Rising star Madeleine Brown plays Ravel and Rachmaninov in the intimate surroundings of the historic Forsyth piano showroom

ABOUT THE EVENT

Kathryn Stott Presents...

Internationally renowned both as a soloist and for her chamber work with Yo-Yo Ma and Janine Jansen, Lancashire-born Kathryn Stott is also a passionate and naturally sought-after teacher committed to helping pianists realise their potential, both in music and in their lives beyond. She now teaches exclusively at the Royal Northern College of Music and, as part of her students' development, organises regular showcase recitals for them here at Forsyth.

Please note, the artist for this event was changed on 15 August 2026: unfortunately, Reuben Tsang is no longer able to perform on this date.

... Madeleine Brown: Piano

Ahead of her Wigmore Hall debut later in the year, Madeleine Brown returns to Forsyth with a stunning programme of works by Ravel and Rachmaninov. She already has form with Rachmaninov, having won the RNCM Concerto Competition with his Piano Concerto No. 3 earlier this year. Madeleine was also the winner of this year's prestigious Gold Medal Competition at RNCM and the 2025 Bromsgrove International Musicians' Competition, and has recently made her first appearance on BBC Radio 3's In Tune.

Ravel dedicated each of the five evocatively titled movements of Miroirs to fellow members of Les Apaches, literally "hooligans", a collective of avant-garde cultural figures in various disciplines who self-defined as artistic outcasts. Over the years, all of the movements have been expanded for orchestral performance, including the third and fourth by Ravel himself, with Alborada del gracioso in particular proving popular on the biggest stages.

Rachmaninov gave the premiere of his second piano sonata himself in 1913 but, while audiences loved it, the composer did not. In 1931, he published a "new version, revised and reduced by the author", trimming the elements he considered superfluous. Not everyone agreed with Rachmaninov, however, even to the extent that, in 1940, Vladimir Horowitz edited his own version with the composer's permission, reinstating some of the excised material from the original. Madeleine will perform Rachmaninov's own 1931 version.

Photograph of Madeleine Brown by Abhishek Kodaganallur Pichumani.

We are grateful to the Ida Carroll Trust for supporting our recital series, enabling us to pay the artists who perform here.

PROGRAMME

Maurice Ravel (1875–1937)

Miroirs (1904–5)

Noctuelles (Night Moths)

Oiseaux tristes (Sad Birds)

Une barque sur l'océan (A Boat on the Ocean)

Alborada del gracioso (Morning Song of the Jester)

La vallée des cloches (The Valley of Bells)

Sergei Rachmaninov (1873–1943)

Piano Sonata No. 2, Op. 36 (1913, rev. 1931)

Allegro agitato

Non allegro—Lento

Allegro molto

ABOUT THE PERFORMER

Madeleine Brown: Piano

Described as having “the potential to become a major voice in the classical music world” (Peter Donohoe CBE), Madeleine Brown is establishing herself as one of the most exciting young pianists of this generation. Having graduated with a BA in Music from Trinity College, Cambridge, she is now studying with Kathryn Stott at the Royal Northern College of Music, where she recently won the college’s prestigious Gold Medal Competition. She was recently awarded the RNCM Silver Medal by the Worshipful Company of Musicians, adding her to the Company’s acclaimed Young Artist Programme.

Madeleine has performed to international acclaim, receiving first prize at the Bromsgrove International Musicians' Competition in May 2025.

She also received an Honourable Mention diploma at the Vigo International Piano Competition 2025 and was a keyboard semifinalist in the Royal Overseas League Annual Music Competition. Madeleine has already gained great experience working with orchestras and was awarded 1st prize in both the RNCM Concerto Competition in 2026, performing Rachmaninov’s 3rd, and the Cambridge University Concerto Competition in 2023, performing Grieg. She is a member of the RNCM-based Chiarina Trio, with whom she won 2nd prize and the audience prize at the Cavatina Chamber Music Competition 2026.

This year, Madeleine makes her debut at the Wigmore Hall, Royal Concert Hall Nottingham, and Leeds Lunchtime concert series; she also recently made her debut radio appearance on BBC Radio 3 “In Tune” and performed at the Ryedale Festival as a Waverley Young Artist. Madeleine has performed in esteemed venues including London’s Steinway Hall, King’s Place, St. James’ Sussex Gardens, Middle Temple Hall, Stoller Hall, Lansdowne Club, West Road Concert Hall, Kettle’s Yard, and the Jacqueline du Pré Music Building, as well as the Bonn Schumannhaus, Köln Bechstein Centre and Penderecki European Centre for Music.

Madeleine has previously learnt with esteemed pedagogues, including Helen Krizos, Charles Owen, Dina Parakhina and Lora Dimitrova, and is very grateful to receive coaching from Stephen Kovacevich, Zlata Chochieva, Muza

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