SAM HAYWOOD

‘Passionate flair and sparkling clarity’
New York Times

British-Australian pianist Sam Haywood has appeared in many of the world’s leading concert halls, including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Philharmonie de Paris, Wigmore Hall and the Vienna Konzerthaus. The New York Times praised his “passionate flair and sparkling clarity,” and The Washington Post his “dazzling, evocative playing.”

A versatile recitalist and concerto soloist, Sam has worked with chamber and symphony orchestras across Europe and beyond. Highlights include appearances with the Athens Symphony Orchestra, the Odessa Philharmonic, Jakarta Symphony Orchestra and the Solent Music Festival Orchestra. Last year he toured China in a duo with Joshua Bell and has performed frequently with cellist Steven Isserlis and clarinettist Katherine Spencer.

Sam’s discography includes recordings for Hyperion, Sony, Deux-Elles and Toccata Classics. His project Chopin’s Own Piano was recorded on the composer’s 1848 Pleyel from the Cobbe Collection. He also composes chamber miniatures; The Other Side was premiered at the Vienna Konzerthaus and his Song of the Penguins for bassoon and piano is published by Emerson Editions.

Private audiences have included the late Diana, Princess of Wales, the then Vice Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping, Hillary Clinton, the Duke and Duchess of Kent, and Sir David Attenborough.

He is Artistic Director and co-founder of the Solent Music Festival in Lymington, which presents artists such as Steven Isserlis, The Sixteen and The King’s Singers and administers the annual Lawson-May Award for Composition. Sam has guest-curated series including the Leeds International Chamber Music Series, serves on the faculty at Finchcocks, and is an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music.

PROGRAMMES

MUSICAL LIAISONS: Chopin paired with women composers

Kaprálová: Dubnová preludia Op. 13 Nos 1,3,4
Chopin: Prelude Op. 28 No. 24 in D minor

Teresa Carreño: Venise Op 33
Chopin Ballade No 4 in F minor Op 52

Mel Bonis: Etude de concert
Frédéric Chopin: Scherzo No 2 in B flat minor Op 31

Interval

Germaine Tailleferre Impromptu in E major
Chopin Fantasy Impromptu Op 66

Peggy Glanville-Hicks: Pastorale
Chopin Scherzo No 1 in B minor Op 20

Jelena Poulíčková Lullaby
Chopin Polonaise in A flat Op 53 (Heroic)

ANNIVERSARIES & ARRANGEMENTS Beethoven's own favourite piano sonata, a selection of works by composers with anniversaries, three arrangements by Sam and Chopin's recently discovered Waltz in A minor.

BEETHOVEN: Sonata No 24 in F sharp major Op 78

2025 Anniversaries
SATIE (100 anniversary of death): Gnossienne No 4, Le piccadilly
EINAUDI 70th anniversary of birth) Elegy for the Arctic
RAVEL (100th anniversary of death): Pavane pour une infante défunte

GRIEG: Holberg Suite

Interval

Arrangements by Sam Haywood
ELGAR: Chanson de matin
GURNEY: Sleep (from 5 Elizabethan Songs)
POULENC: Trio movement (from Trio for oboe, bassoon and piano)

CHOPIN
Waltz in F major Op 34 No 3
Waltz in A minor (recently discovered)
Waltz in D flat major Op 64 No 1 (Minute)
Waltz in A flat major Op 69 No 1 (Les adieux)
Grande valse brillante in E flat major Op 18