Article Index

15 Aug 2024

A Free Grand Piano? – Scammers Target Piano Enthusiasts

If you’re in the market for a piano, be cautious of a new scam that’s targeting music lovers, businesses, schools, and churches. Scammers are offering “free” pianos but with hidden fees that can add up to hundreds of dollars and, as you may have guessed, the piano will never be delivered.

16 Jun 2024

The ABRSM 2025 & 2026 – Expanding the Musical Horizon

The highly anticipated biennial releases of the ABRSM’s new syllabus publications are a significant event in the world of piano education, regardless of whether one chooses to participate in or teach the graded exams.

02 Jun 2024

The World of Piano Competitions – issue 1 2024

The World of Piano Competitions is a magazine initiated by PIANIST Magazine (Netherlands and Germany) and its Editor-in-Chief Eric Schoones. Here we get a rich insight into the world of international piano competitions through the eyes of its producers and participants.

28 Mar 2024

International Piano Day 2024

Piano Day is an annual worldwide event that takes place on the 88th day of the year, which in 2024 is March 28. Established in 2015, it is now well known across the globe. Every year it provokes special concerts, onstage and online, as well as radio shows, podcasts, and playlists.

06 Feb 2024

Yuja Wang Wins Grammy Award for Best Classical Instrumental Solo

Winners of the 66th Grammy Awards are announced and pianist Yuja Wang was awarded the Best Classical Instrumental Solo – one of the leading classical categories – for her album “The American Project”, alongside conductor Teddy Abrams.

12 Dec 2023

The World of Piano Competitions – issue 2 2023

We are happy to present the 10th edition of The World of Piano Competitions! Download the magazine for free and get a rich insight into the world of international piano competitions through the eyes of its producers and participants.

12 Dec 2023

A Jazz Piano Christmas 2023

NPR's traditional season's celebration "A Jazz Piano Christmas" was recorded live at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. Palm trees and sandy beaches were in the air on a chilly December night.

27 Oct 2023

Cremona Musica’s Piano Experience – 2023 Edition

The annual Cremona Musica’s 2023 edition did as always provide new grips of the concept being one of the most important music exhibitions in the world. As a member of Cremona Musica’s Media Lounge, Piano Street is steadily present and we are delighted to share some events from a pianistic point of view.

05 Oct 2023

“The Real Chopin” – the 2nd International Chopin Competition on Period Instruments

The success and wide reception of the first edition in 2018 convinced the organisers that a regular organisation of the event – every five years – will take place. The competition will be streamed and make sure not to miss Martha Argerich performing Beethoven’s first Piano Concerto!

01 Sep 2023

Chopin and His Europe – New Combinations and Discoveries in Warsaw

For the nineteenth time Warsaw invited the world to the annual festival ”Chopin and His Europe”. Altogether, soloists, world-famous orchestras and ensembles were giving as many as 23 concerts. Some of the artists also appeared in concerts on period instruments. Or what about Chopin’s second piano concerto in a version for guitar and orchestra?

22 Jun 2023

The World of Piano Competitions – issue 1 2023

The World of Piano Competitions is a magazine initiated by PIANIST Magazine (Netherlands and Germany) and its Editor-in-Chief Eric Schoones. Here we get a rich insight into the world of international piano competitions through the eyes of its producers and participants.

05 Jan 2023

Take Your Seat: Argerich and Barenboim in Berlin

They are two world stars from Argentina and have known each other since childhood: Martha Argerich and Daniel Barenboim. Here they perform together with the Berliner Philharmoniker for the first time. We are immensely happy about our continuous collaboration with Berliner Philharmoniker’s Digital Concert Hall which enables us to invite our members to the live streaming of the January 7 & 8 performances in Berliner Philharmonie.

14 Dec 2022

The World of Piano Competitions – issue 2 2022

The World of Piano Competitions is a magazine initiated by PIANIST Magazine (Netherlands and Germany) and its Editor-in-Chief Eric Schoones. Here we get a rich insight into the world of international piano competitions through the eyes of its producers and participants.

30 Sep 2022

Cremona Musica’s Piano Experience - 2022 Edition

The annual music exhibition Cremona Musica is now one of the most important music exhibitions in the world and opened up its 2022 edition more exuberantly than ever. A rich program consisting of 180 events not only displayed the joy of having left the pandemic behind, but also manifested the new worldwide digital reality through a rich digital streaming coverage of concerts, presentations, roundtable panels and artist interviews. The hybrid world is here to stay.

29 Aug 2022

The 18th “Chopin and his Europe Festival” – featuring Polish Romanticism

The 18th edition of the Chopin and His Europe Festival is presently taking place in Warsaw. This year 30 concerts are scheduled, and among them piano recitals by numerous outstanding pianists, including laureates of the Chopin Competition. Among these, Bruce Liu, the winner of the 2021 Competition.

16 Jun 2022

The Final Countdown - The Cliburn 2022

The final round of the postponed Van Cliburn Competition 2021 kicks off today. The six finalists perform two concertos each with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Marin Alsop.

22 Dec 2021

A Jazz Piano Christmas 2021

Again NPR's traditional season's celebration "A Jazz Piano Christmas", was recorded live from The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. and offers a joyful mix of musical Christmas glitter with a real West Coast feel; all three pianists have roots in California.

26 Nov 2021

The World of Piano Competitions - issue 2 2021

As a collaborating partner Piano Street is proud to present the sixth issue of The World of Piano Competitions, a magazine initiated by PIANIST Magazine (Netherlands and Germany) and its Editor-in-Chief Eric Schoones. Here we get a rich insight into the world of international piano competitions through the eyes of its producers and participants.

17 Oct 2021

Cremona Musica's 2021 Edition

The annual music exhibition Cremona Musica opened up again after its digital 2020 edition. A rich program utilizing the new worldwide digital reality to enhance the experience of the physical event. Clearly, the pandemic has not only led to thriving business for traditional instrument makers but also increased the music world's knowledge about technological solutions and its products.

13 Aug 2021

The 17th "Chopin and his Europe Festival"

The 17th Chopin and his Europe festival opens in Warsaw this Saturday and traditionally, accomplished musicians from all the world will arrive in the Polish capital: top pianists, virtuosos of all instruments, grand conductors and legendary ensembles.

23 Jun 2021

"We humans need music" - Martha Argerich at 80 - Ever Totally Irresistible

Noticed everywhere and named one of the greatest pianists of our time, Martha Argerich turned 80 on June 5. To mark the anniversary of the legendary artist, Symphoniker Hamburg presents Martha Argerich Festival 2021 featuring 12 live concerts - live streamed in very high quality video and sound for fans of Martha Argerich around the world.

29 Mar 2021

Happy Piano Day 2021!

Piano Day is an annual worldwide event originally founded in 2015 by Nils Frahm and a group of likeminded people and takes place on the 88th day of the year - in 2021 it's the 29th March, explained by the number of keys on the instrument being celebrated.

27 Jan 2021

New Piano Piece by Mozart Discovered: Allegro in D K626

January 27 2021 was W.A. Mozart's 265th birthday and Salzburg and Austria celebrated this with the world premiere of one of his compositions. At Piano Street we celebrated by releasing the score of the composition, the recently discovered piano piece "Allegro in D". Download it for free and celebrate Mozart yourself by playing the piece!

27 Dec 2020

The End of an Era: Keith Jarrett's Return to his Roots

Keith Jarrett, one of the greatest musicians and profilistic pianists of our time, has recently announced that he will no longer be able to hold up his career as a performer. Now 75, he suffered a pair of draining strokes two years ago that left his left side paralyzed and resulting in an unability to play the piano. The recently released "Budapest Concert" - a return to his grandparents' native country Hungary - is likely one of Jarrett's final recorded public solo piano recitals.

23 Dec 2020

A Jazz Piano Christmas 2020 - In Spite of Everything

Now a part of the yearly seasonal signs is NPR's "A Jazz Piano Christmas". With strict distancing protocols at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, New York, the three pianists Sequoia Snyder, Cory Henry and Kenny Barron performed their solo sets.

28 Sep 2020

A Livestreamed Chopin Celebration in Warsaw

While the 18th Chopin Competition in Warsaw is postponed until 2021, the Chopin Institute will not leave the piano world lot-less. Beginning October 1st the Institute will celebrate Chopin's music and pianism through a series of piano masters' recitals and chamber concerts by a wonderful lineup of some of the most outstanding pianists of the previous editions of the competition.

10 Aug 2020

Lang Lang Takes On The Goldberg

After extensive preparation and years of living with the piece, Lang Lang premiered J.S. Bach's opus magna on March 1 at the Kurhaus Wiesbaden. Follow along behind the scenes during Lang Lang's premiere of the work, his first solo recital in three years.

08 Jun 2020

Vexations - Was Igor Levit's Lonely Stroll Too Long?

In a bid to raise awareness of all musicians who have been silenced by the coronavirus pandemic, finding themselves suddenly out of work, pianist Igor Levit performed Erik Satie's piano piece Vexations in a 15-hour long virtual performance on May 30.

28 Mar 2020

World Piano Day 2020

Piano Day is an annual worldwide event which takes place on the 88th day of the year, honouring the 88 keys on a modern standard piano. Piano Day 2020 welcomes every piano lover to join the festivities.

17 Mar 2020

Coronavirus Etude - A New Viral Piano Piece

A classic viral piano piece, "Dusting the Piano" has finally got a follow-up. While Dusting the Piano should be managable for players of ABRSM grade 1 and suitable for performances during less critical times, the new Coronavirus Etude is more complex (around ABRSM grade 5) and aimed to be more effective against viruses.

09 Mar 2020

The World of Piano Competitions – New Issue

As a collaborating partner Piano Street is proud to present the third issue of The World of Piano Competitions, a new magazine initiated by PIANIST Magazine (Netherlands and Germany) and its Editor-in-Chief Eric Schoones. Here we get a rich insight into the world of international piano competitions through the eyes of its producers and participants.

09 Jan 2020

Dear Glenn – Can Yamaha Bring Gould’s Genius Back to Life?

Yamaha’s ongoing project to develop a piano playing Artificial Intelligence system has been dubbed “Dear Glenn”, as a tribute to Glenn Gould. The project is “inspired by his unique creative style and launched to explore the future of music through the use of artificial intelligence.”

13 Dec 2019

A Jazz Piano Christmas 2019

NPR’s traditional season’s celebration ”A Piano Jazz Christmas”, was recorded live from The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. and offers a joyful mix of musical Christmas glitter from both the East and the West Coast of the United States.

26 Nov 2019

Resonance Piano – Recreating Piano Sound

The 98 kilograms Resonance Piano is not an instrument in the traditional sense, but a grand piano designed soundboard functioning as a digital piano’s ”amplifier”. Its creators, the Italian company Ciresa, have played an important role as manufacturers of loudspeakers and piano soundboards since the 1970s – their clients include giants like Bechstein, Blüthner, Förster, and Fazioli.

06 Oct 2019

The Piano Experience Fest

Now an established and important annual event, Cremona Musica once again opened its doors and welcomed a huge number of visitors to experience an extraordinary 180 events program of concerts, lectures, manufacturers exhibits, round-table discussions along with lovely touristic venues in beautiful Cremona – city of violins.

24 Sep 2019

The World of Piano Competitions – New Issue

As a collaborating partner Piano Street is proud to present the second issue of The World of Piano Competitions, a new magazine initiated by PIANIST Magazine (Netherlands and Germany) and its Editor-in-Chief Eric Schoones. Here we get a rich insight into the world of international piano competitions through the eyes of its producers and participants.

22 Sep 2019

Piano Practice and the 10,000-hour Rule

A recent study seems to have dealt a blow to the often cited idea that 10,000 hours of practice will make an expert of anyone. “The idea has become really entrenched in our culture, but it’s an oversimplification,” says Brooke Macnamara, a psychologist at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.

05 Sep 2019

The Jurmala Festival – First Edition

The first edition of the Riga Jurmala Festival featured four weekends throughout July, August and September with an impressive lineup of world-famous pianists, including Rudolf Buchbinder, Yuja Wang, Seong-Jin Cho, Lukas Geniušas, Jan Lisiecki, Denis Kozhukhin, The Osokins and Lucas Debargue. Verbier Festival wizard Martin T:son Engstroem was headhunted to create the new prestigious Latvian music festival.

31 Jul 2019

David Klavins Exploring the Limits of Piano Construction

Back in 1987, the German-Latvian piano maker David Klavins introduced the world's largest upright piano; Model 370, which is two floors high. On display to the public for the first time on Friday this week, the even bigger Model 470i has already created a buzz among piano enthusiasts. Piano Street's Patrick Jovell had a talk with David Klavins about his latest innovations.

