A CRITICALLY acclaimed concert pianist is returning to Old Swinford Hospital School for a recital and musical masterclass.

Award-winner Margaret Fingerhut will be joined by tenor Anthony Flaum at the concert which is set to take place in the Heath Lane school’s Great Hall on Tuesday, March 22, at 7.30pm.

For their recital this year, Margaret and Anthony will present a range of lieder and chansons by Schubert, Grieg, Ravel and Verdi, as well as exploring the world of opera and musicals, including famous arias by Mozart, Donizetti, Dvořák and Lehar.

Margaret will also perform a selection of solo piano pieces by two Russian composers – Mussorgsky and Balakirev.

Regarded as one of the most poetic pianists of her generation, Margaret is a professor of Piano at Trinity Laban Conservatoire and, as a concert soloist, has appeared with both the London Symphony Orchestra and London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Margaret, who formerly taught at the Royal Northern College of Music, is also a visiting tutor at Birmingham Conservatoire, has given masterclasses in the USA, Canada and China, and has also been on the jury for many competitions including the BBC Young Musician of the Year.

Lyric tenor Anthony had an unusual route into the music industry, going through banking and finance, has operatic credits including performances with the Scottish Opera, Northern Ireland Opera and English National Opera.

He has also performed musical theatre roles at the Bloomsbury Theatre, Theatre Royal Stratford East and Nottingham Play House.

The duo will reunite the following day as they host free piano and voice masterclasses with Old Swinford Hospital pupils.

Students will be invited to perform a piece of music before given constructive advice on how their technique, performance and interpretation could be improved, as well as hearing the other participants in their sessions.

Tickets, which can be bought with a suggested donation of £10 for adults and £8 for concessions, are available by emailing ljoyce@oshsch.com or calling 01384 817316.