Type 'Aleppo' into an Internet search engine and the top line hit will be news of strife and suffering in that vast and ancient city. On October 27th the Syrian pianist Riyad Nicolas will encourage us to think of a different Aleppo.
Riyad was born in the city and made his first musical appearance there with an orchestra at the age of ten. He studied in London and since graduation has gone on to give solo performances across the world and win numerous international prizes and awards.
Riyad hopes to remind his audiences that Aleppo is an historical and cultural city. He says, 'My aim from every performance is to draw a different picture than the one people have only been seeing recently.' He believes in the power of music to inspire and encourage people and in this spirit has given his support to the Mariela Shaker project which aims to provide musical instruments and music workshops to Syrian children in refugee camps. Mariela is a violinist, also from Aleppo.
See our 2016 - 2017 Season page for Riyad's programme.
Riyad was born in the city and made his first musical appearance there with an orchestra at the age of ten. He studied in London and since graduation has gone on to give solo performances across the world and win numerous international prizes and awards.
Riyad hopes to remind his audiences that Aleppo is an historical and cultural city. He says, 'My aim from every performance is to draw a different picture than the one people have only been seeing recently.' He believes in the power of music to inspire and encourage people and in this spirit has given his support to the Mariela Shaker project which aims to provide musical instruments and music workshops to Syrian children in refugee camps. Mariela is a violinist, also from Aleppo.
See our 2016 - 2017 Season page for Riyad's programme.