28 Jun 2019

Alexandre Kantorow Wins Tchaikovsky Competition

The 16th International Tchaikovsky Competition concluded at night on June 27. In the piano category the Gold Medal went to the French pianist Alexandre Kantorow and an unexpected special prize was awarded to Chinese pianist Tianxu An.

23 Jun 2019

What’s Inside Steinway’s Secret Vault?

To get inside Steinways’s new secret addition to their New York Factory, you must be invited. “The Vault” has over $3 million in exotic veneers, waiting for the right buyer at the right time.

10 Apr 2019

German Piano Award 2019

Frankfurt Musikmesse kicked off its 2019 edition by presenting the 9th edition of The International German Piano Award’s Grand-Prix-Final Concerts. This year’s winner in the finals at Alte Oper Frankfurt on March 31 was South Korean pianist Jeung Beum Sohn.

28 Mar 2019

Build a Paper Piano with Nintendo Labo!

Not enough space for a piano? A foldable paper piano may solve that particular problem but don’t expect to play your favourite piano pieces on it.

31 Dec 2018

Piano Street’s Top Picks of 2018

We start the new year with a list of highly recommended reading from Piano Street. These are the 12 most read, discussed or shared articles of 2018.

23 Dec 2018

A Jazz Piano Christmas 2018

The celebration of the holidays is not complete around NPR without the sounds of a jazz piano sprinkling joy and good cheer. This year’s intergenerational program of accomplished pianists reflects both the history of the music and its future.

21 Dec 2018

NEW MAGAZINE: The World of Piano Competitions

As a collaborating partner, Piano Street is proud to present the first issue of ”The World of Piano Competitions”, a new magazine initiated by PIANIST Magazine (Netherlands and Germany) and its Editor-in-Chief Eric Schoones. Here we get a rich insight into the world of international piano competitions through the eyes of its producers and participants. Contributing Editors: Gustav Alink (Alink-Argerich Foundation), Stuart Isacoff, Patrick Jovell (Piano Street), Mario-Felix Vogt, KaJeng Wong. Piano Street is happy to share this first issue with our readers free of charge!

18 Dec 2018

Gould's $100.000 Holy Grail

A rare item that belonged to Glenn Gould has sold at auction in New York on December 5th for $100,000 US. The score of Bach’s Goldberg Variations contains the Canadian pianist’s detailed markings used while making his iconic 1981 recording of the piece.

28 Nov 2018

The Brain's Piano Spot Discovered

Brain mapping has come far in the world and we can read a lot about recent research in this area. Scientists have for instance been able to map the mutual brain connections utilized in language development and musical training. A newly-charted region in the human brain, which so far has not been seen in other animals, may be responsible for extremely fine motor control such as our unique ability to play piano.

27 Nov 2018

Paderewski Festival Celebrating Poland's Past And Present

The annual international music festival celebrating the legacy of Ignacy Jan Paderewski (1860-1941) opened in Warsaw in late October and is now running for almost a month. This year the event also marks the centennial of national independence, which Poland regained after World War I. Piano Street's Patrick Jovell visited the festival in Warsaw and the Paderewski Birthday Celebration Concert.

22 Nov 2018

Build a LEGO Piano to Learn About Basic Piano Mechanics!

The Concert Grand Piano, one of the most complex instruments of all time, is now in Lego form. Built entirely from 2798 authentic LEGO bricks, it accurately captures the mechanical details of a real piano.

02 Sep 2018

Another International Chopin Competition - on Period Instruments

The event started on 2 September, and thirty pianists aged 18 to 34 have played in the first round. They are playing on pianos from the collections of the Fryderyk Chopin Institute (Erards, Pleyels, and Broadwoods from the mid 19th century), as well as originals and copies of period instruments brought in by European restorers and collectors.

08 Aug 2018

Follow The Leeds International Piano Competition Online

Audiences can now enjoy the First Round performances of the 24 competitors who were selected from among 68 First Round pianists to go through to the next round in Leeds in September. Their progress can then be followed through 8 days of free live webcasts of the final rounds in Leeds between 6 to 15 September.

23 Jun 2018

The ABRSM 2019 & 2020 Going for Variety

The new 2019 & 2020 piano syllabus along with Piano Exam Pieces (grades 1-8) is released and promises 100% refreshed repertoire.

23 May 2018

Comfort and Beauty - Rethinking the Piano Bench

Poised with a contemporary air and pure timeless beauty, the creations of piano bench designer and maker Mario Koch were conspicuously present at the Frankfurt Musikmesse 2018. Under the trademark MAKONI visitors were given a chance to indulge in a different world of the piano's best friend and companion; the piano bench.

15 May 2018

International Piano - May/June issue

From transcriptions by Liszt and Busoni to new commissions from her own contemporaries, the brilliant young French pianist Lise de la Salle tells IP how J S Bach has inspired her programming across three centuries of piano repertoire; the revolutionary role of the piano in the French protests of 1968; and do technical terms deter listeners?

04 Mar 2018

International Piano - March/April issue

Pianistic polymath Pierre-Laurent Aimard brings a spirit of adventure to Messiaen's Catalogue d'oiseaux; Paul Roberts explores Debussy's fascination with visual imagery in the composer's centenary year; IP celebrates the 80th birthday of virtuoso and activist Frederic Rzewski; and rare treats at Husum's annual piano festival in northern Germany.

31 Jan 2018

Pianist Magazine Celebrates 100 Issues

Not only Claude Debussy and Leonard Bernstein celebrate centennials this year, but also the London based Pianist Magazine which celebrated its 100th issue on January 26. Pianist Magazine is one of the most widespread and appreciated sources in the international piano world today. We called the magazine's editor Erica Worth not only to congratulate, but also to ask her a couple of questions.

16 Jan 2018

The Art of Cultivation - A Music and Friendship Bootcamp for Young Pianists

On the shores of Lake Maggiore, in the municipality of Laveno-Mombello, stands Villa Caterina, a very special house with very special guests. Here they all meet and study: PianoFriends, a musical association founded by Vincenzo Balzani and Catia Iglesias. The aim is perfecting the musical training of piano talents and to offer them multiple opportunities to perform in concert.

21 Jun 2017

Mozart Can Tell the Difference

For the first time in the history of The Cliburn Competition, semifinalists were required to perform a Mozart concerto. This was not only based on the fact that the Cliburn Foundation's CEO Jacques Marquis is a classical concerto fan, but rather from the aim of judging how competitors show musical maturity and the delicate world of the Austrian master.

07 Jun 2017

What's New in The Cliburn 2017?

The final round of quadrennial Van Cliburn Competition kicked off on Monday. The competition has moved into the 21st century. There are simulcasts on the competition's website and the French classical music website medici.tv. Greg Anderson and Elizabeth Joy Roe host the festivities.

08 Mar 2017

Belated London Premiere for Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel on International Women's Day

As part of its special day of programming for International Women's Day, BBC Radio 3 broadcasted a live performance of the Easter Sonata, a major piano work which until recently had been attributed to Felix Mendelssohn, but is now proved to be the work of his sister Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel.

05 Jan 2017

Congratulations Maurizio Pollini 75!

On January 5th the Italian pianist celebrated his 75th birthday. Countless, celebrated concert performances are behind him along with awards and recordings. Piano Street congratulates one of the great pianists of our time and shares a lovely filmed portrait on his life.

27 Oct 2016

Murray Perahia's Major Transfer

Perahia releases his first album for Deutsche Grammophon presenting Bach' French Suites. He sees the French Suites as "Bach on the highest level", adding, "I don't think Bach wrote one note that didn't have wider meanings and that wasn't to be tackled with all one's heart and soul."

10 Oct 2016

Italian and International Excellence in Cremona

Piano Street visited Cremona last weekend to meet with Italian and international pianists and piano brand representatives at the Piano Experience.

18 Feb 2016

Google Builds One-Tone Piano

In their most recent "Be together - not the same" commercial for Android, Google doesn't exactly choose the easy way of hammering home their message about the beauty of diversity. The video shows the pianist Ji playing Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata on two different instruments, one normal piano and one that Google modified to have all 88 strings tuned to middle C.

12 Feb 2016

Visit Piano Street at Music Education Expo 2016 in London!

Music Education Expo is the one event in the year when thousands of people involved in music education come together to share ideas and celebrate good practice. Piano Street will present new educational material at stand J16 at the exhibition. We hope to see you there!

21 Jan 2016

The 2015 Nobel Prize Concert Featured Daniil Trifonov

One of today's most celebrated conductors, Franz Welser-Möst led the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra at the Nobel Prize Concert on 8 December. Hear the celebrated pianist Daniil Trifonov play Sergei Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3.

22 Dec 2015

250 New Piano Pieces for Beethoven Premiering in Bonn

As a part of the world teaming up for the great Beethoven anniversary celebration in 2020, German and Bonn based pianist Susanne Kessel has invited composers from all over the world to write a piano piece for Ludwig van Beethoven.

20 Oct 2015

Warsaw: The Most Influential Piano Competition Enters Its Grand Finale

Every five years the whole pianistic world moves to Warsaw and the International Chopin Piano Competition. Watch the 17th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition live or in replay on YouTube and discover the piano stars of tomorrow.

07 Apr 2015

World's biggest piano helps funding an even bigger piano

The Klavins-Piano Model 370 is a one-of-its-kind instrument. Its soundboard has twice the size of a concert grand of 2,75 m and it weighs 2 tons. In this video you will meet piano maker and experimentalist David Klavins in his workshop in Stuttgart and climb the stairs up to the world's biggest piano.

31 Dec 2014

Happy New Year! Top Picks of 2014

We wish all piano fans a Happy New Year with a list of highly recommended reading from Piano Street's Classical Piano Blog. These are the 10 most read, discussed or shared articles of 2014.

09 Dec 2014

Hear Daniil Trifonov live from Carnegie Hall!

Combining consummate technique with rare sensitivity, Russian pianist Daniil Trifonov has made a spectacular ascent to classical stardom. Today, Medici TV offers the chance to watch a streaming live performance on their website and also up to 90 days after the event.

07 Oct 2014

A Major Mozart Discovery

Four pages from Mozart's original manuscript for the Piano Sonata in A major, K 331 (whose last movement is the well-known "Turkish March") has been found in Budapest. There are many interesting details to consider in terms of slurs, dynamics and even some occasional notes that differs from the first published edition.

08 May 2014

The TransAcoustic Piano - Silent Piano Technology Taken One Step Further

While the Silent Piano concept is essentially two different instruments, an acoustic and a digital piano built in one unit, Yamaha has now brought the concepts together combining the two worlds in an attempt to create a completely new kind of experience.

03 Dec 2013

Pleyel Turns the Last Page?

A Pleyel was Chopin's favorite piano; he once said, "when I'm feeling energetic and strong enough to find my own sound, I need a Pleyel piano." After more than 200 years producing 250,000 of the highest-quality pianos in the French tradition, Pleyel will be closing the doors of its one remaining factory.

05 Nov 2013

Pianist Lang Lang appointed UN Messenger of Peace

Ever since he founded the Lang Lang International Music Foundation in 2008, Mr. Lang has committed himself to raising the level of music education to a higher level. Capitalizing on the popularity of the pianist Lang Lang, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on October 28 designated the world-renowned Chinese as a United Nations Messenger of Peace with a special focus on global education.

02 Nov 2013

Samsung Smashes Haydn in Gothenburg

At a concert in Gothenburg Concert Hall October 23, 2013, pianist and conductor Christian Zacharias stopped playing in the middle of Haydn's D major Piano Concerto, interrupted by an audience member's cell phone ringing for the second time the same concert.

14 Oct 2013

Steinway Update: Code Name “Edelweiss” Outbid by a True Piano Lover

The calculation was apparently rather simple for the new owner - he loves Steinway's pianos, so why not buy the whole company? We suggest that next step for the new owner, John Paulson, would be to learn to play his pianos.

05 Apr 2013

Breaking News: Mysterious Mozart Cadenza Identified!

During his current work recording piano music by the Italian composer Andrea Luchesi — a contemporary of W. A. Mozart — pianist Roberto Plano made a most unusual and rare discovery.

27 Mar 2013

Piano Street at the Music Education Expo 2013 in London

The first event of its kind ever in the UK, Music Education Expo took place at the Barbican Centre in London on 20-21 March 2013, hosting over 3000 visitors and 120 exhibitors.Piano Street was there to show the latest features, such as the Audiovisual Study Tool (AST) as well as other new features.

05 Sep 2012

Imagine Owning a Part of Music History

Want to own a white grand piano just like the one John Lennon had and played in the famous video for his song Imagine? Or maybe you rather want to own Lennon's estate in Weybridge which is now up for sale?

11 Apr 2012

Another Reason to Keep the Piano Lid Open

If you are an art and music aficionado and money isn't a problem, why not start your own grand piano art collection with Bösendorfer's new artist series?

