The Strand International Piano Series 2025/6

Step into the stunning candlelit setting of St Mary le Strand - "the Jewel of the Strand" - for the return of The Strand International Piano Series, now it's in fourth year after a critically acclaimed launch season in 2022-23. This intimate and architecturally impressive Baroque church has quickly become one of London's most captivating concert venues, offering sublime acoustics along with the power and clarity of a brand-new Steinway concert grand piano.This year's series celebrates one of the most evocative and emotionally charged achievements in the piano repertoire: Sergei Rachmaninoff's 24 Preludes. Spanning every major and minor key, these works offer a sweeping portrait of the composer's inner world-from thunderous drama and virtuosic brilliance to haunting lyricism and introspective beauty. Written across different periods of his life, the preludes reflect the full range of Rachmaninoff's genius, and each concert in the series reveals a new facet of his profound musical voice.Whether you're a seasoned concert-goer or discovering classical piano music for the first time, this is an evening not to be missed-set in one of London's most atmospheric musical spaces, just steps away from some of the city's finest restaurants and bars.FeaturingMadalina Rusu (piano)ProgrammeBeethoven Sonata op. 90 on E minorLiszt - Petrarca Sonet 104Schumann   - 2 Fantasy pieces from Fantasiest?cke op. 12 (Des Abends/At Evening & Aufschwung/Soaring)Schumann/Liszt - WidmungBrahms Intermezzo op. 118 no. 2 in A majorRachmaninoff - Preludes (Op. 23 no. 4 in D & 5 in G min)Rachmaninoff - 2 Musical moments op. 16 (no. 1 in B flat minor and no. 4 in E minor)About Madalina Rusu Madalina is an accomplished pianist whose performances are defined by passion, sensitivity, and a natural ability to connect with audiences. Whether in recital or concerto appearances, she brings an engaging energy to the stage, supported by a repertoire that spans the great Classical masters through to contemporary composers. In recent years, Madalina has been particularly drawn to works by women composers, weaving their music together with the stories of their lives. A passionate Romantic interpreter, she has a special affinity for the music of Robert and Clara Schumann, Brahms, Chopin, Rachmaninoff, and, more recently, Gershwin. With over 20 piano concertos in her repertoire, Madalina is also an exceptionally experienced concerto soloist.