Cristian de Sá - Violin & Antoine Préat - Piano

Assembly House Classical presents

Cristian de Sá - Violin & Antoine Préat - Piano

Thursday, 11th September 2025 at 1:00 pm

The Assembly House, Norwich

Programme

J. Brahms: Violin Sonata No. 2 in A Major, Op. 100

Debussy: Prélude à l’aprés-midi d’un faune (arrangement Heifetz); Violin Sonata in G minor, L. 141

Wieniawski: Polonaise No. 1 in D Major, Op. 4

Cristian de Sá - Violin

Named a ‘Young Classical Star’ by Classic FM, the British violinist, Cristian de Sá, is establishing a reputation of performances with “irresistible energy, colouristic finesse... refined detail” (Crescendo Magazine, Paris) and he has been introduced to his audiences as “one of the great violin stars of the future” (Gulbenkian Orchestra) and “poetic... a future giant among soloists” (Concertgebouw, Amsterdam).

Following his recital debut at the Concertgebouw aged 24, de Sá has been invited to perform as recitalist and soloist in some of Europe’s most prestigious halls; Grande Auditório, Lisbon with the Gulbenkian Orchestra, Athenuem Bucharest, Grand Hall Tbilisi State Conservatoire,

Stiftung Mozarteum in Salzburg, Bechstein Hall, Wigmore Hall and his recital at the Salle Cortot in Paris of the two violin sonatas by Gabriel Fauré to celebrate the centenary (1924-2024) received wide critical acclaim and coverage, with an invitation to perform for Génération France Musique, Radio France. Further U.K performances have taken place at the Stoller Hall in Manchester, Champs Hill Concerts, Sheldonian Theatre (Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1), Worthing Symphony Orchestra (with Hilary Davan Wetton), for Absolute Classics in Scotland, Vinehall International Concert Series and at the Corn Exchange, Bedford (Glazunov, Brahms Double Concertos). de Sá has had the opportunity to perform alongside Renaud Capuçon at his personal invitation and with Maxim Vengerov (Brahms Quintets in London) and he has been broadcast and featured on BBC Radio 3, Classic FM, France Musique, RTP Portugal, TVR Romania, Scala Radio and The Strad Magazine.

Cristian de Sá was born of Portuguese and Italian heritage and he is a citizen of the U.K and Portugal. At 13, he was awarded the Leverhulme Scholarship from the Royal Academy of Music and commenced his studies with the French violinist, Maurice Hasson. Further studies with Tasmin Little and Maxim Vengerov enabled him to graduate with First Class Honours and the ‘J & A Beare Prize,’ especially awarded to the outstanding violin graduate. He completed his conservatoire education at the Mozarteum University, Salzburg under the guidance of Pierre Amoyal. He plays a Joseph Guadagnini, 1800.

Antoine Préat - Piano

A Naïve Records Exclusive Artist and multi-award winner, Franco-Belgian pianist Antoine Préat is being noticed for his "distinctive voice" and strong musical convictions. Antoine has been invited to perform in prestigious venues including the Wigmore Hall, St John’s Smith Square, Salle Gaveau, Salle Cortot, Paris Beaux Arts Museum, Frederyk Chopin Insitute, as well as festivals such as the Nohant Chopin Festival, Lisztomanias, Chopin à Bagatelle, Les Nuits du Piano in Paris, IMS Open Chamber Music at Prussia Cove and Encuentro de Santander. He has appeared on BBC Radio 3, France Musique, Scala Radio and RTBF Musiq3

Antoine has performed alongside leading artists and orchestras including Maté Szücs, Miclen LaiPang, Margarita Balanas, Manuel Blanco, Sinfonietta Lausanne, Lesley Hatfield, Robin Ireland, the Centre de Musique de Chambre de Paris, Sainsbury Soloists, Academy Festival Orchestra, University Orchestra of Alicante and London Student Orchestra.

Throughout his career, Antoine has also been fortunate to receive guidance from Philippe Cassard, Cedric Pescia, Thomas Adès, Boris Berman, Robert Levin, Jerome Lowenthal, Richard Goode, Imogen Cooper and Stephen Hough.
After graduating with honours from the Ecole Normale de Paris where he studied with Liudmila Berlinskaia and Guigla Katsarava, Antoine furthered his studies at the Royal Academy of Music and at the Guildhall School of Music under the tutelage of Tatiana Sarkissova and Ronan O'Hora, while studying harpsichord and fortepiano under the guidance of Carole Cerasi.

Antoine was awarded the first prize of the Concours international d’Ile de France and the Los Angeles Colburn Piano Festival Competition, the honour prize at the New York Début Piano Competition and most recently was a semifinalist at the Clara Haskil Competition 2021. Passionate about education, Antoine has also been teaching for several years and has been invited several times to teach at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague.

Antoine is generously supported by the City Music Foundation, Talent Unlimited, the Munster Derek Butler Award, Hattori Foundation and the Winifred Christie Trust Award.