29 Mar 2012

Mr. Taylor's Double Vision

This model D concert grand by Steinway & Sons, developed by Emanuel Moór, is the only Steinway equipped with a double keyboard. Pianist Christopher Taylor demonstrates the unique features of this special instrument.

25 Mar 2012

New Piano Piece by Mozart!

A previously unknown piece by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was performed for the first time on Friday, March 23. It was found in a 160 page handwritten notebook, thought to be written by Mozart's father, in an attic in Tyrol, Austria.

25 Jan 2012

New Piano Piece by Brahms Discovered in $158,500 Album - Free Piano Score

A piano score of the recently discovered piano piece by Johannes Brahms, Albumblatt in A minor, has been published in an Urtext edition. Download, print and play!

30 Jan 2011

The Pollini Project - charting the development of piano music from Bach to Boulez

Maurizio Pollini, appearing as part of the International Piano Series at London's South Bank, will perform five recitals between January and May of music from Bach to modernism, described as "personal journey through four centuries of piano repertoire".

22 Oct 2010

Steinway & Sons Announces New Record Label

Steinway & Sons recently announced the launch of its new record label. The first release on this label, Bach On A Steinway, features keyboard masterworks by J. S. Bach as performed by pianist Jeffrey Biegel, whose extensive embellishments and ornaments in a Baroque style give the recording a unique flavor.

17 Sep 2010

Looking for Sources?

The Juilliard Manuscript Collection may be viewed by an unlimited number of performers, scholars, and music-lovers worldwide. Forty-two composers are represented in the online presentation of the Juilliard Manuscript Collection.

24 Aug 2010

Bocconcini was not a Composer

The British may be a nation of music lovers, but they are clueless when it comes to classical composers, a survey revealed today. One in three people (33%) have never listened to classical music and 4% of those surveyed wrongly identified Bocconcini - small Italian cheese balls - as a composer.

10 Aug 2010

Piano Played by Mozart Discovered in Germany

An early piano believed to have been played by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart has surfaced in Germany and could be worth millions of euros, a radio station reported.

26 Jul 2010

The Future of the Recording Industry: Is There One?

The record label Naxos has gone from budget outsider to industry leader in its 20-plus years of existence. But what does the future hold for any record label at a time when CD sales are plummeting and downloads are stagnant?

19 May 2010

Chopin iPhone App features New Recordings

The Chopin Project announced the initial release of 20 exclusive new recordings, including many Chopin rarities via The Chopin Project iPhone App.

07 May 2010

Joining the Dots - New Sight Reading Material

ABRSM presents a new book series for students. Joining the Dots offers pianists lots of material to help build confidence and skill in sight-reading.

29 Apr 2010

Volcano Brought Chopin to Orange County

Because of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano a man sat waiting Monday afternoon in the Newark airport instead of on a plane to Berlin. Sitting there, the man got a phone call. Yuja Wang had a sore arm, it seemed, and a doctor had ordered her to rest. The man didn't wonder why they were telling him this. He got on a plane for Orange County. The pianist had Chopin's Etudes, all 27 of them, ready to go...

15 Nov 2009

First Woman to Win the Leeds Piano Competition

Russia's Sofya Gulyak was awarded the 1st prize and the Princess Mary Gold Medal at the Sixteenth Leeds International Piano Competition - the first woman to achieve this distinction in the history of the competition.

05 Nov 2008

A Bösendorfer Grand by Porsche?

In close co-operation with the world-famous Porsche Design company, Bösendorfer has created a contemporary approach to grand piano design.

18 Sep 2008

New Mozart Piece Found in France

A French museum has found a previously unknown piece of music handwritten by Mozart. The melody sketch is missing the harmony and instrumentation but was described as an important find.

04 Dec 2024

Tamara Stefanovich: Combining and Exploring Pianistic Worlds

Pianist Tamara Stefanovich is a well-known name to concert audiences throughout the world and to discophiles maybe mostly known for her engagement in contemporary and 20th century repertoire. Piano Street is happy to get a chance to talk to the Berlin based Yugoslavia-born pianist.

29 May 2024

A Massive Glimpse Into Ligeti’s Pianistic Universe

Performing Ligeti’s complete Etudes is a challenge for any pianist. Young pianist Han Chen has received both attention and glowing reviews for his recording of the entire set for Naxos. We had the opportunity to speak with the pianist after his impressive recital at the Piano Experience in Cremona last fall.

12 Apr 2023

Grieg: The Maverick – Peter Donohoe in Conversation

Distinguished British pianist Peter Donohoe has embarked on another comprehensive recording project on Chandos label spotlighting Edvard Grieg’s complete Lyric Pieces, and the first volume is out since June 10 last year. Piano Street had a chance to talk to Donohoe about Grieg and his project.

21 Feb 2023

Noah Kellman – A Generous Flood of Jazz Inspiration

For pianists and teachers interested in exploring the rich online resources of creativity and tips on modern piano improvisation, New York City based Noah Kellman is probably a familiar and popular name. Piano Street had the chance asking Noah a few questions about his work.

29 Dec 2022

Scriabin 150: A Genius under the Magnifying Glass

Last December, in preparation for the Scriabin 150th anniversary (2022), the new complete edition of Alexander Scriabin’s works was published, in twelve volumes. Eric Schoones spoke to the pianist and musicologist Pavel Shatskiy, who was responsible for publishing the piano works. They talked about the composer and pianist Scriabin, his piano, the influence of Chopin and the A.N. Scriabin Memorial Museum in Moscow.

02 Nov 2022

Avatar Piano Duet in Metaverse

Artistic research is an expanding sector at institutions worldwide. In a performance at Cremona Musica, pianist Giusy Caruso performed a “Contrapuntal dialogue between a pianist and her avatar in the Metaverse”. Piano Street had a chance to experience the performance and to talk to Caruso about her artistic research project.

29 Jun 2022

Violin vs. Piano – Interview with Augustin Hadelich

Zlata Chochieva, famous for her recording of the complete Chopin Etudes, commented that violinist Augustin Hadelich’s performance of a Nocturne on the violin was ‘the most beautiful Chopin’ she ever heard. In this interview, Hadelich, who happens to be an excellent pianist as well, talks about his love for the violin and the piano.

30 May 2022

Breaking the Goldberg Wall – Interview with Klára Würtz

Klára Würtz has lived with The Goldberg Variations in the back of her head for years but never took the step putting it on her repertoire. But a combination of the pandemic along with an eye-opening musician colleauge’s organ version recording made her change her mind. Piano Street talked to Würtz about this monumental work and what inspired her decide to record it for PIANO Classics.

11 Mar 2022

Imogen Cooper – Tempus Fugit

The Piano Visions recital series at the Art Academy in Stockholm welcomed British Pianist Imogen Cooper for two recitals in November 2021. The program offered a glimpse into her earlier life, by including repertoire by Ravel and Liszt, which she worked on during her student years in Paris and Vienna.

12 Nov 2021

Chopin Competition Aftermath: Breakfast with Tony Yang

Many have enjoyed the Chopin Competition performances live and via streaming and the “now factor” has been very well provided for. But what about after-Warsaw? During his visit to Warsaw, Patrick Jovell had a breakfast talk with laureate 2015 Tony Yang, the youngest prize winner ever – in the history of the competition.

31 Jul 2021

Tonebase - Catching the Magic Moment

An interview with tonebase's piano executive Ben Laude about the challenges he faced building the platform, but also about how to forge a unified music education, reconciling our physical and virtual realities.

26 May 2021

Stanchinsky is Gramophone's Editor's Choice

The short-lived Russian pianist and composer Alexey Stanchinsky was playing in public by age six and was highly regarded in all the musical activities he undertook. Swedish pianist Peter Jablonski has recorded an album with selected Stanchinsky works for the Ondine label, a recording that was recently selected as Gramophone's Editor's Choice of May 2021. Piano Street talked to Jablonski about the young forgotten composer and his works.

29 Apr 2021

State Of the Art Innovations - The 102 keys Stephen Paulello Grand Piano

For more than 30 years, Stephen Paulello has systematically studied all the components of the piano, including the instruments of previous eras. His unique grand pianos are constructed to order in his workshop-laboratory 100 kms south of Paris, where there is also a recording studio. Piano Street's Patrick Jovell has interviewed Stephen Paulello about his visions and achievements.

01 Apr 2021

Lowell Liebermann's Personal Demons

In this exclusive digital encounter with the praised and enigmatic composer Lowell Liebermann on his premiere recording as a solo pianist on the Steinway & Sons label, Piano Street's Patrick Jovell meets the pianist behind the composer and the composer behind the pianist.

02 Mar 2021

The Transcription - Zlata Chochieva

Zlata Chochieva is one of the most interesting musicians of her generation, with her breathtaking technique and musicality as well as with her choice of repertoire. "(re)creations", her latest CD, offers an exquisite collection of transcriptions by her great heroes, Rachmaninoff, Liszt and Friedman, and in the title lies the secret of this special art form, so closely related to the piano.

12 Dec 2020

Cyprien Katsaris - Beethoven in a New Light

Beethoven - a Chronological Odyssey is a set of six surprising CDs that must count as one of the most original new releases in the Beethoven year. Cyprien Katsaris has gained renown as a Beethoven interpreter not least because he is one of the few pianists to have recorded Liszt’s transcriptions of the symphonies - and also because he has a solo piano version of the Emperor Concerto in his repertoire.

13 Nov 2020

A Scottish-Viennese Odyssey

When Dutch pianist Ronald Brautigam was in Sweden in September to play two piano concertos with Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra, we talked with the performer in the midst of rehearsal. The concert was recorded for Helsingborg Concert Hall Play series and - according to Brautigam - Sally Beamish's 1st piano concerto named "Hill Stanzas" and Mozart's 17th, make a very fine musical combination in a concert program.

26 Aug 2020

An Uncancelled Beethoven Celebration

In this interview with Konstantin Scherbakov, the phenomenal performer shares his experiences derived from a lifelong relationship with the composer, on stage, in the recording studio and as an influential tutor. In this first part of the interview we get to learn about Scherbakov's year of celebration and complete sonatas recording project.

17 May 2020

Leif Ove Andsnes - Beethoven takes you by the hand

There are apparently some pianists who, despite the anniversary, are not devoting them exclusively to Beethoven this year. Anyway, with his Beethoven Journey project, Leif Ove Andsnes has already done his bit, making one of the most beautiful recordings of the piano concertos. For Andsnes, Mozart is currently uppermost on the agenda, even if there is also plenty of Beethoven being played at his festival too. Time for another conversation with the Norwegian master pianist.

01 May 2020

Talking Bach with Pianist Ramin Bahrami

Iranian pianist Ramin Bahrami is considered one of today's most interesting interpreters of Johann Sebastian Bach's music. A regular performer at Cremona Musica, Bahrami and flutist Massimo Mercelli presented works from their latest CD, "Bach Sanssouci", on the Decca label. Piano Street's Patrick Jovell was happy to get the chance to talk to the inspirational performer.

18 Feb 2020

The Thelonious Monk Journey – Interview with pianist Jed Distler

Fearless Monk is an album completely dedicated to compositions of the great jazz icon Thelonious Monk by pianist Jed Distler, whose insights as classical music critic have been held in high regard by both musicians and fellow writers for decades.

04 Feb 2020

News From the Past: Can We Play Like Schubert Did?

Christina Kobb is a Norwegian pianist and researcher, specializing in Viennese fortepiano performance. Her research now focuses on practically reconstructing piano technique from the early romantic era. How did Schubert, Chopin and the other masters manage before the free-arm-technique became the norm?

11 Dec 2019

Nelson Goerner – Exploring the depths

Nelson Goerner is a sort of ‘rare bird’ on the concert platform. Each of his concerts is a unique experience. His most recent CDs featuring major works by Brahms, Godowsky and Paderewski are simply breathtaking. Eric Schoones met him in Groningen to discuss his recordings, his views on his artistry and about Maria Tipo, with whom he studied.

24 Aug 2018

The Art of Visionary Discovery - Interview with Enrico Pompili

An ardent explorer of contemporary repertoire, Italian pianist Enrico Pompili has put the spotlight on for example Niccolò Castiglioni on the Brilliant label, Alberto Ginastera's complete piano works, and works by Alberto Bonera.

28 May 2018

Zlata Chochieva: As an artist, you have to be unique

Zlata Chochieva is a unique pianist of the highest calibre. From Salzburg, where she lives and teaches at the Mozarteum, she enchants music-lovers all over the world with her exceptional artistry, combining natural musical expression with outstanding and self-evident technical ability.

16 Mar 2018

The Whole Picture Through the Debussy Lense

Numerous pianists and concert goers around the world are living the "Debussy 100" this year. We speak to he Swedish/Polish international pianist and London resident Peter Jablonski - one of the French master´s current explorers.

