Spring and Impetuosity

 Join us for a special concert by Cristiana Achim, recently awarded the prestigious London Symphony Orchestra Conservatoire Scholarship, a young and gifted Romanian-British musician, hailed as one of the most sought-after pianists of her generation. For this recital, Cristiana has crafted a selection featuring works by Maurice Ravel, Aaron Copland/Leonard Bernstein, Clara Schumann, Alberto Ginastera, Toma Verly and George Enescu. Additionally, she brings forth two original compositions, solo piano arrangements that infuse the classical compositional style, creatively reinterpreting the traditional Romanian folk music.

Programme

Cristiana Achim - Little Cloud Passing By

Maurice Ravel - Jeux d’eau

Aaron Copland / Leonard Bernstein - El Salón México

Clara Schumann - Scherzo No. 2 in C minor

Alberto Ginastera - Danzas Argentinas Op. 2

Toma Verly - Șchioapa / The Limp

Cristiana Achim - Doina din Maramureș / Song from Maramureș (improvisation)

George Enescu - Romanian Rhapsody No. 1 in A Major (piano solo transcription)

Born and raised in Bucharest, pianist and educator Cristiana Achim is an alumnus of the Royal College of Music in London, currently pursuing her Master of Performance degree under the tutelage of Nigel Clayton at the same university where she is generously supported by the C. Bechstein scholarship and the Talent Unlimited Charity. Cristiana has performed in prestigious UK venues like Queen Elizabeth Hall, St James’s Piccadilly, Drapers Hall or Amaryllis Fleming. At the age of 15, Cristiana became a resident artist with the Romanian Royal House, and since she is often invited to play with the Royal Camerata Orchestra and to give piano recitals at the Romanian Athenaeum in Bucharest. She has a keen interest in jazz and folk music and is well-versed in the art of improvisation. In 2019, she released three of her singles, which are based on Romanian folk tunes: “Little Cloud Passing by”, “Cristina” and “S.H.E”. Cristiana is a passionate advocate for education and has collaborated with Romanian and British institutions which offered her many opportunities to develop the Romanian educational system by teaching music to disadvantaged children through interactive workshops. Recently becoming a Benedetti Foundation Music Ambassador, she was developing creative education projects, working alongside the violinist Nicola Benedetti and her collaborators in 2021-2022.