Re-emerging after its hugely successful world premiere at the 2022 成人快手 Proms with Eva Ollikainen, Icelandic composer Anna Thorvaldsdottir鈥檚 ARCHORA portrays abstractions 鈥� musical spectra and clashing extremes drawn out through her focus on primordial energy and parallel realms. Its broad, gestural nature contradicts and complements the sweeping symphonic intricacies of Debussy鈥檚 La mer. Prefacing such powerfully dramatic pieces, a traditional bout of Haydn鈥檚 Sturm und Drang-driven drama in the overture to 鈥楲鈥檌sola disabitata鈥� (The Deserted Island) and a pre-emptive respite as Richard Goode treats us to one of Mozart鈥檚 most imaginative concertos, his Eighteenth.

Pre-concert entertainment
6.30pm In Stalls Caf茅 Bar

Ahead of the concert, RNCM student Kimberly Wong Sheat Yarn will be performing in the Stalls Caf茅 Bar.

Born and raised in Singapore, Kimberly is a passionate and dedicated harpist with a heart for sharing her love for the harp with others. Kimberly showed great interest in the harp when she joined the harp ensemble in Paya Lebar Methodist Girls鈥� School (Secondary) as a co-curricular activity and began private lessons with Rave Harps Academy at age 14. She would go on to busy herself with harp activities as the president of the ensemble in upper secondary, performing at the Esplanade Concert Hall and Singapore Botanic Gardens.

Under Rave Harps, Kimberly was encouraged to participate in the Rave Harps International Prestige Award 2020 (Solo) and 2021 (Chamber) alongside her preparations for GCE A-levels in Singapore; achieving a Distinction and Distinction with Honours with her partner respectively. Her enthusiasm and commitment were recognised when she was invited to perform with Rave Harps in the 14th World Harp Congress 2022 in Cardiff, Wales.

Currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music (Honours) degree with the Royal Northern College of Music under the tutelage of Dr Anne-Marie O鈥橣arrell, Kimberly has thus been engaged in a myriad of musical activities. Some of which involved collaborating with Spirit Studios, participating in RNCM Engage, RNCM Children鈥檚 Opera Project (The Snow Queen), and the North London Festival of Music, Speech & Drama (2023).

Kimberly Wong Sheat Yarn (harp)

Pre-concert programme
Debussy: Premi猫re Arabesque transcribed by Reni茅
Mozart arr. Le Dentu: Variations on a Theme of Mozart
Hasselmans: Romance Op. 6
Deborah Henson-Contant: Nataliana
Salzedo: 鈥楳irage鈥� from Five Poetical Studies
Bernard Andr猫s: Kola
Sue Rothstein: 鈥楻eminiscence鈥� from Three Moods
David Watkins: Petite Suite (ii. Nocturne, iii. Fire Dance)

Kimberly Wong Sheat Yarn appears by kind permission of the RNCM.