31 Jan 2017

Immersed in Mozart - Roberto Prosseda on Recording the Early Sonatas

The Italian pianist Roberto Prosseda has previously recorded Mendelssohn's complete piano works. Now he is embarking on a new, slightly less encyclopedic but equally ambitious project, that of recording Mozart's complete sonatas.

28 Dec 2016

Piano Music to Cleanse the Soul - Pietro De Maria on Bach's 48

At the Cremona Mondomusica Piano Experience in October, the Italian pianist Pietro De Maria performed selected preludes and fugues from Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier (WTC), as part of the exhibition's Decca/Deutsche Grammophon showcase series. After the concert, Piano Street's David Wärn had the chance to talk to De Maria about the challenges pianists face when tackling Bach's legendary "forty-eight".

29 Jul 2016

Elisabeth Leonskaja In Conversation

When Johannes Brahms was celebrated in Malmö, Sweden, legendary pianist Elisabeth Leonskaja played both piano concertos at the very same concert. Piano Street talked to Ms. Leonskaja after one of the rehearsals.

24 Mar 2016

Valentina Lisitsa on Searching for the Rachmaninoff Affinity

When Valentina Lisitsa came to Stockholm to play Rachmaninoff's third piano concerto, it was a welcome fact not only for all her fans but also for anybody well aware of the enormous challenge this concerto means for any performer. In 2013 Lisitsa released her Complete Rachmaninoff Concertos (including the Paganini Rhapsody) on Decca and therefor this was a rare chance for Piano Street's Patrick Jovell not to talk to her about YouTube but… Sergei Rachmaninoff.

02 Mar 2015

How to Prepare for a Piano Competition - an Interview with Mariam Batsashvili

Soon after the 10th International Franz Liszt Competition Utrecht, Piano Street's guest writer Alexander Buskermolen spoke to its most recent winner: the Georgian 21 year old pianist Mariam Batsashvili. The main theme for this interview with the first female winner of this particular competition in The Netherlands: how to prepare for a competition and what happens if you win? Mariam Batsashvili should know.

16 Dec 2014

Kathleen Supové Redefining the Pianist as Art

Kathleen Supové is one of America's most acclaimed and versatile contemporary music pianists, known for continually redefining what it means to be a pianist and keyboardist/performance artist in today's world.

28 Aug 2014

Kissin Breathing Fresh Air

Striking a very special chord for many world class performers the Verbier festival just completed its 21st edition. A regular guest artist there, pianist Evgeny Kissin believes it's crucial to combine rest with work because it helps the performer to regain lost focus.

13 Jun 2014

Simplicity Meets Complexity in Denk's Piano Boot Camp

When NPR invaded Jeremy Denk's home he was seriously practicing the piano etudes of György Ligeti. His music is "continuous madness," Denk says. "Wonderful, joyful madness." Denk has a great talent for making you fall in love with the most complex music, letting it sound completely natural.

27 Jun 2013

Master Technician Peter Salisbury on Piano Sound and the Magic Ingredient in Quality Grands

During a recent visit to South Bank Centre in London to find out more about "double action" pianos, Piano Street's Patrick Jovell had a chance to speak with the in-house piano technician Peter Salisbury about the current situation on the concert grand piano market.

12 Apr 2013

Hannes Minnaar: The Path to Becoming a Concert Pianist

In part two of the three-part special on building a career as a professional pianist, Piano Street's guest writer Alexander Buskermolen spoke with Dutch pianist Hannes Minnaar about his education, vision on personal musical development, and the challenges he faces as an international performer.

29 Mar 2013

The Case of Ravel

In this exclusive interview pianist Paul Roberts talks about his new book Reflections and the search for pathways into the core of musical interpretation.

31 Oct 2012

Enter a World of Musical Sculptures

Music visualization, as a tool for multisensory learning, often occurs in pedagogical discussions. Piano Street got the chance to talk to audio visual artist Andy Fillebrown about his Musical Sculptures.

24 Sep 2010

Exciting Time Travels - Exclusive Interview with Ronald Brautigam

Ronald Brautigam talks to Piano Street's Patrick Jovell about his love and interest in period instruments as well as the modern grand piano.

12 Feb 2009

Pianist Gloria Cheng Wins Grammy

Gloria Cheng, recent Grammy winner of the Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (Without Orchestra) for "Piano Music of Salonen, Stucky and Lutoslawski" talks to Patrick Jovell, Piano Street (proud UCLA alum.).

03 Oct 2023

Take Your Seat: Kissin Plays Mozart in Berlin

“When I play with the Berliner Philharmoniker, I feel even more inspired.” Kissin said in an interview for the Digital concert Hall. This weekend, he and the Berliner Philharmoniker will perform Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23 together under the direction of Fabio Luisi. Piano Street's members are invited to watch the livestream.

29 Mar 2023

International Piano Day 2023

Piano Day website presents a vast collection of events taking place all over the world. Many of them favour the so called ”new-classical piano music” genre. Piano Street has put an effort in finding performances which reflect the classical piano repertoire.

06 Jan 2023

A Life Towards the Light - Scriabin 150 Resource List

Today, January 6 2023, is Alexander Scriabin’s 151st birthday. By acknowledging this Piano Street takes a look at events and news that happened during last year’s Scriabin 150 anniversary by providing a list of interesting and useful Scriabin resources.

19 Dec 2022

A Jazz Piano Christmas 2022

There was a lot of love in the air when NPR’s annual A Jazz Piano Christmas concert and live taping took place this past weekend, Dec. 3, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington. After more than two years of pandemic and lockdowns, audiences have been eager to get out and experience live music again and this event showed that plainly.

04 Mar 2022

“The Pianist” Movie – A True Story

It is often difficult to understand the present even if you know your history, but watching Polanski’s movie “The Pianist” can at least help us to understand the greatness of music as an artform and that humanism can be found even in the darkest places and situations. Inspirational, educating and deeply touching it is indeed reflecting very important topics from the saddest sides of humanity.

26 Jan 2022

Behind the Scenes at the World's Greatest Piano Competition

A very familiar face before and during the 18th International Chopin Competition is the one belonging to Aleksander Laskowski. Frequent in official matters, televised transmissions and in social media, the dynamic Chopin Institute's press spokesman represents forces bringing the competition into the future.

25 Mar 2018

A Debussy 100 Tribute

The great French composer Achille-Claude Debussy died 100 years ago, on March 25 in Paris. Debussy is considered one of the fathers of modern music and the most influential of all French composers. From Debussy's Suite bergamasque, Clair de lune has emerged as the most beloved and appreciated piece of the suite appreciated by pianists on all levels. From the beautiful interiors of Palazzo Chigi in Ariccia, Rome we hear Italian pianist Alessandra Ammara play the piece.

20 Dec 2017

A Glimmering Christmas Celebration from Kennedy Center

A wonderous pianistic display of female artists and piano jazz styles, NPR present A Jazz Piano Christmas - the annual holiday tradition featuring four celebrated jazz pianists performing their favorite seasonal music.

03 Apr 2017

Now is the Hour by Christopher Norton

Following the successful Eastern Preludes collection by the composer Christopher Norton, the Pacific Preludes are now set to be released on April 4. Piano Street's Patrick Jovell talked to Christopher Norton, who gives us an exclusive glimpse into his compositional world. He is also generously offering Piano Street Gold members the score to Prelude no. 7 "Now is the Hour" as well as an instructive manual for how to practice the piece.

01 Jan 2017

Top Picks of 2016

We wish you a Happy New Year with a list of highly recommended reading from Piano Street's Classical Piano Blog. These are the 10 most read, discussed or shared articles of 2016.

29 Dec 2016

New Year's Eve Celebration in the Berlin Philharmonie - LIVE STREAM

Thanks to a continuous collaboration with the Berliner Philharmoniker Digital Concert Hall, all Piano Street members enjoyed free access to the Digital Concert Hall before the champagne corks poped to celebrate the turn of the year. We experienced first-class virtuosic piano playing when Daniil Trifonov stepped up to the podium at the New Year's Eve concert of the Berliner Philharmoniker.

18 Nov 2016

Beauty and Hope in the 21st Century

The recently published compilation "Beauty and Hope in the 21st Century" contains contemporary solo piano pieces from many internationally renowned composers. Nikolas Sideris and Editions Musica Ferrum generously give access to complete scores of new piano pieces from the compilation that are available to download and print for Piano Street members.

16 Jul 2015

Famous Composers Alive and Just a Click Away

That a recording exists of the voice of Tchaikovsky tantalizes the imagination. If there is a Tchaikovsky recording on an Edison cylinder, might there not also be, hidden away in a dusty shoebox in an attic somewhere, another cylinder with Liszt at the piano?

24 Apr 2015

Chopin is more popular than football - at least in Warsaw

More than 3 million people visit Warsaw each year. Of those, about 200,000 visit the museum dedicated to Poland's national music hero: Frédéric Chopin. Be a Chopin Tourist - take the 3 minute tour in the new museum!

20 Mar 2015

Why is Debussy's Clair de lune the most downloaded piece?

A challenge for both the intermediate pianist and the professional, Debussy's Clair de lune seems to contain specific qualities which both instrumentalists and listeners find attractive. The piece, which is a part of the composer's Suite Bergamasque, is the most downloaded piano score in Piano Street's sheet music library. Why?

21 Jan 2015

Minimalist Philip Glass sought to maximize his piano-playing potential

The journey he began in 1994 covered the following 19 years, and, during that time, he composed each of the chronologically numbered etudes he intended to use to make himself better at the keyboard. Pianist Maki Namekawa has now become the second artist to record these remarkably disparate works.

07 Jan 2015

Behind the Scenes of the Piano Puzzler

So, what is a Piano Puzzler? On the air every week, Bruce Adolphe re-writes a familiar tune in the style of a classical composer. In this video we get behind the scenes and learn the core secrets behind the construction of a Puzzler.

30 Jul 2014

Reader Poll: Do you like classical music with jazz influences?

Since the early 20th century, jazz always had a significant impact on classical music and classical pianists. Composers found the rhythms, the blue quality in melody and harmony, as well as the spontaneous improvisation immensely fascinating and irresistibly modern.

11 May 2014

The Creative Dance of Imagination - Tango for Two

Hear Khatia and Gavantsa Buniatishvili play Piazzolla's Libertango from a forest recital with a concert grand piano in plain nature. As Groucho Marx said: "It takes two to Tango".

04 Mar 2014

Piano Vintage - Italian Excellence Bringing Old Steinways Back to Life

One of the most interesting exhibitors at the Cremonafiere Exhibition's piano part - the so called CremonaPianoforte - this fall was a company and and workshop called Piano Vintage. The company performs a type of restoration dictated from the work philosophy and experience of the "Steinway Academy".

14 Feb 2014

TAKE YOUR SEAT! Hear Mitsuko Uchida Play Mozart Live with the Berliner Philharmoniker

Thanks to a collaboration with the Berliner Philharmoniker Digital Concert Hall, all Piano Street members can enjoy free access for 48 hours to the Digital Concert Hall. Log in to your Piano Street account to get your free voucher code which gives you instant access to the Digital Concert Hall. Take the opportunity to hear a live concert with pianist Mitsuko Uchida and to access all concerts in the archive!

31 Dec 2013

Top Picks of 2013

We wish all readers a Happy New Year with a list of highly recommended reading - the most popular articles of 2013 from Piano Street's Classical Piano Blog.

26 Nov 2013

Pianos for People

In the 21st century, as electronic instruments become more popular as less expensive options than traditional pianos, wood-and-wire keyboards are finding their way into landfills and junk heaps. Non-profit organization Pianos for People doesn't want these pianos uselessly deteriorating when others could benefit from them.

13 Aug 2013

The Music's Secret Language

Ever wonder why a certain classical piece evokes a consistent emotional response? Scientist and musician Manfred Clynes has done extensive research on the topic and discovered that many of the great composers all had their own unique signature of underlying emotional "pulse" in their music. But he was not the first to explore the music's secret language.

12 Mar 2013

FLAC - Better than MP3 for Classical Piano Music?

Piano Street talks FLAC with George Olvik, CEO at eClassical. Should you choose the FLAC-format instead of a MP3?

16 Jan 2013

The Trusted Magician of the Parisian Avantgarde

Marcelle Meyer (1897-1958) was a major figure in the creation of new music from her participation in Erik Satie's Parade in 1917 until her early death in 1958. She championed the works of Satie, Ravel, Debussy and Stravinsky, as well as the French Group of Six composers (Les Six), all of whom she knew personally. Her fluid phrasing, great dynamic range and lovely tone are just three of the hallmarks of her rare and individual playing.

22 Aug 2012

Happy 150th Birthday, Claude Debussy!

Great piano composers' anniversaries don't normally take place annually, but since the Chopin & Schumann year 2010 and the Liszt celebrations 2011, time has now come for another immensely important composer. Today, the 22nd of August 2012 marks the 150 years birthday of the French composer Claude Debussy, by many considered the father of "modern music".

