Mathilde Milwidsky & Huw Watkins
From baroque to Ravel
Monday, 3rd November 2025 – 7.30pm
Queen’s Hall Arts Centre, Hexham
A rising star of the violin makes her Hexham debut
Come to the Queen’s Hall Arts Centre this November to see the very gifted young violinist, Mathilde Milwidsky, and her musical partner, Huw Watkins, in a wide-ranging programme of music for violin/piano duo. Hear works by the 17th-century violin virtuoso, Biber, alongside pieces by Mozart, Brahms and Ravel – and more!
Introducing Mathilde Milwidsky
Mathilde performs widely across Europe at leading concert halls and festivals including the Edinburgh and Verbier festivals and London’s Royal Festival Hall. She has also won awards at international competitions including the Royal Over-Seas League Music Competition and the Joseph Joachim International Violin Competition.
Praise and recognition for Mathilde:
Royal Over-Seas League Music Competition – 1st prize (2017)
Classic FM Rising Star (2023)
World premiere and dedicatee of Joseph Phibbs’s violin sonata (2020)
‘Her playing sings and beguiles. It takes consummate skill to play with such eloquence.’ – Piers Hellawell, Composer in residence, 2025 Corbridge Chamber Music Festival
‘Divinely beautiful playing’ – Sűddeutsche Zeitung, Munich
‘Mastery and musicality’ – Le Soir, Brussels
Introducing Huw Watkins
Huw is no stranger to Hexham. He last played here in February this year as a member of the Goldscheider Horn Trio. If you were in the hall that day, you will remember what an extraordinary concert it was.
He is both a pianist and a composer. He performs throughout Europe and North America as soloist and chamber musician and as a composer, he has had commissions from ensembles such as the Nash Ensemble and the London Symphony and Hallé orchestras. The world premiere of his Concerto for Orchestra was given by Sir Mark Elder and the Hallé Orchestra in May this year.
Praise and recognition for Huw:
Appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire [MBE] for services to music (2021)
Winner of the South Bank Sky Arts Award for classical music (2022)
‘… his versatility knows no bounds …’ – The Guardian
‘What an amazing musician Watkins is, this unfailingly dependable and musical pianist who seems to be everywhere. If he caught a cold most of Britain’s summer festival season would collapse.’ – The Telegraph
‘A classy instant classic from Huw Watkins’ – The Times (reviewing Huw’s Concerto for Orchestra)
Programme
Mathilde and Huw perform a fascinating programme that surveys violin and piano music from the baroque era to the 20th century. They begin with Mozart’s charming 22nd sonata for violin and piano (K305) – and end with Brahms’s third, a piece that has been described as tempestuous and full of tense drama. There’s a bluesy, jazzy feel to the slow movement of Ravel’s sonata while Biber – a formidable 17th-century virtuoso – created a spectacular violin showpiece in his Passacaglia. Music by three 20th-century composers completes a programme which demands to be heard!
Mozart Violin Sonata no. 2 in A major, K.305
Skalkottas Sonatina no. 2 for violin and piano, AK47
Bacewicz Stained Glass Window (Witraz)
Ravel Sonata in G major for violin and piano
Lutoslawski Subito for violin and piano
Biber Passacaglia in G minor for solo violin
Brahms Sonata no. 3 in D minor for violin and piano, op. 108
Watch a recent performance
Mathilde plays Ravel’s Tzigane
Huw plays his own Lament with Ben Goldscheider
Book your tickets for the Queen’s Hall
Tempted by what you’ve seen? Curious to find out more? Come and experience these two very talented performers live on stage.
No booking fees when you book direct with us.
Event details
Venue: Queen’s Hall Arts Centre, Hexham, Northumberland
Date: Monday, 3rd November 2025
Time: 7.30pm
Tickets: Online through the Hexham and District Music Society website. Also available from the Queen’s Hall Arts Centre (booking fee applies).
