Cynthia Roberts is one of America's leading performers on the baroque violin, serving as concertmaster of the New York Collegium, Apollo's Fire, and Concert Royal, and appearing as soloist and recitalist throughout the U.S., Europe, and Asia. At the invitation of William Christie she recently appeared as concertmaster of Les Arts Florissants. She has appeared regularly with Tafelmusik and the American Bach Soloists, and is a principal player in the Carmel Bach Festival. She has appeared with the London Classical Players, Taverner Players, and Smithsonian Chamber Players.

At age 12, Ms. Roberts debuted with Chicago's Grant Park Symphony, performing the Mendelssohn Concerto, and later appeared as soloist with the Boston Pops. Her principal teachers were Joseph Silverstein, Josef Gingold, and Stanley Ritchie. She has appeared on Late Night With David Letterman, accompanying soprano Renee Fleming. Her violin playing was featured on the soundtrack of the film Casanova, which was released in 2005.

Ms Roberts serves on the faculties of the University of North Texas and the Oberlin Baroque Performance Institute. Her recording credits include Sony Classical, Analekta, BMG/Deutsche Harmonia Mundi, and Eclectra.

Christoph Hammer, hailed as a “poet of the fortepiano” by the Italian press, was born in Germany in 1966. He studied organ at the Academy of Music and Theater in Munich, also attending courses and workshops with renowned specialists for historic keyboard instruments. In addition, he studied German Literature and Musicology at the Ludwig-Maximilian University in Munich and at UCLA. Since 1989, Hammer has focused on playing historical keyboard instruments, especially the fortepiano. He has achieved an international reputation as a soloist and lieder accompanist as well as in chamber music. Numerous recordings document his success, the newest of which features piano works of Carl Czerny (ORF Edition).

In addition to the established concert repertoire, Hammer dedicates his time to the rediscovery of little-known composers as well as to researching and editing their works. He has performed at numerous international festivals. Mr. Hammer has played as a soloist with orchestras such as Concerto Cologne, Netherlands Chamber Orchestra, Los Angeles Baroque Orchestra, and Prague Chamber Orchestra, among others.

Mr. Hammer has taught master classes at leading institutions such as the Czech State Music Academy (Prague), Tchaikovsky Conservatory (Moscow), State Music Academy (Minsk) and others. In 2009 he was appointed Associate Professor for harpsichord and fortepiano at the University of North Texas.

PROGRAM

Sonata in E minor for Violin and Piano K.304 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–91)
Allegro
Tempo di Minuetto

Six Variations on ‘Hélas, j’ai perdu mon amant’ for Violin and Piano K.360 (1781)

Fantasia in D minor K.397 (1782)

Sonata B flat major for Violin and Piano K.454 (1784)
Largo - Allegro
Andante
Allegretto