03 Aug 2012

Odradek Records - An Artist Controlled Music Label

Lovers of classical piano music have another reason to celebrate thanks to a radical new music label that places a focus on artist-controlled material, particularly piano music.

28 Jul 2012

Leaking Pianos in Spain, Denmark and Sweden…

These instrumental artworks by Nina Saunders are created for shopping malls. Saunders is inspired by the environment she is in and adjusts the object to different locations to stimulate thoughts, humor and playfulness of the beholder. She came up with the idea for these artworks by looking at the landscape in a shopping mall and how people relate to it.

24 Apr 2012

Can you figure out these Piano Puzzles?

Composer and pianist Bruce Adolphe takes a familiar tune - a popular song, a children's tune, a Broadway hit or something from the classical repertoire - and rewrites it in the style of a classical composer, often using direct quotes from famous classical masterworks.

15 Nov 2011

Super Mario Piano Scores - The Czerny Studies of Our Time?

Are there any pianists out there who have never played studies by Czerny as part of their training? Probably not many. But why not practice video game music in order to develop a more contemporary piano technique?

27 Jan 2011

Happy 255th Birthday, Mozart!

We celebrate your birthday, Mozart, with a little gift to all your fans, a facsimile of one of your first pieces, Minuet in G, K 1. Print out and play!!

16 Dec 2010

"Hats off...!" - New Translation of Schumann's First Review

Celebrate the Schumann anniversary by reading our new translation of his very original and entertaining review of Chopin's Opus 2. This review includes the famous quote "Hats off, gentlemen, a genius".

21 Oct 2010

2010 Chopin Piano Competition Winner: Russia's Avdeeva

Russia's Yulianna Avdeeva won the prestigious 2010 International Frederic Chopin Piano Competition after a three-week musical marathon followed avidly by classical music lovers around the globe.

20 May 2010

Krystian Zimerman - An Exclusive Radio Interview with the Enigmatic Polish Pianist

Tom Service went to Basel, Switzerland, to meet up with Krystian Zimerman to talk with him about his very personal and passionate philosophy of music. In a candid discussion, Zimerman explains how the piano is like a human being to him - he owns six instruments, and is obsessive about choosing the right keyboard for the repertoire he is practicing or performing. He reveals how he is unhappy with recordings and even advises against buying his own records and also reflects on the unique relationship between performer and audience.

01 Mar 2010

Chopin's 200th Anniversary

Celebrate one of the greatest piano composers in history, Frédéric Chopin, by listening to the Polish pianist Krystian Zimerman's performance of Ballade no 2 in F-major while following along in Chopin's autograph manuscript.

17 Jan 2010

The Man Who Died on Stage at Carnegie Hall

"Barere is an Anton Rubinstein in one hand and a Liszt in the other" said the famous composer Alexander Glazunov. But if you mention Simon Barere (1896-1951) to most people today, their response is "Simon Who"?

17 Dec 2009

Leif Ove Andsnes and Robin Rhode Reframe Pictures

The project Pictures Reframed, unites two strikingly original artists - pianist Leif Ove Andsnes and visual artist Robin Rhode in a collaborative performance which centres around Mussorgsky's epic piano suite Pictures at an Exhibition.

28 Nov 2009

“Play Me, I'm Yours” - Street Pianos

Artist Luke Jerram has put together street pianos installations in various cities. The initiative comes as a reaction of a creative individual to the general rule, prohibiting anyone to play music in public places without special arrangement - no matter how skilful you are at playing your piano or how popular your music is with the audience.

28 Aug 2009

Gabriela Montero - Uniting the Worlds of Composition and Improvisation

While there's some element of improvisation (interpretation is probably a better word to describe it) in all performances of classical piano music, pianist Gabriela Montero takes this to a different level by taking requests from the audience and improvising her show.

05 Jan 2009

Any Place, Any Time… Berliner Philharmoniker Launches Digital Concert Hall

Whether you live in Texas or Tokyo you can now find the world-famous orchestra and its musical partners - Artistic Director Sir Simon Rattle as well as renowned guest conductors and soloists.

31 Dec 2008

Dudley Moore - Beethoven?

This clip is from the 1950's-60s British comedy group "Beyond the Fringe. Dudley Moore plays a very funny but also musically ambitious parody of a Beethoven piano sonata based on very odd yet well-known thematic material.

22 Dec 2024

A Jazz Piano Christmas 2024

Tradition meets modernity this year on NPR's traditional season’s celebration ”A Jazz Piano Christmas”, recorded live at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. on December 13.

07 Nov 2024

Cremona Musica’s Piano Experience 2024 – Constantly Evolving Perspectives

In the end of September, the annual Cremona Musica 2024 exhibition, a significant global event, takes place providing novel insights into the music industry. As a member of the Media Lounge, Piano Street is pleased to offer a pianistic perspective on key events.

29 Oct 2024

New Piano Piece by Chopin Discovered – Free Piano Score

A previously unknown manuscript by Frédéric Chopin has been discovered at New York’s Morgan Library and Museum. The handwritten score is titled “Valse” and consists of 24 bars of music in the key of A minor and is considered a major discovery in the wold of classical piano music.

22 Oct 2024

Josef Hofmann – The Pianist Inventor

Many know Josef Hofmann as an exceptional pianist, but how many are aware that he was also a prolific inventor? He was a brilliant mind who found fulfillment not only at the piano but also through numerous patents, channeling his immense passion for mechanics and technology across a variety of fields. But who was Josef Hofmann?

11 Oct 2024

A Life with Beethoven – Moritz Winkelmann

What does it take to get a true grip on Beethoven? A winner of the Beethoven Competition in Bonn, pianist Moritz Winkelmann has built a formidable reputation for his Beethoven interpretations, shaped by a lifetime of immersion in the works and instruction from the legendary Leon Fleisher. Eric Schoones from the German/Dutch magazine PIANIST had a conversation with him.

13 Sep 2024

Chopin and His Europe - Warsaw Invites the World

Celebrating its 20th anniversary the festival “Chopin and His Europe” included the thematic title “And the Rest of the World”, featuring world-renowned pianists and international and national top ensembles and orchestras. As usual the event explored Chopin's music through diverse perspectives, spanning four centuries of repertoire. Piano Street presents a selection of concerts videos including an interview with the festival’s founder, Chopin Institute’s Stanislaw Leszczynski.

12 Jul 2024

A Sudden Chat with Paul Lewis about Beethoven & Schubert

Substituting for the suddenly indisposed Janine Jensen, pianist Paul Lewis shares his ideas on his global Schubert project, classical repertoire focus and views on titans Beethoven vs. Schubert.

17 Apr 2024

Lucas Debargue - A Matter of Life or Death

Pianist Lucas Debargue recently recorded the complete piano works of Gabriel Fauré on the Opus 102, a very special grand piano by Stephen Paulello. Eric Schoones from the German/Dutch magazine PIANIST had a conversation with him.

11 Apr 2024

Does Rachmaninoff Touch Your Heart?

Today, with smartwatches and everyday electronics, it is increasingly common to measure training results, heart rate, calorie consumption, and overall health. But monitoring heart rate of pianists and audience can reveal interesting insights on several other aspects within the musical field.

25 Mar 2024

Remembering the great Maurizio Pollini

Legendary pianist Maurizio Pollini defined modern piano playing through a combination of virtuosity of the highest degree, a complete sense of musical purpose and commitment that works in complete control of the virtuosity. His passing was announced by Milan’s La Scala opera house on March 23.

03 Mar 2024

Rhapsody in Blue – A Piece of American History at 100!

The centennial celebration of George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue has taken place with a bang and noise around the world. The renowned work of American classical music has become synonymous with the jazz age in America over the past century. Piano Street provides a quick overview of the acclaimed composition, including recommended performances and additional resources for reading and listening from global media outlets and radio.

27 Feb 2024

Driving an Old Car – The Art of Decoding Historical Instruments

How can we approach and learn about period instruments? We think the best way would be to follow the path of a pianist who actually did and additionally, very successfully. We talked with the second prize winner and winner of the prize for best Polish participant of the 2nd International Chopin Competition on Period Instruments, pianist Piotr Pawlak.

02 Feb 2024

Body and Intention – Tracking Down Musicians’ Health

It is easy to take piano playing and musicianship for granted but most people have experienced physical tension and strain while practicing. The American pianist, pedagogue, and researcher Dr. Kathleen Riley has spent many years developing a method called Optimal Performance, scanning pianists’ bodies using electrodes. In a Masterclass with students and pianist Garrick Ohlsson as test subjects at San Francisco International Piano Festival last fall, we get a chance to see how the method works in action.

25 Jan 2024

Jean-Jacques Eigeldinger – Following in the Footsteps of Chopin’s Legacy

Jean-Jacques Eigeldinger, a universally recognized profile for his Chopin research and lifelong dedication to teaching, graciously accepts to answer the questions of this interview for Cremona Musica, where he received the Cremona Music Award for Communication 2023.

13 Dec 2023

Bruno Monsaingeon – Fascination and Confidence

After his films about greats like Glenn Gould, Yehudi Menuhin, Sviatoslav Richter and many others, films in which he exposes the soul of those artists with great empathy, Bruno Monsaingeon himself is quasi a legend. In recent months, he has been putting the finishing touches to a film about Klaus Mäkelä, the new chief conductor of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Eric Schoones from the German/Dutch magazine PIANIST had a conversation with him.

05 Dec 2023

Embracing the Past Now – The Messenger Paul McNulty in Warsaw

The Chopin Institute engaged highest possible expertise for the instrumental part of the 2nd International Chopin Competition on Period Instruments which included inviting historical instrument builder Paul McNulty. We asked Paul a few questions about the Pleyel renovation as well as his role as a technician and instrument provider during the competition.

29 Nov 2023

The Real Chopin Shines in Warsaw

Following the success of the first International Chopin Competition on Period Instruments launched in Warsaw in 2018, the Chopin Institute invited the world to its second edition on 5 - 15 October 2023. Piano Street’s Patrick Jovell was present at the finals in Warsaw and had a chance to ask Chopin Institute’s Aleksander Laskowski a couple of questions in the grand hall of the National Philharmonic.

24 Oct 2023

Matti Raekallio on the Piano Education Pyramid

Matti Raekallio is one of Finland’s best-known piano teachers, who taught at the Juilliard School in New York from 2007 until 2021. In this essay, shared by the Finnish music magazine Rondo Classic, he examines the condition and requirements of music education from that perspective. What does it take to get to the top? What does the influx of Asian musicians tell us?

02 Jul 2023

Inspired by Mozart’s Piano

The Harvard professor Robert Levin is considered to be one of the most important Mozart researchers of our time. Now he has recorded Mozart’s piano sonatas on the composer’s own instrument. Mario-Felix Vogt from the German/Dutch magazine PIANIST spoke with him about ornamentation, knee pedals and the influence of C.P.E. Bach.

05 May 2023

Finnish Rondo Classic Joins the International Media Exchange

With an aim to present piano related material from non-English written media, Piano Street launched International Media Exchange in 2018. We are now happy to welcome Finland’s most influential music magazine, Rondo Classic to be a part of the network. In a recent issue of Rondo (no 2 2023), journalist Matti Tuomisto has published an article about Cremona Musica and Piano Street in Finnish, kindly offered here in a translated version for our readers.

22 Sep 2022

Liszt Utrecht 2022 – Celebrating Another Franz

An exciting piano event starts today in the Netherlands. The 2022 edition of Liszt Utrecht opens its doors with a set of novelties. The event has chosen to delete the word “competition” from its name and has subsequently introduced a number of themes in a most innovative manner.

16 Sep 2022

Who's in Charge? - Masterclass in Conducting from the Piano

The list of renowned pianists who have also conducted is long; Barenboim, Schiff, Ushida, Pletnev, Kahane, Anda, Solti and Bernstein. Is conducting from the piano "real conducting”, and what training do you need to be able to do it? The new project ”Conducting from the Piano” by the Géza Anda Foundation in Zurich offers masterclasses and rehearsals with orchestra for pianists wanting to take on the double role of soloist and conductor.

30 Jul 2022

The Relaunch of Pleyel in France – Produced Far Away

Last year, the completely new Pleyel instruments from the Algam company, which bought the brand in 2007, was presented to distributors. For the first time since Pleyel was founded in 1807, its pianos are made outside Europe.

14 Feb 2022

Made in Spain! The seat experience reinvented through unique designs

In the world of piano playing the seat is often taken for granted and we rarely read about manufacturers focusing on the design of piano stools and benches. Piano Street has talked to Zayda Jiménez, founder of Kaunus, a manufacturer who takes both the visual and functional aspects of piano bench design to a new height.

16 Mar 2020

How to Keep Your Piano Keys Clean from Viruses?

