One of Britain’s best loved pianists, Julian Jacobson, will play a colourful and dramatic programme at his lunchtime concert on Sunday 21 October, part of Norden Farm’s 2007 Piano Season.

Julian is renowned worldwide as a creative and distinguished performer, having toured to more than 40 countries across five continents and recorded over 100 solos for BBC Radio 3. He has appeared as a soloist with such orchestras as the Royal Philharmonic, London Symphony and BBC Symphony Orchestra and under conductors such as Sir Simon Rattle, Tamas Vasary and Jane Glover. He celebrates his sixtieth birthday this year and in addition to the Norden Farm concert, plays a special anniversary concert at Wigmore Hall.

His lunchtime concert at Norden Farm will feature one of Schumann’s loveliest set of character pieces, Beethoven’s dramatic set of variations and some colourful transcriptions from Stravinsky’s ballet score:

Schumann Fantasy Pieces, Op 12 Beethoven Eroica Variations, Op 35 Scriabin: Prelude in E flat minor, Op.16 No.4 Kapustin: Prelude in E, Op.53 No.3

In 2003 Julian gathered worldwide media attention for performing the full 32 Beethoven sonatas for charity, a 13 hour performance with just three half hour breaks.

Julian is also a renowned composer and his work has featured on TV and in films such as To the Lighthouse and We Think the World of You. He has given many UK premieres and composers who have written for him include Keith Tippett, Robert Saxon and Charles Camilleri. His wide-ranging solo recordings include the complete sonatas of Weber, a Schumann album including the C major Fantasy and Scenes from Childhood and Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, recording with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. His duo and ensemble partners include legendary figures such as Sandor Vegh, Zara Nelsova and Ivry Gitlis. Julian is now a professor at the Royal College of Music, artistic director of the Paxos International Music Festival in Greece and gives masterclasses globally.

His live performances have been described as featuring “a disarming technique coupled with undoubted intellectual mastery… an awe-inspiring experience” Daily Telegraph

Julian Jacobson performs his lunchtime recital at Norden Farm on Sunday 21 October at 11.45am. Tickets are priced at £8 (£5 under 16s, £21 including two course lunch in Norden’s restaurant) available from the Box Office on 01628 788997 or visit Summer Circus Week