LSO Discovery
Free Friday Lunchtime Concert
TODAY'S CONCERT
Ludwig van Beethoven
‘Eyeglass’ Duo
Rebecca Clarke
Two Pieces for Viola and Cello
Witold Lutosławski
Bucolics
Gioachino Rossini
Duet for Cello and Double Bass (arranged for viola and cello)
Eivind Ringstad viola
David Cohen cello
Rachel Leach presenter
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Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)
‘Eyeglass’ Duo
When Beethoven moved to Vienna to make a name for himself in 1792, he met an amateur cellist called Nikolaus Zmeskall. The two became firm, lifelong friends. Zmeskall would fetch quills and wine for Beethoven and help him correct proofs. They were in constant contact and many of their letters to each other survive. Like all good friends the pair teased each other endlessly. Beethoven often writes of Zmeskall’s bachelorhood, his amateur status and his shortsightedness. In one letter Beethoven says, 'I am most obliged for the weakness of your eyes', and it is from here that this charming piece emerged. It was written by Beethoven for the two of them to play, as they both needed glasses to read it.
The official title is ‘Duet with eyeglasses obbligato’ (an obbligato is an essential passage in a piece that cannot be left out). There are two movements: an introductory Allegro followed by a Minuet and Trio. Beethoven probably intended there to be more but by 1796 he was very much in demand with other projects and this one probably just got forgotten about. It wasn’t published until 1912!
Note by Rachel Leach
Rebecca Clarke (1886–1979)
Two Pieces for Viola and Cello
Alongside her career as a composer, Rebecca Clarke was an internationally renowned violist and very much in demand. After leaving the Royal College of Music and falling out with her father, Clarke found herself without funds so she supported herself by playing in orchestras and often all-female ensembles. It was probably in one of these ensembles that she met the cellist May Mukle. With a flat near Wigmore Hall and the hostess of many musical parties, Mukle was at the centre of London musical life. These two short duets were written in 1916 by Clarke for the two of them to play, and in 1922 they toured the world with them. The first is called ‘Lullaby’ and is gentle and sweet; the second is a playful, angular dance called ‘Grotesque’.
Note by Rachel Leach
Witold Lutosławski (1913–94)
Bucolics
Polish composer Lutosławski was born in Warsaw into landed nobility. However the family fortunes changed dramatically when his father and uncle became political activists and were ultimately executed by the Bolsheviks. Lutosławski was then brought up by his mother who found work as a translator. He studied piano from the age of six, and later violin and composition.
When World War II broke out, he was beginning to make a name for himself as composer, and training in radio operation, but this led to his arrest and brief imprisonment by the German authorities. He spent the rest of the war playing piano in cafes to make ends meet. He finally found major success in the 1950s and is now regarded as a major voice in 20th-century music. These five short pieces are from 1952 and whilst being clearly inspired by folk music, they show Lutosławski on the cusp of change.
Note by Rachel Leach
Gioachino Rossini (1792–1868)
Duet for Cello and Double Bass (arranged for viola and cello)
Rossini was born in Pesaro to a family of musicians. His dad was a horn-playing slaughterhouse inspector and his mum a singer. Rossini completed 40 operas, mostly in his distinctive bubbly, energetic style. At the peak of his fame and aged just 37, Rossini retired from music and only returned to composing very briefly in old age. He then led a lavish and notorious life full of parties and food and even became as known for his cooking as for his music – several famous Italian dishes are named after him!
This very unusual but wonderful duet was commissioned by an amateur English cellist called Sir David Salomens and was written with the help of bass ‘superstar’ Domenico Dragonetti. It is the most famous cello / bass duet by far and it requires skilled performers to pull off its deceptively flippant style. Today we will hear it transcribed for viola and cello.