The current pandemic brings questions to the fore about how to eliminate the spread of infectious and harmful microorganisms in our teaching or practicing spaces. One of the most burning ones is what can be done to sanitize or disinfect piano keys without harming them.

29 May 2019

Alexander Gadjiev – To Save the World

Our meeting took place in Krefeld, at Kawai – the Japanese make of piano with which Alexander Gadjiev has become so familiar since his success at the Hamamatsu competition. Now his career is really taking off in Europe too: Gadjiev is a BBC New Generation Artist until the end of 2021 and is also one of the 25 chosen contestants at the upcoming 16th International Tchaikovsky Competition, 17-29 June in Moscow.

08 Mar 2019

Chopin and His Europe

The whole piano world is teaming up for the 18th International Chopin Competition to be held in Warsaw, 2 to 23 October 2020. Stanislaw Leszczynski of The Chopin Institute talked to Piano Street’s Patrick Jovell at the Philharmonie in Warsaw.

10 Nov 2017

The Media Lounge Debut and a World Gathering in Cremona!

Cremona again marked its presence as the world capital of instrumental music exhibitions with the 2017 edition of the Cremona Musica which combined top level artists, manufacturers, academia and pedagogy. Piano Street was invited to the new Media Lounge with 30 journalists from the major specialized newspapers, magazines, broadcast media and web-based media met to share ideas on musical critics and journalism elaborating on common issues, differences and possible collaborations in the classical music field.

12 Sep 2016

Ditching the Intermission?

British pianist Stephen Hough addressed the issue of shrinking and ageing classical music audiences. Admitting that it's a complicated issue, and acknowledging that many ideas have been floated - better education, more creative repertoire, lower pricing etc - he went on to focus on one of the more practical aspects of the subject: the intermission.

07 Jun 2013

The Sweet and Not So Sweet Sound of Music

Our modern ears are now used to equal temperament, and, despite the impurities in its intervals, now prefer its sound over any other temperament. Researchers at the University of Minnesota wanted to delve more into this and studied 250 students at the University. Their main thesis question was: what makes certain combinations of notes pleasant or unpleasant?

21 May 2012

The Battle Between “Il penseroso” and “The Old Arpeggio”

Before the time of television and the internet, live music performances were a primary form of entertainment. Performances were held in private homes, as well as concert halls. Many rivalries formed among pianists and composers. This created a unique angle for entertainment as individuals could then debate the merits of each musician and choose sides. One of the more famous piano duels was held between Franz Liszt and Sigismond Thalberg.

14 May 2012

Piano As Art - The Art of Transforming Pianos

Broken strings and missing keys have made an appearance on the art scene as part of the Piano As Art Exhibition. A collaboration of two talented artists, Penny Putnam and Shauna Holiman, the exhibition features art created from bits and pieces of pianos that were too old for use or were in total disrepair.

27 Apr 2012

How Can Modern Technology Contribute to a Great Piano Performance?

Why haven't there been any fundamental changes of grand piano design since the 1870s? Some claim it is because manufacturers are afraid of getting beaten up in the marketplace if their pianos are seen as being "experimental". Others say that musicians tend to be a conservative group of people and do not embrace radical changes to the touch or tone of their instruments.

11 Jan 2012

Where is the Remote Control? and a World Record!

Alek­sey Igudes­man and Hyung-ki Joo are two clas­si­cal musi­cians who have taken the world by storm with their unique and hilar­i­ous the­atri­cal shows, which com­bine com­edy with clas­si­cal music and pop­u­lar cul­ture. Their clips on YouTube, to date, have gath­ered over 15 mil­lion hits, and they have appeared live on tele­vi­sion in sev­eral coun­tries, includ­ing an exclu­sive inter­view for CNN.

21 May 2010

Borgato - Italian Innovative Excellence Inspired by the Past

Luigi Borgato, born in 1963, designs and builds concert-grand pianos together with his wife Paola Bianchi, which are of innovative conception and highly regarded by well-known international pianists. The "DOPPIO BORGATO" is the first modern double concert-grand piano with pedal board. Mozart, Beethoven and Schumann are among the composers who wrote pieces for piano with pedal board.

05 Feb 2010

Liszt: The Grand Sonata

In an article about one of the greatest masterpieces of the 19th century piano literature, Franz Liszt's Sonata in B minor, Patrick Jovell guides us through the history of the work as well as a few of the most common analytical approaches. Listen online to the two recommended performances by Vásáry and Arrau while you follow along in Liszt's autograph manuscript or the printed score available from Piano Street's sheet music library.

08 Dec 2008

Steinway & the Last Son

Henry Z. Steinway, former president of Steinway & Sons and great grandson of the firm's founder, died on September 18, 2008 at the age of 93. He was the last Steinway to run the piano-making company his family started in 1853.

07 May 2024

Master Teacher Christopher Elton – Never Ending Impetus

With 50 years at the Royal Academy of Music and an international teaching career, Professor Christopher Elton has gained unique experience in how to coach accomplished artists. In this unique interview for Piano Street, Elton shares his insights and views on the big perspective.

12 Jul 2021

The International Chopin Competition in Warsaw - Preliminaries Are On!

The live streamed preliminary round of the 18th Fryderyk Chopin International Piano Competition are on. Until 23 July, the Chamber Hall of the Polish National Philharmonic Hall in Warsaw will resound with the music played by 150 young pianists from all over the world.

02 Jun 2021

Beethoven Celebration in Retrospect

The Beethoven year 2020 was more than just a great anniversary. It also represented the final stage of a mega project started seven years earlier - the Mount Everest of all LvB 250 homage projects. We talk to Nikolas Sideris about how this gigantic and thought-provoking project turned out.

28 Dec 2020

Beethoven as Improviser? - Interview with Konstantin Scherbakov, part 2

In this second part of our interview with Konstantin Scherbakov about his Beethoven celebrations during 2020, we talk about Liszt's Symphony transcriptions and the improvisational aspect in Beethoven's music.

15 Dec 2020

Beethoven 250: Krystian Zimerman performs the complete Beethoven Piano Concertos

Renowned Polish pianist Krystian Zimerman joins forces with the London Symphony Orchestra and its Music Director Simon Rattle at LSO St Luke's for a three-concert cycle of the five piano concertos. The stream will take place on DG Stage, a new video music service for classical concert streams from Deutsche Grammophon.

18 Nov 2020

The Goldberg Variations Streamed from Bach's Church in Leipzig

On Thursday November 19 all fans of great piano music have the opportunity to hear a once in a lifetime live concert with Lang Lang performing the Goldberg Variations streamed from J.S. Bach's Leipzig church. The stream will take place on DG Stage, a new video music service for classical concert streams from Deutsche Grammophon.

29 Jun 2020

Argerich Performs Chopin's Sonata No. 3 Live

During Symphoniker Hamburg's Internet festival the world was fortunate to be able to enjoy Martha Argerich solo - something which is utterly sensational as the legend these days exclusively appear in concerts with orchestras and in chamber music collaborations.

16 Nov 2018

Yuja Wang Played Ravel to Commemorate Peace

The First World War showed no mercy to artists and many died or returned injured. The Austrian pianist Paul Wittgenstein lost his right arm on the battlefield and Maurice Ravel composed the "Piano Concerto for the Left Hand" for him. The piece was performed by Yuja Wang in a recent concert in Versailles, 100 years after the "Treaty of Versailles", in which the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra commemorated the 100th anniversary of the end of the Great War.

06 Nov 2018

Trifonov and Lang Lang Celebrate DG 120 Years in C Minor

"The Yellow Label", Deutsche Grammophon celebrates its 120th anniversary this year with events all around the globe. Today, November 6, pianist Lang Lang performs Mozart's C Minor Concerto in a live streamed gala concert in the Berlin Philharmonie.

17 Oct 2018

Destination: Rachmaninov - Departure

Destination: Rachmaninov - Departure, the first installment of a two-part journey, explores Rachmaninov's Second and Fourth Piano Concertos. In his seventh title as an exclusive Deutsche Grammophon artist, Daniil Trifonov reunites with the Philadelphia Orchestra under the leadership of music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin.

14 Sep 2018

The Final Countdown: Leeds International Piano Competition - Finals Start Tonight

In the new edition of the Leeds International Piano Competition we have now enjoyed the diversity of the ten Semi-Finalists. Just in "the middle of the battle" Piano Street's Patrick Jovell had the chance to ask the competition's Co-Artistic Director, Adam Gatehouse a few questions.

14 Dec 2016

Trifonov Live in Carnegie Hall

Hear Trifonovs captivating recital at Carnegie Hall as of December 7th in works by Schumann, Shostakovich, Stravinsky and encores by Medtner. The music on this program requires poetry and passion that only a master pianist can deliver. "Daniil Trifonov's playing has it all … he leaves you struggling for superlatives," said The Guardian.

07 Oct 2016

Liszt's Love Story with Lisitsa

In Liszt's Mephisto Waltz No.1, Faust gets seduced by Mephistopheles' intoxicating violin playing on a wedding at the village inn. Hear it performed by Valentina Lisitsa in this new video.

06 Sep 2016

Explosive Piano and Percussion Rendezvous in Beijing

The rare combination of Yuja Wang and famous drummer and multi-percussionist Martin Grubinger performed together at the Concert Hall of NCPA in Beijing on August 18th. In this exceptional and particular formation, a special version of Bartók's Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion was presented along with "One Study One Summary" by John Psathas.

22 Jun 2016

Garrick Ohlsson live in Fort Worth

In this season-closing concert of the Cliburn Live series in Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth, Texas on Tuesday, April 5, 2016, Ohlsson performs works by Beethoven, Schubert, and Chopin.

11 May 2015

Watch Live Stream Now: Piano Recital with Juliana Steinbach

Welcome to watch the live broadcast of the recital with pianist Juliana Steinbach at the Royal Academy of Arts in Stockholm starting today, May 11, at 17.00 GMT.

20 Oct 2014

Live Streamed Piano Recital with Murray McLachlan

A new piano recital series has been launched in Stockholm this fall. The first recital, with pianist Peter Jablonski took place on September 15 and today, you can hear British pianist Murray McLachlan play live from The Royal Academy of Fine Arts.

22 Aug 2014

Yuja Wang & Prokofiev in Factory Setting

Let's go to New York City. After letting her finish her coffee we can hear pianist Yuja Wang on the floor at the Steinway and Sons factory playing Prokofiev's technically demanding Toccata.

15 Jul 2014

Moonlight Trapped in the Sonata Form?

How can we explain the immense popularity of the sonata for over two hundred years? What makes it so satisfying, so complete? Here we listen to a recent performance of the Moonlight Sonata by pianist Yundi Li from a popular TV-show in Japan. His interpetation is quite traditional with a slow and beautiful rendition of the first movement. But there is another completely different way to interpret it. Which do you prefer?

29 May 2014

Stephen Kovacevich Plays an Allemande

Let's hear the stylistically immensely experienced Stephen Kovacevich perform the Allemande from J. S. Bach's Partita No. 4 from the Verbier Festival in Switzerland in 2009. We are all very happy that Kovacevich decided not to quit playing the piano at the age of 32!

24 Apr 2014

Bach with New Ears

The recent discovery of a new portrait of J. S. Bach opens up to the question: if we can see Bach with new eyes, how can we listen to Bach with new ears? One of the most remarkable contributions to the idea that there is a world of Bach on the piano after Glenn Gould is the recording of three Bach concertos by French pianist David Fray.

14 Mar 2014

The Van Cliburn Memorial Concert 2014

To mark the one-year anniversary of the death of legendary pianist Van Cliburn, the Fort Worth-based foundation that bears his name hosted The Van Cliburn Memorial Concert in Sundance Square Plaza on February 27. Hear eight former Cliburn Competition award winners perform short solo recitals on the outdoor stage of the plaza in downtown Fort Worth.

30 Nov 2012

Grigori Sokolov Live at Théâtre des Champs-Élysées

Film maker Bruno Monsaingeon suggests that with Michelangeli, Gould, and Richter no longer alive, Grigory Sokolov may be the "greatest living pianist." Listen to the piano recital Sokolov gave at the Theatre des Champs-Elysées in Paris.

12 Oct 2012

András Schiff Sharing Perspectives on Bartók

When asked to be a Carnegie Hall Perspectives artist, pianist András Schiff was adamant about one thing: He wanted to focus on Bela Bartók and the vibrant legacy the composer left on their native Hungary.

15 Jul 2012

Valentina Lisitsa - Live at the Royal Albert Hall

Pianist and YouTube phenomenon Valentina Lisitsa is perhaps the most striking example of how the Internet and, more recently, social media has created completely new opportunities for classical artists.

19 Nov 2010

Chopin A La Polacca!

The Polonaises, with their "cannon buried in flowers," in Schumann's words, have become symbolic and poignant evocations of an oppressed people. Listen to Rafal Blechacz playing the Polonaise in A-flat major Op. 53 "Heroique" in a live broadcast from the Polish Television.

