A R H T O A E G R
Nathan Amaral & Kasparas Mikužis violin & piano
Matilda Lloyd & the Goldmund Quartet trumpet & string quartet
Nicholas McCarthy piano
Mebrakh Haughton-Johnson & Kumi Matsuo clarinet & piano
Anastasia Feruleva & Frank van de Laar cello & piano
Welcome to the 60th anniversary year of the Harrogate Interna�onal Fes�vals. Established in 1966 as a Fes�val of Arts and Sciences we remain at the forefront of cultural delivery across the town and are thrilled to open the 2026 season with the Harrogate Interna�onal Sunday Series, a much-loved collec�on of five in�mate coffee concerts, bringing worldclass ar�sts to the heart of Harrogate. New for this year, we’re introducing two postconcert talks, giving audiences the chance to hear directly from the ar�sts and gain deeper insight into the music.
Opening the season is Brazilian violinist Nathan Amaral, First Prize winner of the 27th Sphinx Compe��on and a 2024 Classic FM Rising Star. A brilliant young talent with a passionate belief that music should be accessible to all and has founded his own fes�val in Brazil dedicated to breaking down barriers in classical music. In February, “trumpeter extraordinaire” Ma�lda Lloyd joins the acclaimed Goldmund Quartet to recreate the atmosphere of a 19th-century musical salon, a space where music, conversa�on, and storytelling come alive.
March sees the arrival of rising Bri�sh clarine�st Mebrakh Haughton-Johnson, praised for hisexpressiveanddynamicar�stry.Freshfromhis2025BBCPromsdebut,pianist Nicholas McCarthy will present a compelling programme of music wri�en exclusively for the le� hand, shining a light on this rarely heard repertoire. Closing the season is Dutch cellist Anastasia Feruleva and pianist Frank van de Laar, who offer a deligh�ul finale with a beau�fully curated selec�on of popular works for cello and piano.
Support our HIF+ outreach programmes whilst enjoying the very best of Harrogate Interna�onal Fes�vals by becoming a Friend of the Fes�val. Whether you want to support our arts charity or make the most of exclusive benefits across the year, you can join today from just £30. Membership benefits include:
Priority booking
Friends Lounge Access including complimentary tea and coffee at the Sunday Series
Addi�onal offers and discounts from Fes�val partners
Suppor�ng our outreach work across the year
Sunday 18 January | 11am
Opening the 2026 Sunday Series is Brazilian-born violinist Nathan Amaral, who has earned a reputa�on for his versa�le and charisma�c playing. First Prize winner of the 27th Sphinx Compe��on, and a ClassicFM ‘Rising Star’ in 2024, Nathan frequently performs across the globe as both a soloist and chamber musician, while also con�nuing to support and teach young musicians from difficult backgrounds in his na�ve Brazil through his own fes�val ‘Week of Musical Integra�on’ (Fes�val SIM).
Kasparas Mikužis is a Lithuanian-born pianist who has taken the stages of various highly respected venues such as the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and the Lithuanian Na�onal Philharmonic in Vilnius. Named as one of the winners of the 2025 Young Classical Ar�sts Trust (YCAT) interna�onal audi�ons, he was named as a ‘Rising Star’ by Classic FM in the same year.
All �cket holders can join Nathan and Kasparas for a free post-concert talk following the performance.
"...one of the rare musicians who not only possesses the gi� of ample technical ability but uses it to transcend technique, ge�ng to the heart and soul of musical expression... he draws his audiences in with a great range of color and emo�on....”
— Yo-Yo Ma.
Mozart Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 26 in B flat major, K. 378
Debussy Sonata for Violin and Piano in G minor
Franck Sonata for Violin and Piano in A major Villa-Lobos Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5
I. Ária – Can�lena
Step into the spirit of a 19th-century musical salon - a space where music meets conversa�on and every note tells a story. In this concert, the trumpet steps into the role of host and narrator, guiding the audience on a journey through the brilliance of Bach, elegance of Haydn and dynamism of Gershwin.
Described by BBC Music Magazine as a “trumpeter extraordinaire,” Ma�lda Lloyd is redefining her instrument on the world stage. In 2025/26, she performs Helen Grime’s Trumpet Concerto with BBC NOW, Staatstheater Meiningen and the Lithuanian Na�onal Symphony, debuts in Korea and Japan, and appears with Ulster Orchestra and Bergen Philharmonic. An ECHO Rising Star, Ma�lda has played Europe’s leading venues and is Professor of Trumpet at Trinity Laban.
Praised for their “exquisite playing” and “mul�-layered homogeneity” by Süddeutsche Zeitung, the Goldmund Quartet inspires audiences worldwide with its inwardness, unbelievably fine intona�on, and phrases worked out down to the smallest detail. These quali�es have led to some of the finest interpreta�ons of both classical and contemporary chamber music repertoire.
“Lloyd plays with intense expression and immense warmth. The flawless tone, purity of line and dynamic subtlety she coaxes from her instrument are shown off to par�cularly impressive effect.”
– BBC Music Magazine
Bach
Haydn
Concerto in D major (a�er Vivaldi) BWV 972
String Quartet in E flat Op.33, No. 2 “The Joke”
Haydn arr. Jan Leontsky Trumpet Concerto in E flat major Hob. Vlle/1
Mar�nes
Viardot
Fauré
Viardot
Schubert
La tempesta: Alfin fra le tempeste
Chanson de la Pluie
Le papillon et la fleur
Havanaise
String Quartet No. 14 in D minor “Death and the Maiden” D. 810, II. Andante con moto
Gershwin arr. Michael Thomas Three Preludes
Rising Bri�sh clarine�st Mebrakh Haughton-Johnson is a graduate of both the Royal College of Music and the Juilliard School. He has performed at major interna�onal venues including Carnegie Hall and made his U.S. concerto debut in 2024 with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra. A commi�ed advocate for equity and inclusion in music, Mebrakh led a major overhaul of the RCM performance syllabi to include works by Black, Asian, and female composers.
