Edward Neeman and Rachel Johnston 'Sonatas for cello and piano'

Edward Neeman and Rachel Johnston invite you to an afternoon of romantic and rebellious music for Cello and Piano, bringing you two of the repertoire’s most beloved sonatas: Dmitri Shostakovich’s Sonata no. 1 in D minor and Johannes Brahms’ Sonata for Cello and Piano in E minor.

Both sonatas explore themes of love and loss, duty and freedom, as well as the role of artistic expression in times of political oppression. Their beautiful melodies and turbulent character have seen them become audience favourites as well as defining works in the history of this instrumental combination.

Both Neeman and Johnston are graduates of The Juilliard School New York and they perform with passion and technical dexterity.

The Australian-American pianist Edward Neeman has performed across five continents. A top prizewinner of numerous international piano competitions, including first prize in the Joaquín Rodrigo Competition in Madrid, he has appeared as a soloist with orchestras including the Madrid Philharmonia, Sydney Symphony, and Melbourne Symphony. Dr Neeman has made numerous piano duet arrangements for the Neeman Piano Duo, in which he performs with his wife, the Indonesian pianist Stephanie Neeman.

Rachel Johnston became well known to Australian audiences performing as cellist in the Australian String Quartet from 2006-2013. During this time she performed with leading international artists including Pieter Wispelwej, Alina Abragimova, Anne Sophie von Otter, the Juilliard Quartet, Jerusalem Quartet, as well as Australian luminaries. With postgraduate degrees from the Juilliard School in New York, London University and Canterbury University, NZ, Rachel was one of the last students to study with the legendary Alban Berg Quartet in Cologne as part of the international award winning Tankstream Quartet.

Photo of Rachel Johnston: Emma Woolcock Photo of Edward Neeman: Delice Trost