Charles Wookey (R75) Plays Rachmaninoff’s Second
Charles Wookey (R74) is a keen amateur pianist who has dreamed of playing Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto for 50 years. He last played a piano concerto 49 years ago with the School orchestra at Downside and was lucky enough to be taught by Philip Fowke (B67), an OG who was then studying piano at the Royal Academy. Philip went on to have a distinguished career as an international concert pianist and a renowned teacher. He has performed Rachmaninoff’s Second Concerto many times and also recorded it. Philip, who has now retired from playing and teaching, agreed to help Charles prepare for a charity concert at the end of November to raise funds for a hospice in Eastbourne.
This concert is part of that preparation – a play-through of the concerto on two pianos and Philip will give an introduction to the piece and the demands of playing it. The orchestra part will be played on a second piano by Michael Bevan, a grandson of Roger Bevan (former head of music at Downside), a London-based pianist and organist.
We invite you to this performance at the Fleischner Theatre (Downside School) on the 6th of November. There will be some refreshments from 6.30 pm, and the performance will start at 7 pm.
Tickets are £7 and free for Under 18s.