Kumi Matsuo is an award-winning solo and collabora�ve pianist, performing interna�onally at major venues including Wigmore Hall and Tokyo Opera City Hall. A Royal College of Music staff member and former Junior Fellow, she studied in Tokyo and London and serves as official accompanist for pres�gious interna�onal compe��ons and masterclasses.
Kovács Hommage á J. S. Bach
Schumann Fantasiestücke
Saint-Saëns
Clarinet Sonata Widor Introduc�on et Rondo
Debussy Première Rhapsodie
Paquito D’Rivera Lecuonerías
Jessie Montgomery Peace
Brahms
Clarinet Sonata No. 1
One of the world’s most inspira�onal pianists, Nicholas McCarthy was born in 1989 without his right hand and, through talent and determina�on, overcame significant obstacles to pursue his love of the piano. He studied at the Royal College of Music in London, becoming the only onehanded pianist to graduate in its 130-year history. A passionate advocate for o�en overlooked le�-hand-alone repertoire, Nicholas made his BBC Proms debut in 2025.
All �cket holders can join Nicholas for a free post-concert talk following the performance.
Scriabin Prelude and Nocturne for le� hand
Wagner arr. Liszt Isolde’s Liebestod and Wi�genstein fromTristan und Isolde
Strauss arr. Mann Morgen!
Reinecke Sonata in C minor
Julie Cooper Galilean Moons
Schubert Erlkönig arr. Liszt and Zichy
Bach arr. Brahms Chaconne from Par�ta No. 2 in D minor
Bartók Study for the le� hand
Cellist Anastasia Feruleva cap�vates audiences across Europe with her expressive depth and authen�c stage presence. Born in Russia and now based in the Netherlands, she has delighted audiences from the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Hall to Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw. A sought-a�er soloist, she has performed concertos with orchestras including the Wür�embergische Philharmonie and Nederlands Philharmonisch Orkest.
Frank van de Laar is a prize-winning Dutch pianist whose repertoire stretches from Bach to contemporary composers, always allowing lesser-known old and new masterworks to play their own interes�ng role. A former student of Jan Wijn and prize winner in several interna�onal compe��ons, his dynamic career includes performances across Europe, the U.S., and Asia, as well as over 35 cri�cally praised recordings.
“organic phrasing and vivid intensity �ll the very last note..” - Frankfurter Zeitung
Mendelssohn
Schubert
Chopin
Fauré
Fauré
Fauré
Saint-Saëns
Schumann
Piazzolla
Lied ohne Worte Op.109
Arpeggione Sonata D.821
Introduc�on and Polonaise Brillante Op.3
Après un rêve
Sicilienne Op.78
Papillon Op.77
The Swan from Carnival d’animaux
Fantasiestücke Op. 73
Le Grand Tango
For six decades we’ve brought the world to Harrogatear�sts, writers, musicians, thinkers and audiences. From Yehudi Menuhin to Amy Winehouse, Val McDermid to Julian Lloyd Webber, the Fes�val has ignited imagina�ons, broken boundaries and changed lives.
Nowweinviteyoutohelpshapethenextchapter.
The HIF@60 appeal is an ambitious goal to raise £1 million to support access, innovation and long-term sustainabilityfortheHarrogateInternationalFestivals–andtoensurewecanthriveforanother60years.
Our mission is to create distinctive and innovative cultural experiences. We spark joy, ignite insight, fostering connectionandopportunityforthecommunitiesweserve.
Everygiftateverylevelwillplayanimportantpartinhelpingusachieveourambitiontocreateasecurefuture fortheFestivals,dramaticallyincreasingtheculturalopportunitiesforHarrogateandthewiderregion.
Tofindoutmoreabouthowyoucanhelppleasecontact:sharon@harrogate-fes�val.org.uk
Band Individual �ckets Series subscrip�on Bookallfiveconcertsinthe samepricebrandandreceivea 10%discount
Band A: Ballroomfrontrowsandinneraisles
Band B: BallroomandfrontofGardenRoom
Band C: GardenRoom
UNDER 35s FOR £5
Just as we believe in suppor�ng musicians at all stages of their careers, we believe in making chamber music accessible to new genera�ons of audiences. Anyone under 35 can a�end for £5.
CONCERT TIMINGS
All concerts will be approximately 2 hours, including a 20-minute interval.
HOW TO BOOK
Online: harrogateinterna�onalfes�val.com In person: 32 Cheltenham Parade, Harrogate, HG1 1DB Telephone: 01423 562 303
BOOKING FEES
All bookings are subject to a £2.50 booking fee
£25
£23
£21
£112.50
£103.50
£94.50
The Fes�val Office is open Monday – Friday, 10am – 5pm for telephone and in person booking or general enquiries.
OLD SWAN HOTEL
The hotel has free car parking for Sunday Series patrons and is wheelchair accessible. The hotel is located a ten-minute walk from Harrogate railway sta�on.
Coffee and tea will be available to purchase during the interval of all Sunday Series concerts from the hotel. Please note the Old Swan Hotel accepts card payments only.
