Beethoven, Schumann, Franck, Ravel, Shostakovich and many others have composed duos for the rewarding combination of violin and piano. These solo instruments complement each other brilliantly which inspire famous devotees of the form, including Renaud Capuçon and András Schiff and Leila Josefowicz and John Novacek.  

Opening the concert, Jack Liebeck made a moving speech about the late viola player Simon Oswell, a cherished musician whose generous spirit and exceptional playing on AFCM stages will always be remembered. Liebeck dedicated the concert to him. Oswell’s widow was present. 

Jack Liebeck at AFCM. Photo © Frontrow Foto

While exceptional pianists do coax beautiful tone from the piano, it’s essentially a percussion instrument which can never surpass the violin’s superior capacity to sustain tone and sing like a human voice. The piano, on the other hand, can produce multi-layered and exhilarating passagework and orchestral colouring. Liebeck is praised for his exquisite lyricism and Piers Lane’s astonishing technique enables him to sail through virtuosic challenges. They are ideally matched.  

Liebeck has a professional association with Lane, who directed the festival for 11 years, and they have...