adam is also a devoted collaborative pianist, composer, and conductor. He has joined forces with numerous fellow musicians including saxophonist Amy Dickson, double-bassist Chi-chi Nwanoku CBE, violinist Daniel Pioro, soprano Francesca Chiejina, and cellist Laura van der Heijden. In 2016 Adam became one of the first ever concerto soloists to perform with the Chineke! Orchestra, and he has since worked with esteemed conductors including Jonathon Heyward, David Curtis, Dwight Pile-Gray, Pete Harrison, and Timothy Carey.
A laureate of both the Stefano Marizza and HRH Princess Lalla Meryem international piano competitions, Adam was a Hargreaves and Ball scholar at the Royal Academy of Music, where he studied with Christopher Elton before completing his master’s thesis in ethnomusicology at the University of Cambridge. Generously supported by The Keyboard Charitable Trust, Irish Heritage, The Hattori Foundation, The Macfarlane Walker Trust, The Talent Unlimited Foundation, and The Tillett Trust, he has taken masterclasses with renowned pianists including Anne Queffélec, Imogen Cooper, John Lill, Paul Lewis, Stephen Hough, and Yevgeny Sudbin. Adam recently collaborated with the British Council in France, working as an English Language Assistant in Paris between 2023 and 2024. He is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Glasgow, where he holds the James McCune Smith scholarship.
“A truly outstanding young talent” ― Simon Jenner
“Every time I go to write, something magical about the performance makes me stop and look straight back up” ― Jasper Dommett
“An eclectic musician of refined taste and eloquence” ― Christopher Axworthy
“Clean, clear playing of the highest order” ― John Alexander
