Julia Miller performs Beethoven, Schubert and Brahms

Accomplished and sophisticated pianist Julia Miller stars in a piano recital dedicated to three giant composers of classical music: Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Schubert and Johannes Brahms. The recital, organised by Barocco Foundation, takes places at St. Augustine Monastery, Valletta on Friday 20th March 2020 at 20:00. Julia will perform an important work from each of these illustrious composers. The recital opens with Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor "Quasi una fantasia", Op. 27, No. 2 which is also referred to as the Moonlight Sonata due to the dreamy opening. It is followed by the cheerful scherzo and finished with a dramatic, ferocious and tempestuous third movement. The spotlight then falls on Franz Schubert’s 4 Impromptus op.90, four typical Romantic-era pieces which contrast in both tone and character. The first theme sets a marching theme, followed by a chromatic melody, to a lyrical serenade and finishing the fourth with arpeggiated melodies, all demanding different skills from the performers due to their distinctive flavour. The final piece is one of the most loved composition for solo piano by J. Brahms, namely Six Pieces for Piano op.118. Dedicated to Clara Schumann, it is the composer’s penultimate composition, an introspective cycle of six contrasting pieces. Her warmth of playing, versatility and sophisticated subtlety are qualities that critics have lauded upon hearing Julia Miller on the piano. Although much renowned for her musical collaborations, Miller has been acknowledged as an ‘accomplished soloist’ in her own right, throughout the years specialising in a diverse repertoire, from Chopin to other Polish composers as Lutoslawski and Szymanowski, to Brahms, Debussy, and her particular love affair with the Spanish music of De Falla, Granados and Albeniz. It is a love she acquired from her other love in music, the legendary pianist Arthur Rubenstein, who like Miller hails from the city of Lodz in Poland. Julia Miller started playing the piano at the age of six. Since then her studies and professional career have all centered round the piano. She left the Lodz Academy of Music with a Masters Degree in Piano Performance and in Chamber Music. On the way she played some of the most prestigious venues in Poland, both as a soloist and with chamber ensembles. She was finalist in a number of competitions and her playing was particularly noted for its distinctive flavour, at once impassioned but stable and controlled. Early in her career she performed worldwide as a soloist and then as leader of a trio on board of luxury cruise liners. Following this stint, she relocated in Ireland where for two years she pursued a career of performing, teaching piano at the Castleknock School of Music and coaching vocalists. In 2011 she performed in the Dublin Feis Coeil. She also collaborated closely with The National Trust, performing in venues such the beautifully haunting Mussenden Temple. She also mentored young musicians to perform in musical theatre in Northern Ireland. Since 2012, Julia Miller has resided in Malta and built a solid reputation as leading musical collaborator with some of the top vocal talent in the country. She teaches at the Malta School of Music and holds piano classes for private students. She is sought-after as a repetiteur for opera productions and master-classes, and has worked with the Manoel Theatre and the Manoel Theatre Youth Opera on several occasions. She has also collaborated on several occasions with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra and is a guest player with MPO’s - the recent appearances were in Karl Orff’s ‘Carmina Burana’ in 2019 and concert “Inspired by Baroque” during the Malta Baroque Festival in 2020. In 2015 Julia Miller was very much involved in a concert rendition of Mozart’s ‘Cosi fan tutte’ and with Opera Studio “Atelier Lyrique” concerts in 2015. She has frequently collaborated with schools of ballet, and her talent and flair as a repetiteur has been equally coveted by leading music theatre productions, such as My Fair Lady in 2018. In 2013 Julia Miller was chosen as one of four piano collaborator-interns at the Music Theatre Bavaria in Oberaudorf, Germany. In 2017 she was also piano accompanist during the 14th Vocal Masterclasses in Ventspils, Latvia. During the past years Julia Miller has played most of the top venues in Malta, both as a music collaborator and as a soloist, and participated in several festivals such as Violin and Friends International Music Festival in 2015, International Spring Orchestra Festival in 2016 and 2017. In 2018, she was chosen to be to be the accompanist for world-renowned soprano Miriam Gauci during her masterclasses part of the Gaulitana Festival. Following the concert concluding the masterclasses, Miriam Gauci hailed Julia Miller’s talent and style, calling her one of the best pianists she ever worked with. Julia is scheduled to be the the pianist for Ms Gauci’s advanced classes in April 2020 as well as a pianist for masterclasses with Claire Debono during the Malta International Spring Festival 2020. She is also currently working with KorMalta as repetiteur towards the choir participation in Rossini’s Otello in Manuel Theatre as well as their rendition of Mozart Requiem in 2020. In 2019 she presented 2 solo piano recitals focusing mainly but not only on Polish composers in Pjazza Teatru Rjal in Valletta which were greatly applauded by the audience. Julia Miller performs Beethoven, Schubert and Brahms will be held at St. Augustine Monastery, Old Bakery Street, Valletta on Friday 20 March at 20:00. Entrance is at a suggested donation of €15. Free refreshments will be offered after the concert. Tickets available prior to the concert from the venue itself or by email: baroccomalta@gmail.com or phone 79680952. For information visit barocco-malta.com.