Pianists Lynn Arnold and Charles Matthews have performed as a duet across England for some years and individually on an international basis. Nurturing their zeal for the piano duet idiom, they have explored and performed much of the core repertoire for this ensemble in terms of both original compositions and inded transcriptions. A mutual passion for English music features significantly in their choice of repertoire; Lynn and Charles were delighted to feature at the 2019 English Music Festival. Their repertoire includes the complete works for piano duet by York Bowen, as well as works by Holst, Delius, Quilter and other composers active in the early twentieth century. Charles and Lynn are also keen to promote more recent British works, such as those by Maconchy (1967), Francis Routh (1991) and John Rushby-Smith (1994), and Howard Skempton dedicated the piano duet “Inventing the Wheel” for Lynn & Charles to mark his 75th birthday in 2022. Charles and Lynn both accompany and teach at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and the Royal Academy of Music respectively.
"The Society’s year started in brilliant form at our concert in the Methodist Church on 19th January when we were treated to what can only be described as virtuoso performances from Charles Matthews and Lynn Arnold. It may have been a cold evening outside, but inside the air was warmed by some outstanding playing by two popular local pianists... To say it was a brilliant performance is an understatement, and we were all mesmerised as the music...was played to such great effect, showing perfect synchronisation between the two performers. After a joyous encore, audience
members rose to their feet to show their appreciation for a really enjoyable evening of music."
Shipston Music Society Report
"Thank you [both] for such a wonderful and memorable concert on Sunday. It's hard to imagine they can get better, but they do. I have never heard Beethoven's Fifth as a piano duet, but it was spellbinding and enlightening. But the most profound work for me was the Schubert Fantasia. Although I have a selection of Schubert's work, this was new to me. Hearing you play it was a life changing event, no less. I went...today and bought my own copy.
Thank you once again, for your virtuosity and humour." Audience member 2018
Photos: E. Mountford