Cello and Piano Duo: Romantic & Modern Favorites

Cellist Lewis Rawlinson and pianist Mo Xu will present a concert of dynamic and rousing selections from the Romantic and Modern canons, including works by Debussy, Rachmaninoff, Sibelius, Piazzolla, and more.

Program:

Gaspar Cassadó
Suite for Cello
I. Preludio-Fantasia
III. Intermezzo e Danza Finale

Sergei Rachmaninoff
Sonata in G minor for Cello and Piano, Op. 19
III. Andante

Claude Debussy
Sonata for Cello and Piano
I. Prologue
II. Sérénade
III. Finale

Jean Sibelius
Malinconia Op. 20

César Franck
Sonata in A major for Violin and Piano, arranged for Cello by Jules Delsart
IV. Allegretto poco mosso

Astor Piazzolla
Le Grand Tango

Biographies:

Lewis Rawlinson is a cellist and theatre artist based in Chicago. Recently, he performed sold-out performances of his autobiographical solo show, Nervous Breakdown in G Minor, at The Den Theatre and Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre. As a pit orchestra musician, he has performed with Goodman Theatre, Music Theater Works, and Porchlight Music Theatre. As a classical musician, he has performed with numerous ensembles, including two international tours to Asia, and a performance of Saint-Saens’ “La Muse et le Poéte” concerto for violin and cello with the Billings Symphony Orchestra. Chicago acting credits include High Fidelity (Non-Equity Jeff Award – Production of a Musical, Refuge Theatre Project), bare: a pop opera (Refuge), and Fun Home (Towle Theater). Regional acting credits include Triassic Parq (Theatre Bay Area Award Nomination, Ray of Light Theatre) and Godspell (TBA Award Nomination, OMG I Love That Show Productions). Assistant Music Directing credits include The Total Bent (Haven), The Last Session (Refuge), and Songs for a New World (Dominican University). He has also recorded, arranged, performed, and toured with bands such as The Family Crest, Liz & the Lovelies, and The Okay Lakes. Lewis is a graduate of Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of the Performing Arts. www.lewisrawlinson.com

Mo Xu, an active soloist, has performed at many prestigious venues, including Weill Recital Hall at the Carnegie Hall and Sweeney Concert Hall. In 2022, she performed Prokofiev Concerto No. 3 with the Greater Newburgh Symphony Orchestra. She played for the world premiere of David Maslanka’s Symphony No. 9 and Carl Schimmel’s Oulipian Episodes. She also collaborates with other instrumentalists on chamber works year-round. Mo received second prize at the “Golden Classical Music Awards” International Competition and honorable mentions at the Bradshaw & Buono International Piano Competition and the Paderewski International Piano Competition in Connecticut. She earned her MM from Illinois State University and her DMA from the University of Iowa, where she studied with Dr. Uriel Tsachor.