THE HORNBY FESTIVAL
July 31 - August 9, 2025
CLASSICAL
The Hornby Festival presents three evenings of world-class classical music, pre-show talks and Classical Kids at beautiful Rosemuir Farm and The Hornby Community Hall. Featuring pianist Roman Rabinovich, violinist Diana Cohen and French horn player Jeffrey Fair. These concerts will showcase virtuosic talent and beautifully curated programs in an intimate and beautiful settings.
A heartfelt thank you to Jim Saks, Jane Cohan, Jim Cohan and their family for the years of generous support to the Hornby Festival, in particular the care and support of our classical programming.
EVENTS
ARTISTS
Roman Rabinovich - Piano
‘. . . the elegance and liveliness of Rabinovich’s keyboard style are, indeed, a joy to listen to, and his unfailing musicality and inventiveness allows him to penetrate to the expressive heart of Haydn’s world.’ – BBC Magazine
Praised by The New York Times for his “uncommon sensitivity and feeling,” pianist Roman Rabinovich won the 12th Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition in 2008. He has since performed at leading venues across Europe and North America, including Wigmore Hall, Carnegie Hall, Leipzig’s Gewandhaus, and Washington, D.C.’s Kennedy Center. He has appeared with top orchestras and conductors and earned acclaim for a repertoire spanning Bach to Lutosławski, especially his interpretations of Haydn. Highlights of the 2024–25 season include a three-recital series at Wigmore Hall, performances at the Lammermuir and Liszt Academy Chamber Music Festivals, a concerto debut with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, and recitals in Israel. He will also perform JS Bach’s Goldberg Variations in London, Vienna, and on Hornby Island. Described as “a true polymath, in the Renaissance sense of the word” (Seen & Heard International), Rabinovich is also a composer and visual artist. His Haydn recordings on First Hand Records have been widely praised. Born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Rabinovich immigrated to Israel and debuted with the Israel Philharmonic under Zubin Mehta at age 10. He studied at the Curtis Institute and earned his master’s at Juilliard. He was one of the first pianists in Sir András Schiff’s “Building Bridges” series. Rabinovich co-directs ChamberFest Cleveland and ChamberFest West with his wife, violinist Diana Cohen.
romanrabinovich.net
Diana Cohen - Violin
“Diana Cohen is a radiant artist with a flawless technique. Her personal warmth is evident in every stroke of her bow, and this makes her playing totally unique. Her performance of my suite from The Red Violin is magnificent.” – John Corigliano, composer
Violinist Diana Cohen is Concertmaster of the Calgary Philharmonic and Artistic Director of ChamberFest Cleveland. She has appeared as soloist with numerous orchestras and performed at major festivals including Marlboro and Ravinia. Cohen has collaborated with artists such as Garrick Ohlsson and Mitsuko Uchida and performed with ensembles including Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, The Knights, and the Cleveland Orchestra.
Cohen studied at the Cleveland Institute of Music and has a deep musical family lineage, including her father Franklin Cohen (clarinetist), brother Alexander Cohen (timpanist), and husband Roman Rabinovich. During the pandemic, she and Rabinovich founded "Garden Concerts YYC," an outdoor concert series in Calgary.
Jeffrey Fair - Horn
“... the ensemble playing was exciting … Jeffrey Fair (horn) … contributed radiant solo moments.” – bachtrack
Jeffrey Fair has been the principal horn of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra since 2013 and a member of the Orchestra since 2003. He also performs as principal horn of the Seattle Opera and has served as guest principal horn of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the National Symphony Orchestra. He is on the faculty at the University of Washington and has served as principal horn and faculty member of the Eastern Music Festival and as principal horn of the Arizona Music Festival. Additionally, Mr. Fair appears throughout the Northwest as soloist, chamber musician, clinician, and teacher. Prior to moving to Seattle, he was principal horn of the San Antonio Symphony for three seasons, appearing as soloist on several occasions. Mr. Fair completed a Master of Music degree at The Juilliard School. A native of Oklahoma, he received a Bachelor of Music degree, summa cum laude, from the University of Oklahoma.
PROGRAMMES
Tuesday, August 5 | Diana Cohen (Violin) & Roman Rabinovich (Piano)
Violin and Piano Duo Program
Clara Schumann Romance for Violin and Piano Op. 22 No. 1 (1819-1896)
Witold Lutosławski Partita for Violin and Piano (1913-1994)
Allegro giusto
Interlude ad libitum I
Largo
Interlude ad libitum II
Presto
Franz Schubert Fantasy for Violin and Piano in C Major, D. 934, Op. 159 (1797-1828)
Andante molto
Allegretto
Andantino
Presto
-intermission-
Richard Strauss Sonata in E flat major for Violin and Piano Op.18 (1864-1949)
Allegro, ma non troppo
Improvisation: Andante cantabile
Finale: Andante - Allegro
This concert is supported through a generous bequest from Nicki Johansen, a longtime passionate supporter and volunteer of The Hornby Festival Society.
Friday, August 8 | Roman Rabinovich (Piano)
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) – Goldberg Variations, BWV 988
Aria
Variatio 1. a 1 Clav.
Variatio 2. a 1 Clav.
Variatio 3. Canone all’Unisuono. a 1 Clav.
Variatio 4. a 1 Clav.
Variatio 5. a 1 ô vero 2 Clav.
Variatio 6. Canone alla Seconda. a 1 Clav.
Variatio 7. a 1 ô vero 2 Clav. al tempo di Giga
Variatio 8. a 2 Clav.
Variatio 9. Canone alla Terza. a 1 Clav.
Variatio 10. Fughetta. a 1 Clav.
Variatio 11. a 2 Clav.
Variatio 12. a 1 Clav. Canone alla Quarta. a 1 Clav. in moto contrario
Variatio 13. a 2 Clav.
Variatio 14. a 2 Clav.
Variatio 15. Canone alla Quinta. a 1 Clav.: Andante
Variatio 16. Ouverture. a 1 Clav.
Variatio 17. a 2 Clav.
Variatio 18. Canone alla Sesta. a 1 Clav.
Variatio 19. a 1 Clav.
Variatio 20. a 2 Clav.
Variatio 21. Canone alla Settima. a 1 Clav.
Variatio 22. a 1 Clav. alla breve
Variatio 23. a 2 Clav.
Variatio 24. Canone all'Ottava. a 1 Clav.
Variatio 25. a 2 Clav.: Adagio
Variatio 26. a 2 Clav.
Variatio 27. Canone alla Nona. a 2 Clav.
Variatio 28. a 2 Clav.
Variatio 29. a 1 ô vero 2 Clav.
Variatio 30. Quodlibet. a 1 Clav.
Aria da Capo
Saturday, August 9 | Jeffrey Fair (Horn), Diana Cohen (Violin) & Roman Rabinovich (Piano)
Robert Schumann Adagio and Allegro, Op. 70
Ludwig van Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 31 in A♭ major, Op. 110
Moderato cantabile molto espressivo
Allegro molto
Adagio ma non troppo – Allegro ma non troppo
----intermission----
Johannes Brahms
Trio for Violin, Horn and Piano in E-flat major, Op. 40
Andante
Scherzo: Allegro
Adagio mesto
Finale: Allegro con brio