Listen to Svyati Duo: Rebecca Hewes, Cello & Julian Collings, Organ performing Rheinberger's Elegie from Three Pieces Opus 150 from the album Svyati Duo - Music for Organ and Cello

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The enchanting Organ & Cello Duo, Svyati Duo from London, England presents the 3rd concert of the 2014-15 Season on Sunday, March 1, 2015 at 7:30 PM.  

Rebecca Hewes (cello) and Julian Collings (organ) have gained international critical acclaim for their concert engagements...

Since forming Svyati Duo in 2009 Rebecca Hewes (cello) and Julian Collings (organ) have gained international critical acclaim, both for their concert performances and commercial CD releases. Heralded as 'exemplary' performers by Fanfare Magazine, their concert engagements have taken them to venues throughout Europe, the United States of America and Asia.

Svyati Duo take their name from Julian and Rebecca's first collaboration, as conductor and cellist in a performance of Sir John Tavener's masterpiece 'Svyati' for solo cello and choir.  Tavener subsequently became the duo's Patron the following year and remained so until his death in 2013. Rebecca and Julian maintain a diverse and exciting repertoire, from Baroque sonatas through to substantial romantic and contemporary works, and are committed to performing music that displays the diversity of their instrumental combination. A tireless search for repertoire continues to reward them with unjustly neglected, original works in addition to commissioning new music and transcribing existing pieces.

The duo has performed in venues of all sizes, from churches and town halls to major cathedrals and concert halls. Recent highlights include a recital at the Hong Kong Cultural Center, where they performed to an audience of 1600, and a concert at Worcester Cathedral, which included a performance of their own transcription of Elgar's Cello Concerto. Recipients of awards from the RVW Society and the Leche Trust, Svyati Duo have commissioned new works from leading composers including David Bednall, Russell Hepplewhite, Iain Farrington and Timothy Salter, and have premiered many works by other living composers. 

Svyati Duo have recorded two CDs on the Regent Records label, both of which received unanimous critical acclaim and have since been featured on radio stations both in the UK and overseas. Their third recording will be released in 2015 and will feature both baroque and contemporary music including several of the duo's own commissions. Forthcoming performing engagements include further concert tours of the USA and a number of recitals in Germany and the UK.

 

Rebecca HewesRebecca Hewes performs internationally as a cellist and has given recitals throughout Europe, the USA, Asia and South Africa, with notable chamber and solo engagements including appearances at the Wigmore Hall, Bridgewater Hall and Purcell Room. A strong advocate of new music she has commissioned and premiered many new works, both with the Svyati Duo and with other ensembles. She is cellist with several other established chamber ensembles, including the award-winning Nephele Ensemble, Chamber Music Company and Pomegranate Piano Trio. As a soloist she is regularly invited to play many of the major cello concerto works throughout the UK and abroad, with recent engagements including performances of the Saint-Saens and Elgar Concertos.

  

Julian CollingsJulian Collings was educated as an organ scholar at Tonbridge School in Kent, before gaining an organ scholarship to Christ’s College, Cambridge in 1999. He gained the associateship diploma of the Royal College of Organists whilst still at Tonbridge studying under Thomas Trotter and Sarah Baldock. He continued his organ studies in Cambridge with David Sanger, graduating with a music degree in the summer of 2002. During his time at Christ’s, Julian accompanied the college choir on tour to Scandinavia, Canada and the United States both as organist and conductor, as well as playing on a number of critically-acclaimed CD releases.

Julian is currently Director of Music at St Cyprian's Church, Clarence Gate in London and regularly deputises as an organist at St Bride’s Church on Fleet Street. Much in demand as a choral director, Julian is also conductor of the Barnes Choir, the South London Singers and the London chamber choir Ad Libitum. In 2012 he founded the Contempo Ensemble, a group of professional singers who specialise in the performance of contemporary choral music. As an organ recitalist he has performed extensively both in the UK and overseas as well as broadcasting for BBC radio. Recent recital engagements have included Sheffield Cathedral, St Alban’s Abbey and St John’s College Cambridge as well as a number of recitals around the Channel Islands, France, Germany and Estonia.