I’m very pleased to announce the inaugural event in my forthcoming series ‘Stephen Cottage Salon Recitals: Scones & Sonatas’ taking place at The David Josefowitz Recital Hall at The Royal Academy of Music on Sunday 21st September 2025 at 2.30pm. The idea is for these recitals to have a more ‘salon’ feel in that, instead of the usual 20-minute interval where there is usually only just time to queue for, and buy a drink, but not to actually drink it – let alone queue for the loo, instead, the interval will be a relaxed affair – around an hour, with plenty of time for the Champagne Cream Tea (Scones by me, the baker of the scones for every cream tea at the iconic Sketch of Mayfair) to be served along with ample opportunity for the audience to converse with each other and be joined by the performers for a sense of conviviality – in short – Good Company, Great Food, and Fine Music!

A percentage of box office sales will be allocated as a small bursary for a current student of The Royal Academy of Music.

The inaugural recital features Irène Duval, violin, and Mishka Rushdie Momen, piano.

Praised for ‘her mastery of phrasing and of the dramatic dimension’ (Diapason), ‘poised, fearless energy, chamber intelligence and musical finesse’ (Charlotte Gardner, 2024), French violinist Irène Duval is establishing herself as a uniquely compelling performer with a strong interest in combining works central to the repertoire with little-known gems. Recent highlights include her debut with the Philharmonia Orchestra at the first symphonic concert given by an international orchestra in Mauritius, her debut with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe at the inauguration concert of the Casals Forum in Kronberg, her first appearance at the Verbier Festival playing with Janine Jansen, a Debussy concert with Jean-Efflam Bavouzet at Wigmore Hall, and her fourth collaboration with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Last November, she played in a 5-concert celebration of the centenary of Gabriel Fauré at Wigmore Hall, performing sonatas and ensemble works with Joshua Bell, Jeremy Denk, Blythe Engstroem, Steven Isserlis and Connie Shih.

Hailed as ​“one of the most thoughtful and sensitive of British pianists” (The Times), Mishka Rushdie Momen captivates audiences with her refined and expressive playing. Equally at home as a chamber musician, Rushdie Momen’s chamber partners include Ian Bostridge, Mark Padmore, Joshua Bell, Midori, Angela Hewitt, Steven Isserlis, Timothy Ridout and Zlatomir Fung, with festival performances including Rheingau Festival, Gstaad Menuhin Festival, Oeiras International Piano Festival, Chamonix Vallée Classics, Hindsgavl, Chipping Campden, Trasimeno Festival, the new Casals Forum at Kronberg, and IMS Prussia Cove.


For tickets, please click on the Royal Academy of Music Box Office link below:

Royal Academy of Music Box Office