12 Nov 2010

The Art Of Piano: Great Pianists Of The 20th Century

This video documentary provides a survey of 18 extraordinary keyboard artists that dominated the concert world in the mid 20th century, from Ignaz Paderewski to Claudio Arrau. The program effectively blends archival film with video clips, concert footage and rare artist interviews. Featured performers are Vladimir Horowitz, Artur Rubinstein, Sviatoslav Richter, Sergei Rachmaninov, Glenn Gould, Edwin Fischer, Claudio Arrau, Georges Cziffra, Wilhelm Backhaus, Alfred Cortot, Ignacy Jan Paderewski and Francis Plante performing live and on film.

09 Nov 2009

Sa Chen plays Chopin

Together with Lang Lang and Yundi Li, Sa Chen (born 1979) is considered as one of today's most important Chinese pianists and a veritable international sensation. Here we can hear her in the second movement of Chopin´s first Piano Concerto in E minor Op. 11 with the Gulbenkian Orchestra, Lisbon conducted by Lawrence Foster.

09 Jul 2009

Mitsuko Uchida: Pianist-In-Residence

"Mitsuko Uchido is one of perhaps just a handful of classical pianists whose work can justifiably be mentioned alongside the great players of the past - Rachmaninov, Schnabel, Cortot, Michelangeli." (ABC Radio National, Australia). Enjoy an excerpt from the third movement of the Schumann a minor Piano Concerto.

17 Oct 2008

Michelangeli Plays Beethoven Sonata Op. 2 no. 3

Michelangeli built a reputation as much on the frequency of his cancellation of concerts as on his piano performances. On this video, he plays the first movement from Beethoven's Piano Sonata in C major Op. 2 No. 3, recorded in 1970.

10 Oct 2008

Tiempo's Revolutionary Thirds Equals Three?

One plus one equals three? Synergy is a word most of us are familiar with, but sometimes difficult to grasp. This is Tiempo's own two Chopin études mix-arrangement of the "Revolutionary" and the "Thirds".

28 Sep 2008

A High Tech Pianist for the Future?

"The Visual Recital" is an attempt to help audiences understand and enjoy the syntax of music with visualizations that are scripted and controlled by the musician - a kind of live "Fantasia", so to speak.

22 Sep 2008

Volodos didn't Play a Barcarolle on the Water

Arcadi Volodos performs Liszt´s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 13 at the Prinzengracht Concert in 2001

08 Dec 2022

The Chopin Method – A Master Deep Dive

The independent educational project “The Chopin Method” aims to bring Chopin’s technical ideas to a wider audience. By using biomechanical animations and new anatomical references, its creator Dr. Claudio Saavedra presents a series of videos which brings new light on Chopin’s views on piano playing.

24 Dec 2019

Sleigh Ride – A Holiday Greeting on 440 Keys

Enjoy The Five Brown’s new rendition of Leroy Anderson’s joyful season’s celebration wondrously arranged for five pianos!

17 May 2017

Wigmore Hall As Schiff's Magic Laboratory

Sir Andras Schiff's eloquence as a teacher and profound insights as a thinker about music make his Masterclass sessions irresistible to participants and audiences alike. Through the course of this event an outstanding young musician, chosen by Sir András himself, will explore some of the repertoire featured in the previous evening's concert.

15 Sep 2016

The Simultaneous Conversation

Daniel Barenboim describes music as different from human interaction through speech. If two people cross talk each other, then neither understands the other. Conversation only works if one talks and one listens and then switch roles. In music, the conversation isn't verbal, so each participant's voice is heard and understood at the same time. Hear him explain this musical principle.

17 May 2016

Schiff Horses Around in Master Class

In a piano masterclass on Schubert's Moments Musical at The International Musicians Seminar at Prussia Cove, Andras Schiff noted, for one of his students, that, in Schubert's time, horse-drawn conveyances were the norm instead of just a tourist attraction.

04 Jul 2015

No Great Music Without Great Tension

Anthony Tommassini, classical music critic for The New York Times, invites us all to a mini-lecture at the piano on dissonance. With a series of examples by well known composers, Tommassini elaborates on one of the most crucial components in Western music.

12 Sep 2013

Jonathan Biss' Full Beethoven Sonatas Experience

The American pianist Jonathan Biss is known to audiences throughout the world for his artistry, musical intelligence and deeply felt interpretations. He is a firm believer in the possibilities of technology and invites people to take part of his 32 Beethoven Sonatas course at Curtis Institute.

26 Apr 2013

Digital Piano Test with Simone Dinnerstein

Concert pianist Simone Dinnerstein shows you what to look for in a digital piano by putting a handful of models to the test.

07 Sep 2012

Sit in on a Unique Class with Messiaen on Debussy and Colour

French composer Olivier Messiaen was a synaesthete who experienced colours when he heard or imagined music. He devised his own system of modes (scales) based on his synaesthesia and in some scores he actually notated the colours, to help the performer in interpretation. Here is a unique video clip from one of his famous classes at the Paris Conservatoire.

31 Aug 2011

Master Pianist Jorge Bolet Rehearsing and Teaching Rachmaninov

See and hear Jorge Bolet and Conductor Paavo Berglund in a preliminary rehearsal prior to a full rehearsal with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra in a performance of the Rachmaninov 2nd Piano Concerto.

20 Jun 2010

András Schiff Teaches Bach

András Schiff works with a student on Bach's Second Partita for Keyboard, one of a set of six and the last group of keyboard suites Bach composed.

20 Sep 2024

“Piano Dreams” - Exploring the Chinese Piano Explosion

The motivations for learning the piano are diverse, ranging from personal enjoyment to cultural appreciation and professional aspirations. While some see it as a way to connect with cultural heritage, others pursue it as a path to fame and fortune. In the movie “Piano Dreams” director Gary Lennon documents the struggles and sacrifices of three wannabe piano stars in modern China.

21 Sep 2021

Liszt and the Keyboard - An Illustrated Lecture

Whatever else the world may debate about Franz Liszt's life and work, one thing is generally conceded: he was the first modern pianist. Entitled "Liszt and the Keyboard", master musicologist Dr. Alan Walker gives us an exciting 47 minute journey describing Liszt being the root of modern piano playing.

03 Sep 2021

On Being a Pianist in Kenya - Against All Odds

It is hard enough to train as a classical pianist, even in a Western country with good access to instruments, sheet music and advanced tuition. If you happen to live in Kenya, where nothing of the above is easily available, the many obstacles make it almost impossible. Yet, there are people with an absolute determination to learn. Piano Street has talked to pianist Cordelia Williams, whose new documentary film depicts a new generation on track to break the "glass ceiling" of classical music in Kenya.

28 May 2019

Through Nupen’s Eyes: Young Legends Play Mozart

On 11 March 1966, two great young pianists appeared together in public for the first time: Daniel Barenboim and Vladimir Ashkenazy played Mozart's Concerto for two pianos at the Fairfield Halls, Croydon. Looking in the back mirror we realize the unique importance of this performance hi-lighting the two young pianists in the middle of building world famous careers.

05 Feb 2019

Digital Piano? Oh No – 100% Analogue!

What happens when innovative acoustical ideas come across a vintage broken piano? Well, Ukrainian musicians transformed it into a unique and completely analog hybrid of 20 different instruments that are each connected and controlled by the piano keys.

06 Apr 2018

Documentary: In the Footsteps of Debussy

Warner Classics has recently contributed to both a distant and a close look on Claude Debussy. Their 33-disc set aims to include everything Debussy wrote, from his earliest compositions of 1879-80 to the late sonatas composed during the first world war. As a part of the project Warner Classics has produced a three-part documentary series named "In the Footsteps of Debussy".

19 Dec 2017

French Pianist Goes Wild in German Chorale

As a combination of supreme musicianship and Seasonal Celebrations, what would be more suitable than a traditional German Lutheran Chorale in the hands of the sensational French pianist Lucas Debargue, who is also known as an outstanding improviser and composer?

17 Nov 2017

5 Minutes on Franz Liszt's Funérailles

Pianist Daniel Barenboim, now celebrating 75 years, has published a series of short videos titled "5 minutes on…" in which he discusses well-known piano pieces. In this episode he talks about Franz Liszt's Funérailles from the piano cycle Harmonies Poétiques et Religieuses.

28 Jul 2017

Ode to Joy at the Proms 2017

Hear Igor Levit's encore at First Night of the Proms 2017. Liszt's piano solo version of Ode to Joy from Beethoven's 9th Symphony.

14 Apr 2017

What Does a Pianist See?

In this video, eye-tracking glasses are used to show exactly where the gaze of a pianist is directed while playing. A professional concert pianist and his student take turns using the glasses, revealing interesting facts about how experience makes a great difference in terms of effective eye movement, both when playing from memory and from a piano score.

23 Feb 2017

Barenboim on Chopin's Ballade no. 1

Chopin inspires musicians to greater artistry and, as Barenboim says in this video, makes them want to sound as if the music is simply emanating from them as light from a candle. In this ballade, Chopin also takes us on a leisurely stroll through his own private musical world.

28 Apr 2016

Talking Pianos with Trifonov

Can "water practice" along with yoga and stretching enhance performance endurance and pianistic feeling? The luminous Sarah Willis, French horn player in Berliner Philharmoniker meets with Russian star pianist Daniil Trifonov in Hamburg while he is preparing for a recital.

11 Apr 2016

Travel in Time and Meet Sergei Rachmaninoff

In Piano Street's recent interview with Valentina Lisitsa she told us about the blind test her teacher gave the piano class at the music school in her youth. Three recordings were presented; Richter, Rubinstein and Rachmaninoff. Who was hammering out loud and who was the gentle, delicate player? Here we can hear Rachmaninoff play his own G minor Prelude op 23 no 5.

06 Dec 2014

Murray Perahia: Not of this World

Perahia's now legendary status means that he is often regarded as someone who is somewhat removed from normal life - which corresponds to the title of the documentary "Not of this world". But it is only Perahia's playing, with its otherworldly beauty, that seems to be beyond all earthly limitations. As this film shows, the artist engages in all facets of life as well as his work.

27 Jun 2014

The Women Behind Chopin's Music

Chopin revolutionised the nature of piano music composed both technically and emotionally but the actual musical instrument that provided his greatest source of inspiration was the female voice. In this documentary marking the 200th anniversary of Chopin's birth, pianist and trailblazer James Rhodes explores not only the Polish master's music but also his complex relationships with women.

23 Aug 2013

Yuja Wang at Verbier Festival 2013

In this 3 minute interview Yuja Wang tells us, among other things, the secret of her harmony between fingers and spirit.

23 Jul 2013

Rise and Shine

With hot summer sun, flowers and bumblebees showing up, let's enjoy an inspirational clip from the Oscar award-winning film "Shine". Arguably, this scene shines the brightest of them all.

24 Jan 2013

The Great Piano Scam

Joyce Hatto was hailed as the greatest British pianist of the 20th Century. After she had died in 2006, however, it came to light that not all was as it seemed. Watch and see how the situation developed.

03 Oct 2012

Traditional Music Engraving - A Course in Magic

G. Henle Publishers employ a variety of techniques in producing their beautiful scores, including software programs like Sibelius. But very few people know just how involved the art of music engraving was in the days before modern music printing technology.

10 Jul 2012

A Classical Affair: An evening with Stephen Fry

Stephen Fry hosted this special event in the Barbican Hall, London, to discuss the role and perceived decline of classical music in today's society and what can be done to keep its spirit alive.

09 Mar 2012

Imagine: Being a Concert Pianist

The documentary "Imagine: Being a Concert Pianist" gets under the lid of this extreme form of musicianship. Celebrated pianists, including Yevgeny Kissin, Vladimir Ashkenazy and Lang Lang, talk intimately about their lives, their work and their motivation.

24 Apr 2011

The Piano Speaks!

Austrian composer Peter Ablinger transferred the frequency spectrum of the child's voice to his computer controlled mechanical piano so that "with a little practice, or help or subtitling, we actually can hear a human voice in a piano sound" — and the result is certainly compelling.

26 Nov 2010

Piano Masterclass with Oscar Wilde and Dr. House

A humorous "Piano Masterclass" sketch from 1988 featuring the successful English comedy double act, Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie.

25 May 2010

Dutch Piano Humour on Stage

Music comedian Hans Liberg has received many international awards. The international character of his shows, his musical virtuosity, and his subtle humour make him a highly sought-after artist at large international galas.

18 Sep 2009

Up in the Air - Atkinson performs Beethoven

This is a lovely performance on an invisible piano by comedy genius Rowan Atkinson (also known as Mr. Bean). The air piano act include two Beethoven sonatas: the first movement from the Pathétique Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op.13 and the third movement of the Moonlight Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27, No. 2.