Note by Rachel Leach
About the Artists
© Nikolaj Lund
© Nikolaj Lund
Eivind Ringstad, viola
LSO Principal Viola
Member since 2024
Norwegian viola player Eivind Ringstad (b 1994) enjoys a varied career as soloist, orchestra and chamber musician. He made his breakthrough after winning first prize at Eurovision Young Musicians 2012 in Vienna, and has since been performing as a soloist with orchestras including Oslo Philharmonic, Mozarteum Orchester Salzburg, Lahti Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Symphony Orchestra. He has collaborated with renowned conductors like Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Han-ah Chang and Joshua Weilerstein.
Eivind is a regular in the thriving chamber music scene and has appeared in festivals including the Edinburgh International Festival and Utrecht and Oslo Chamber Music Festivals, performing alongside distinguished musicians including Janine Jansen, Steven Isserlis and Leif Ove Andsnes. Eivind is currently artistic director for Norsjø Chamber Music Festival in Telemark, Norway.
Eivind studied at the Barratt Due Music Institute in Oslo, Norway, with Soon-Mi Chung, where he also took lessons with Henning Kraggerud. In 2016 he was awarded the Borletti Buitoni fellowship award and participated in the BBC New Generation Artist Scheme. Eivind plays the Andrea Guarneri ‘Conte Vitale’ viola dating from 1676, generously on loan from Dextra Musica.
David Cohen, cello
LSO Principal Cello
Member since 2021, Professor at Conservatoire Royal de Musique de Mons, Belgium, and Trinity Laban, London; Chair endowed by the LSO Friends
David Cohen made his solo debut with the Belgian National Orchestra at the age of nine. He studied at the Yehudi Menuhin School and then at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama where he studied under Oleg Kogan. He has won more than 25 prizes in International Cello Competitions, including the Gold Medal of the GSMD in London, the Geneva International Cello Competition, J S Bach International Competition and many others. During the 2002/03 season, he was nominated as the ECHO Rising Star by the Royal Philharmonic Society of Belgium and the Concertgebouw.
In his musical journey, David has worked as a soloist with some of the most distinguished conductors in the industry such as Lord Menuhin, Mstislav Rostropovich, Walter Weller, Sir Charles Mackerras, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Christoph von Dohnányi, Pedro Halffter and Martyn Brabbins, among others.
David plays on the ‘Ex-Pergamenschikow’ cello, a magnificent Dominicus Montagnana circa 1735, thanks to the kindness and generosity of Mrs Pat Morton and the help of the Razumovsky Trust.
© Kevin Leighton
© Kevin Leighton
Rachel Leach
Presenter
Rachel Leach was born in Sheffield. She studied composition, and her music has been recorded by NMC and published by Faber. She has won several awards, including the RPS award for best education project 2009 for One Day, Two Dawns, with English Touring Opera (ETO).
Rachel has worked within the education departments of most of the UK’s orchestras and opera companies. The majority of her work is for the London Symphony Orchestra and the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Rachel has written well over 20 pieces for LSO Discovery and 15 community operas, including seven for English Touring Opera.
Increasingly in-demand as a concert presenter, as well as presenting the LSO Discovery Free Friday Lunchtime Concert series, she regularly presents children’s concerts and pre-concert events for the LSO, LPO, Philharmonia Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Royal College of Music and Royal Northern Sinfonia.
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Next Free Friday Lunchtime Concert
Friday 24 April 2026
12.30pm
LSO St Luke's
Curious about instrumental music? Looking to make lunchtime musical? Try a bite-size, informal concert, performed by a small group of musicians.
Friendly introductions from presenter Rachel Leach will guide you through the concert, introducing you to the music and instruments. And if you’re left with burning questions, you can ask them during a Q+A session with the performers.
Suitable for everyone over the age of 5
Joseph Haydn
First Movement ‘Allegretto’ from String Quartet in E-flat No 4
Arnold Schoenberg
First Movement ‘Allegro molto’ from String Quartet in D
Jessie Montgomery
Strum
Olatz Ruiz de Gordejuela violin
Alix Lagasse violin
Germán Clavijo viola
Salvador Bolón cello
Rachel Leach presenter
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