Scottish accordion virtuoso James Crabb and British violinist Anthony Marwood have been collaborating for a long time, and it shows on stage.

“Here were two old friends, fiendishly talented and who know each other’s playing inside out,” wrote Limelight’s Steve Moffat about the duo’s 2023 performance for the Australian Chamber Orchestra’s Up Close series.

Their partnership has reached new heights this year. Fresh from a successful UK tour in May (with rave reviews for a Wigmore Hall performance), the pair also recorded an album for Orchid Classics, set for upcoming release.

Crabb and Marwood are readying themselves for return performances in Australia in September at UKARIA Cultural Centre in South Australia and at Canberra’s Snow Concert Hall, this time featuring arrangements of works by Tango innovator Astor Piazzolla, Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending, Sally Beamish’s Seavaigers and traditional Scottish folk tunes.

Ahead of their performances, Crabb chats to Limelight about this long-standing creative partnership.

 

James Crabb

James, how did your collaboration with Anthony come about? 

We had been admirers of each other’s work for years and we also had several collaborative partnerships in common.

Why does it work so well both collaboratively and instrumentally? 

When we finally had the opportunity...