About this Event
Westminster Music Library proudly presents Bonnie Liu & Irina Chagunava for a performance of selected pieces. All are warmly welcome at this free performance in a relaxed environment.
Programme
- Robert Schumann — Widmung
- Hahn — À Chloris
- Hahn — L’heure exquise
- Berlioz — Le spectre de la rose
- Giya Kancheli — Piano Miniatures
- Clara Schumann — Liebst du um Schönheit
- Purcell — Dido’s Lament
- Berlioz — D’amour l’ardente flamme
- Jake Heggie — A Route to the Sky
Irina Chagunava is a Georgian pianist based in London. Her musical journey started at the age of six at the Paliashvili Central Music School, one of the most prestigious institutions in Georgia. Within a year, she had the opportunity to perform with an orchestra which marked the beginning of her performing career. From a young age, Irina has also been collaborating with opera singers and instrumentalists.
Irina continued her education at the Tbilisi State Conservatoire, where she completed her Bachelor’s degree, under the guidance of professor Alexander Garber. Later, she moved to the UK to pursue her Master’s at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, studying with professors John Thwaites and Alasdair Beatson. Irina graduated with distinction in 2021 and received several prestigious awards, including the John Campbell Prize, the Denis Matthews Memorial Trust Award, the Beryl Chempin Beethoven Prize, and the RBC Piano Prize.
After graduating, Irina started an active teaching career. She finds great joy in helping students of all ages and abilities thrive. Along with teaching, Irina had the opportunity to work as the principal accompanist for the Alcester Male Voice Choir and participated in numerous events and concerts, including the choir’s 50th anniversary concert at Ragley Hall.
Mezzo-soprano Bonnie Liu is the recipient of the Janet Price Opera Prize 2025 and is currently a Young Artist on the Glyndebourne mentoring programme, supported by Pegasus Opera Company.
Her operatic roles include Leila (Manifest Destiny), Sifare (Mitridate, re di Ponto), Annio (La clemenza di Tito), and Giacinta (La finta semplice). She has also covered the role of La Vecchietta in La bella dormente nel bosco under the baton of Maestro Carlo Rizzi. She will appear as Dido in Dido and Aeneas with St Albans Chamber Opera in November 2026.
Liu is also active in contemporary opera, having appeared in Hong Kong Arts Festival productions including Heart of Coral, Datong, and Women Like Us. As a concert soloist, she has performed alongside Sir Bryn Terfel, and her repertoire includes Bach’s Mass in B minor, Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Requiem, and Schubert’s Mass No. 5.
Originally from Hong Kong and now based in London, Liu holds a Master of Music in Vocal Performance with Distinction from the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, where she studied with the support of Help Musicians and college scholarships.
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We regret that there is no step-free access to our library. Further accessibility information is available on our website.
Please contact us on 0207 641 6200 or [email protected] to further discuss accessibility at this concert
Event venue & nearby stays
Westminster Music Library, 35 Saint Martin's Street, London, United Kingdom
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