Beamish: Sonnets

Description

Sonnets by Sally Beamish is a theatrical work for two pianos and three pianists portraying the love triangle of William Shakespeare, the 'fair youth' and the 'dark lady'. The three characters are represented by three pianists, who are forced to share only two pianos. As the story plays out, the music reflects passion, jealousy, joy and desperation, as the characters portray their conflicting emotions — from humble page turner to triumphant soloist; pursuer, pursued; moving between the pianos rather like a game of progressive table tennis. The music is developed from the lute songs by John Dowland My Heart and Tongue were Twinnes and Unquiet Thoughts as well as from Shakespeare's Sonnets 18 and 129. Sonnets was co-commissioned by the New Ross Piano Festival and London Piano Festival for pianists Katya Apekisheva, Finghin Collins and Charles Owen who first performed the piece in September 2021 at the New Ross Piano Festival, Ireland.