Maciej Kulakowski & Yannick Rafalimanana

Clothworkers Centenary Concert Hall, Leeds, LS2 9JT

Fri 3rd November 2023

Robert Schumann - Drei Fantasiestucke op 73
Gabriel Fauré, arr Carl Hüllweck - Sonata no 1 in A, op 13
Pablo de Sarasate, arr Werner Thomas-Mifune - Gypsy Airs, op 20

Cellist Maciej Kulakowski won 1st Prize at the Lutoslawski Competition, was a Laureate in the Finals of the Queen Elisabeth Competition, and a prize-winner at the 2019 YCAT International Auditions in London. He completed his studies at Kronberg Academy with Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt in 2022.

Highlights this season include concerts at Wigmore Hall, Berlin Konzerthaus and the Kronberg Festival. He takes part in the Cello Biennale in Amsterdam and gives recitals at the Bath, Newbury Spring, and Machynnleth Festivals in the UK. In 2022 Delphian Records released his debut album of French music ‘Beau soir’ to critical acclaim. He went on to record Penderecki’s complete solo cello music, due for release in 2023.
French pianist Yannick Rafalimanana has developed an international concert career performing recitals and chamber music concerts regularly throughout Europe, the United States, South America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Born in Lille, France, he began his musical studies at the Conservatory of Lille, and later graduated from the 'Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris' and the New England Conservatory.

Yannick has won numerous awards and prizes in competitions including the Borromeo Quartet Guest Artist Award, the Bruxelles J-Musiciens Competition, the Brest Piano Competition, and the International Ravel Academy's Rotary-Lions Competition. As a soloist, he has performed regularly with the Orchestre CNR de Lille, Orchestre Impromptu, and the Ensemble Parisien, and also performs frequently with the ensemble Trio La Plata.