Dynamic husband-and-wife duo R2ViolinCello — violinist Rhys Watkins and cellist Rowena Calvert — are proud to announce the release of their highly anticipated EP Mission Impossible, arriving December 5, 2025, with a special launch concert at the Chatrium Hotel Riverside Bangkok on December 7.
Blending virtuosic classical performance with cinematic sound design, R2ViolinCello present a bold re-imagining of film music’s most iconic scores — condensed into the rare and intimate pairing of violin and cello, elevated by large-scale electronic sound architecture.
A Cinematic EP Built for the Future of Classical Crossover
The EP features four legendary scores:
- Mission Impossible
- Duel of the Fates
- Imperial March
- Schindler’s List
Originally commissioned during the COVID lockdowns, the duo asked composer/arranger Simon Parkin to adapt epic Hollywood orchestral works into technically dazzling duets — a challenge that led to innovative new possibilities for the violin-cello format. The project was later expanded with sound designer Albin Dominic (India), who crafted powerful electronic backdrops to restore the “orchestral scale” of the originals.
“This project revealed a completely new identity for us,” says Rowena. “It proved that two instruments, when supported by bold sound architecture, can compete with the power of a full orchestra.”
EP Launch Concert
Date: December 7
Venue: Chatrium Hotel Riverside, Bangkok
Program: Film-score arrangements with immersive backing tracks
Tickets: Via R2ViolinCello website and social platforms
A Story Born from Lockdown, Reinvented in Thailand
The duo’s journey began at the height of the pandemic. When concert halls closed, Rhys and Rowena performed together for the very first time — livestreaming for the London Symphony Orchestra’s Coffee Concerts. Their chemistry was immediate, and R2ViolinCello was born.
A year later, they relocated to Bangkok for what was meant to be a sabbatical. There, they met Chris Craker — record producer, former Vice President of Sony Music (New York), and ex-LSO clarinettist — who invited them to record at his world-renowned Karma Studios. The collaboration solidified their new artistic direction and opened the door to large-scale international work, including the launch of the R2 International Concert Series.
World-Class Musicians Behind the Music
Rhys Watkins
Welsh violinist, Royal Academy graduate, and former member of the London Symphony Orchestra for 17 years, Rhys has toured the world performing in major halls and has appeared extensively as a studio musician. His violin can be heard on blockbuster films including:
Harry Potter, Star Wars, Thor, The Avengers, Twilight, The Imitation Game, Cinderella, The Shape of Water, Brave, Zero Dark Thirty, The King’s Speech, and many more.
He has performed with iconic artists such as Sir Paul McCartney, Queen, Elton John, Bryan Adams, Eric Clapton, Annie Lennox, Tom Jones, Tony Bennett, and Phil Collins.
Rowena Calvert
British cellist and former member of the internationally acclaimed Cavaleri String Quartet, Rowena has performed at the Royal Albert Hall, Wigmore Hall, Royal Festival Hall, and regularly on BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM. Her studio work includes soundtracks for Mission Impossible, Wonder Woman, Spider-Man, Pixar’s Up, and more.
Her collaborations include Billie Eilish (BRIT Awards), Hans Zimmer, Nigel Kennedy, Ralph Fiennes, and Sir Paul McCartney. She currently serves as Head of Strings at Shrewsbury International School Bangkok, and artistic director of two international concert series.
A Life Rich in Stories: From Houseboats to Hollywood
Beyond their musical prestige, the duo’s personal history reads like a documentary:
- They lived for five years on two houseboats on the River Thames, running candle-lit concerts with 30-person audiences who rowed out by boat.
- Rowena once managed two music schools in India during a gap year.
- Their daughter races ostriches on school sports day and holds baby alligators at birthday parties in Thailand.
- Rhys is the son of Welsh rugby legend Stuart Watkins, capped 26 times for Wales.
- Rowena’s family was featured in the BBC series This Farming Life, documenting their self-sufficient life in the Scottish Highlands.
- Between them, they have performed on the soundtracks of over 100 major films.
“We have lived in orchestras, on rivers, in India, in studios, and now in Bangkok. This EP feels like the culmination of everything we’ve learned,” says Rhys.
Looking Ahead: A Duo With Big Ambitions
Alongside the EP release, the duo is currently developing their Virtuoso Academy, a platform to support the next generation of young instrumentalists. They also hope to attract a patron to support Rowena in acquiring a much-needed Stradivarius cello — the final piece in their artistic evolution.
Follow R2ViolinCello
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/R2ViolinCello
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/R2ViolinCello
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/r2violincello/1844338663
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/r2violincello
Website: http://www.r2violincello.com/