Toad Lane Concert: Nina Savicevic

Nina Savicevic

Born in Exeter in 2001 of Croatian Serbian descent, Nina Savicevic began her studies at St Petersburg's Rimsky Korsakov Conservatoire, giving her first concert after three months. In 2013 she was awarded a full scholarship to Wells Cathedral School where she gained success in various national and international competitions. From 2019 she held several scholarships and awards at the Royal Northern College of Music and gained bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Nina often performs across the UK and abroad, has also performed on BBC Radio and enjoyed eminent masterclasses.

Nina is also the founding artistic director of Topsham Music Festival from 2023 and teaches piano in Leeds and Manchester and also a busy private practice. She looks forward to making her debut with the St John’s Festival Orchestra, with Beethoven’s Piano Concerto no 2 in June 2025.

At her performace on Wednesday 27 November, the sublime Prelude in Eb minor and its noble companion Fugue in D# minor (BWV 853) by JS Bach were impressive curtain raisers. Nina has a compelling presence at the keyboard.

Beethoven’s Sonata no 18 in Eb major “The Hunt”, was bright and rustic as its name suggests, with some excellent playing and memory work in the varied rhythmic movements.

Schubert’s Impromptu no 3 G flat major, Op 90 was a great contrast with its swirling accompaniments and strong melodic lines. But it was Chopin who won the day with a pensive Nocturne in C Sharp minor no 2, and a dramatic Ballade no 2 in F major op 38 with its colourful virtuoso passages.

The whole recital made the most of the heritage 1935 Challen Grand piano in the resonant acoustic of St Mary in the Baum.

The Queen’s Award-winning Toad Lane Concerts are every Wednesday at 12.30pm at St Mary in the Baum, Toad Lane, Rochdale, OL16 1DZ. Entrance fee is £6. No refreshments available. Contact 01706 648872 for further information.

To see details of forthcoming Toad Lane Concerts, click here.

Dr Joe Dawson