AN INTERNATIONAL cello star and a pianist are to perform in Mold.

Raphael Wallfisch is one of the most celebrated cellists performing on the international stage.

On Sunday, February 24, he will join pianist John York to play Schubert, Beethoven and Brahms at Theatr Clwyd.

Mr Wallfisch was born in London into a family of distinguished musicians, his mother the cellist Anita Lasker-Wallfisch and his father the celebrated pianist Peter Wallfisch.

His mother, already a professional musician, was forced to perform in the Women’s Orchestra at Auschwitz camp, playing at the gates when work gangs went out and returned and at concerts and functions for the German SS.

At an early age it became apparent that the cello was to be Raphael’s life’s work. While studying in California, he was chosen to perform chamber music with Jascha Heifetz in the informal recitals that his Russian teacher Gregor Piatigorsky held at his home.

At the age of twenty-four he won the Gaspar Cassadó International Cello Competition in Florence.

Since then he has enjoyed a world-wide career playing with such orchestras as the London Symphony, Leipzig Gewandhaus, Berlin Symphony and Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Mr Wallfisch has recorded nearly every major work for his instrument and is passionate about teaching, holding the position of Professor of Cello at the Zürich Hockschule.

He has been playing at recitals with John York for many years, with Mr York taking over on the keyboard from Mr Wallfisch's father when he became ill.

Following Peter Wallfisch’s death the Wallfisch/York duo became a permanent partnership.

Their concert in Mold, which will take place at 7.30pm, features a mainstream programme: Beethoven’s Variations on a theme from ‘The Magic Flute’, Schubert’s A minor Cello Sonata, a highlight from the cellist’s classical/romantic repertoire and Brahms’ masterpiece, the Sonata in F Op.99.

The evening opens with Debussy’s groundbreaking Sonata for Cello and Piano, written during World War One.

Tickets are available from the box office or www.theatrclwyd.com