Companion page for Cheltenham Music Festival Society Young Musicians Concert on March 25, 2025.

I’m doing it. Give me a break!

A CONCERT FOR YOUNG MUSICIANS

AT PITTVILLE PUMP ROOM

CHELTENHAM SPA

25 MARCH 2025

Today’s Performers

Kristina Zaitseva is 16 years old and for eleven of those years she has been waiting for the war in Ukraine to end. The experience has made her persistent and purposeful, which is reflected in her music and creativity.

Kristina is in Year 11 at Bournside School and intends to continue studying music and the arts. She dreams of performing jazz, starting a business, seeing different countries, and never hearing explosions or air-raid sirens again. She trusts you will enjoy her performance.

Kristina’s recital includes two world premieres of her own compositions. 

Eva Kulikova (accompanied today by Pei-Chieh Hsieh) is from Kharkiv, Ukraine, and has been playing the piano since the age of six. She won numerous singing competitions at home. Since 2022 she has attended Solihull School, West Midlands, and has graced stages in Worcester, Birmingham, Lichfield and Verona. In 2024 she made a commercial recording in Berlin.

‘My journey reflects a deep commitment to music,’ she says, ‘enriched by diverse experiences and a continuous pursuit of excellence.’

Late substitution: Cheltenham Ladies College All-Stars

Sophie Lau is in Year 11 and has been playing violin and piano since seven. She also likes galleries, museums and coffee. Anya and Maya Gorthy are twins. They are in Year Nine and have both achieved ARSM diplomas. They did a duet in Berlin but also play separately. They like acting and reading. Jonna Cheung is also in Year Nine and has won numerous awards. Her top composers are Joe Hisaishi, Sarasate and Tchaikovsky. She plays netball and lacrosse for CLC and loves to cook. Jasmine Evlanchik-Kutepova is from Ukraine and will read some poetry.

Today’s Music

Eva Kulikova (soprano) and Per-Chieh Hsieh (piano)

A. Vivaldi ‘Laudamus te’ from Gloria, RV589 (with Clare Bovill)

‘Descende ò coeli vos’ from Longe Mala Umbrae Terrore

W.A. Mozart ‘Voi che sapete’ from Le nozze di Figaro

‘Una donna a quindici anni’ from Cosi fan tutti

A. L’Estrange ‘She walks in beauty’ (words by Byron

‘Now sleeps the crimson petal’ (words by Tennyson)

Sophie Lau (violin)

G.P. Telemann Fantasia No. 7

Jonna Cheung (piano)

J. Brahms Intermezzo in A major, Op 118, No. 2

Anya and Maya Gorthy (piano)

G. Fauré ‘Berceuse’ and ‘Miaou’ from the Dolly Suite

Kristina Zaitseva (piano)

S. Prokofiev Prelude, Op. 12

J. S. Bach Prelude and Fugue No.6 in D minor

K. Zaitseva ‘Idea 9’

F. Mendelssohn Songs without words VI, Op. 67, No.2

K. Zaitseva ‘Idea 6’

A. Arensky ‘Forget-me-not’, No 10 from 24 Characteristic Pieces

Concise, opinionated and provocative commentary on the musical offerings

Antonio Vivaldi (1678–1741) wrote these pieces for girls at the Ospizio della Pietà in Venice.

The two arias by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791) are from his witty opera buffi. The second, from a work long ‘cancelled’, celebrates the charms of ladies of 15.

Alexander L’Estrange (b.1974) is a prolific British composer. These settings of Romantic poetry are from Love’s philosophy.

Georg Philipp Telemann (1681–1787) was self-taught, prolific and unoriginal. Other views are available. It must be said that this is what people used to think, when they had smaller record collections and less time and money to broaden them and listen to everything.

Johannes Brahms (1833–1897) was a Romantic, and a romantic, with a troubled love-life. Gustav Holst’s father loved Brahms, and the young Holst, consequently, did not.

Gabriel Fauré (1846–1924) was a music teacher and very attractive to women. The Dolly Suite was written for his mistress.

You know all about Felix Mendelssohn (1809–1847), Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1850) and Sergei Prokofiev (1891–1953). His fellow Russian Anton Arensky (1861–1905) did not achieve his potential. Rimsky-Korsakov blamed drink.

Finally, step forward Kristina Zaitseva (b. 2008). Spring is for the young – and keeps you young.

Our cover picture

:‘Pastoral Landscape: The Roman Campagna’ by Claude Lorrain, painted c.1639, brought to England in C18, arriving in Thirlestaine House, Cheltenham, and sold on the owner’s death in 1859 for 116 guineas. Acquired by one of the Lehman Brothers, who donated it to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Public domain image reproduced with thanks.

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