24 May 2024

New Book: Women and the Piano by Susan Tomes

Susan Tomes' latest book is a captivating and thought-provoking exploration of women pianists’ history, praised for its engaging storytelling, thorough research, and insightful analysis. The book combines historical narrative with Tomes' personal insights as a performing female pianist.

09 Jan 2024

Book: Reading Franz Liszt

Pianist Paul Roberts’ latest book “Reading Franz Liszt” invites readers into Liszt’s world through an engaging examination of his most cherished compositions and the underlying literary works that influenced them. Exploring the depths of Franz Liszt’s legacy, Roberts presents a fresh perspective on the legendary composer, emphasizing his poetic sensitivity alongside his technical prowess.

14 Oct 2022

Musical Revolutions – An Isacoff Exploration

The new book “Musical Revolutions” encompasses nearly two millennia of Western music and investigates how the sounds of the Western World changed. Piano Street had a talk with its author, Stuart Isacoff, a performing pianist, prize-winning author and lecturer.

21 Apr 2022

New Book: “How to Practise Music” by Andrew Eales

This concise pocketbook tries to answer students’ basic questions about how to practice, but also discusses in detail how to plan your practice time, whether you’re practicing 15 minutes or several hours per day. Andrew Eales is a long experienced piano teacher who also runs the popular blog pianodao.com. Patrick Jovell has talked to him about the new book.

30 Sep 2021

New Book: The Piano - A History in 100 Pieces

Pianist Susan Tomes' praised book "The Piano - A History in 100 Pieces", charts the development of the piano from the late eighteenth century to the present day. Tomes takes the reader with her on a personal journey through 100 pieces including solo works, chamber music, concertos, and jazz. Piano Street talked to Susan Tomes about her book.

20 Jul 2019

Success, or Just a Sensation? Stuart Isacoff on Van Cliburn’s Moscow Win — 60 Years On

Piano Street has met the author of When the World Stopped to Listen: Van Cliburn’s Cold War Triumph and Its Aftermath, a personal and moving book presenting a sympathetic but honest account of the life of the legendary American pianist.

23 Nov 2018

The Art of Listening - Updated Notes from Berman's Bench

Since the first edition of Boris Berman's Notes from the Pianist's Bench was published in 2000, it has been read by countless pianists, piano teachers, and piano students throughout the world. The book has been translated into several languages and adopted as a required text in universities and conservatories. Just recently, it was published in a second edition, available in both print and electronic formats. Piano Street's David Wärn met Mr. Berman at the Cremona Musica Piano Experience, to talk about the contents of the book, and about the changes and updates of the new edition.

16 Sep 2017

The World Piano Bible

While working in a piano factory in Leipzig, East Germany, Jens Witter started cataloging pianos, inadvertently beginning what would eventually become his doctoral dissertation. The data archive grew and comprised 10 000 index cards and eventually became a massive Bible of Pianos containing some 40 000 names.

10 Jan 2014

Natural Fingering - A Topographical Approach

The art of fingering is a huge subject, not least if studied historically. While many professional players stress the importance of good fingering we often find fingering suggestions offered by renowned editions to be clumsy, odd or simply out of place. New York pianist and teacher Jon Verbalis book Natural Fingering is a rich resource on the subject of piano fingering.

05 Sep 2013

Brendel's A-Z for the Pianist

Multi-talented pianist legend Alfred Brendel won't rest since retiring. His latest book A Pianist's A-Z was officially realeased in September. Born in 1931 in Wiesenberg, he now lives in London. Although he has bidden farewell to the concert stage after six decades of performing, he continues to give master-classes and readings.

25 Mar 2013

Practicing Perfection: Memory and Piano Performance

The memory capacity of famous musicians seem almost superhuman. Can such outstanding accomplishments be explained by the same principles associated with ordinary, everyday memory related abilities?

16 Apr 2010

Recommended Book: Chopin - The Four Ballades

In an illuminating discussion, Jim Samson combines history and analysis to provide a comprehensive picture of these popular piano works.

26 Mar 2010

Recommended Book: “Sviatoslav Richter - Pianist”

Sviatoslav Richter (1915-1997) is widely recognized as one of the greatest pianists of the twentieth century. In this translation of the first full-scale biography of Richter, Danish composer Karl Aage Rasmussen combines his artistic appreciation of Richter's career with a sympathetic telling of the pianist's life based on family archives and interviews with people who worked and lived with him.

19 Oct 2009

The Great Arthur Rubinstein Revisited

For decades people who were fortunate enough to see and hear esteemed pianist Artur Rubinstein (1887-1982) perform left concert halls spellbound. Biographer and music historian Sachs first heard Rubinstein play in 1959, but it was not until 1986 that he seriously considered writing a biography of Rubinstein.

27 Sep 2008

Gould's Favourite Piece but not his Favourite Piano

Neither of the two Gould recordings of J.S. Bach´s Goldberg Variations (1955 and 1981) were made on Gould´s favourite instrument. The Aria is played here on a Yamaha grand, shortly before Gould´s death in October 1982.

23 Mar 2023

Reimagine! – Contemporary Piano Pieces with Inspiration from the Past

Pianist Inna Faliks’ project “Reimagine – Nine World Premieres” includes comporers’ responses to Beethoven’s late Op. 126 Bagatelles as well as Maurice Ravel’s Gaspard de la nuit. Piano Street enjoyed her performance at the Cremona Musica last fall and got the opportunity to talk to her about her ambitions project.

24 Nov 2022

Mozart & Scriabin – Perfect as a Crystal

On her debut album for the Naïve label, the Russian pianist Zlata Chochieva risks an unusual coupling: piano pieces by Mozart and Scriabin. In an interview, German magazine Pianist asked her what connects the two composers.

08 Nov 2022

Variations on Nostalgia – Boris Berman Plays Brahms and Silvestrov

In recent months, the 85-year-old Ukrainian composer Valentin Silvestrov has received the world's attention more than ever due to the ongoing war. Silvestrov's piano music covers more than half a century, and it would be hard to find a better proponent for it than the composer's longtime friend Boris Berman, whose coming album offers a panorama of the composer's evolution. Berman has also just released a new Brahms album – and feels an affinity between the two composers.

12 Oct 2022

Debussy’s Magical Sounds

Esther Birringer has always been inspired by Debussy’s magical sounds and his extraordinary power to evoke dreamy atmospheres that allow you to escape time and space. Her new album contrasts rarely played works such as the Ballade, the Nocturne, and the brilliant Masques with some of Debussy’s most popular pieces.

02 Dec 2021

Hommage and Collaboration - Prosseda Plays Morricone

There are few names more synonymous with the sound of cinema than Ennio Morricone. The cultural titan was so prolific that nobody can say for certain how many film scores he actually wrote, but we have talked to a man who has played and recorded all of Morricone's compositions for solo piano.

11 Jun 2021

Andras Schiff, Brahms and the Question of Tradition

Much attention and mention is given Sir Andras Schiff's latest remarkable recording of both Brahms’ piano concertos with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Schiff's choice of instrument is a Blüthner grand piano built in Leipzig around 1859, the year in which the first D minor concerto was premiered. Schiff has changed foot in his views on period instruments and the recording can be seen as an ambitious attempt to scrutinize and fully bring out the true characteristics of Brahms' works.

21 Sep 2020

Igor Levit - Reaching Out, Looking Inwards

On "Encounter", Igor Levit has recorded a selection of the pieces he played in his spontaneous, live-streamed performances during this spring's lockdown. The result is an album marked by a desire for human and spiritual love and togetherness.

03 Sep 2020

Ten Days, Five Concertos - Bezuidenhout's Beethoven Challenge

Kristian Bezuidenhout, Pablo Heras-Casado and the Freiburger Barockorchester have made an exciting period-instrument trilogy of Beethoven's Piano Concertos that looks likely to become a landmark recording. All five concertos were recorded during an intense ten-day session.

06 Feb 2019

Claire Huangci's Complete Perspective: The Rachmaninoff Preludes

Pianist Claire Huangci, winner of the Geza Anda Competition 2018, just played in New York celebrating the launch of her new Rachmaninoff Preludes album on Berlin Classics. Like her complete Chopin Nocturnes album before that – for the same label – the complete Rachmaninoff 24 Preludes has been received with great acclaim internationally. Piano Street asked the ever touring pianist a few questions about her latest release.

25 Jan 2019

Igor Levit’s Eternal Transcendence: “Life”

Igor Levit’s acclaimed album “Life” has attracted a lot of attention and its selected works have also been included in Levit’s recent recital programs worldwide. This is a profound, versatile and firm reaction to the death and loss of his best friend reflecting inner calm elaborating on an existential level.

20 Dec 2018

Ear-opening Explorations: Sabine Liebner plays Stockhausen’s Solo Piano Music

Sabine Liebner’s unfaltering decision to only play music to which she feels an inner affinity has led to her being primarily active as an interpreter of new music. She has premiered many works by contemporary composers and made important contributions performing and recording the music of 20th century composers like John Cage, Morton Feldman and Galina Ustvolskaya. For Liebner, music making is the solitary exploration of unknown terrain. She tries to listen to a score with no preconceptions, to discover its innate musical language. The results are often intriguing, and can sometimes even prove addictive, as in her recording of Stockhausen’s Klavierstücke I-XI.

24 Oct 2018

The Pleyel Piano: A Key to Genuine Chopin Sound?

Hubert Rutkowski's new CD is a portrait not only of Chopin, but of the composer's favourite instrument: Rutkowski plays a Pleyel piano from 1847. In his search for a genuine Chopin/Pleyel sound he has also turned to historical recordings of Raul Koczalski and Moritz Rosenthal, students of Karol Mikuli, who was in turn a student of Chopin himself.

07 Oct 2018

Chopin In a Box? Dumond Plays the Nocturnes

For anyone seeking the quintessential Chopin, his twenty-one Nocturnes are not only a study of the seal of compositional genius but also defines the complex and refined qualities of the composer's unique understanding of the piano during a lifetime. Dumont's clear understanding of simplicity and complexity this AVEA album (2017) will offer an appealing and intriguing experience for any listener.

05 Oct 2018

Hands-on Piano Experiences in Cremona

Piano Street's David Wärn was present in Cremona and interviews will follow on pianostreet.com with, among others, Boris Berman — about the new multimedia edition of his Notes from the Pianist's Bench — and Jura Margulis, about his collaboration with Steingraeber & Söhne, reinventing the sordino pedal and incorporating it into a modern grand piano.

21 Sep 2018

An Epic Narrative: Boris Giltburg plays Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto no. 3

Named the Mount Everest of piano concertos, Rachmaninoff's third has enjoyed an increasing popularity among performers, piano competition contestants and in concert halls during the last twenty years. Also among recording labels where the long list of recordings now is expanded by contributions by a younger generation of top artists.

12 Sep 2018

Beethoven Hammerklavier & Moonlight Sonatas - Murray Perahia

Murray Perahia has spent a lot of time with Beethoven throughout his long and successful career. Still, it was only when he passed the 70-year mark that he felt ready to perform and record the "Hammerklavier" — a sonata which is something of the ultimate test of a pianist's technique, stamina, and musical understanding.

14 May 2018

Mozart Affinity Embracing Domenico Scarlatti

Federico Colli just released his first album of sixteen Scarlatti Piano Sonatas on Chandos Records. Colli has emerged as one of the most interesting pianists of his generation after victories in the Salzburg Mozart Competition and the 2012 edition of the Leeds International Piano Competition.

15 Sep 2017

The Hidden Piano Treasure of Jean Sibelius

Strangely enough, it would be quite easy to attend piano recitals for years and never hear a note of Sibelius. Now Norwegian pianist Leif-Ove Andsnes makes an adventurous raid into Sibelius' native Finland and want us to change that. It is not surprising that his playing is immaculately detailed and sympathetic

22 Dec 2015

Christmas Music for Piano: Jeffrey Biegel Plays Sleigh Ride

Are you tired of choirs singing carols? If so, get into Christmas mode with some solo piano instead. Enjoy Leroy Anderson's Sleigh Ride performed by American pianist Jeffrey Biegel.

09 Jul 2015

Classical Music Everywhere - Interview with Simone Dinnerstein

Simone Dinnerstein is trying to boost awareness and appreciation of classical music in both children and adults in places as different as New York City and Havana. See her introduce Bach's Inventions to a room full of schoolchildren and read about the new ablum celebrating the transatlantic link.

04 Jul 2015

The Harpsichord - Old, but Still Relevant

"If you buy only one record of harpsichord music in your life . . . buy this sensational album" wrote Richard Morrison, The Times (London). Although most of us don't buy records anymore, this recently released album "Time Present and Time Past" could be worth checking out.

20 Nov 2014

Pianistic Legends from Buenos Aires Sharing Neurones

A recent article featured in Piano Street's News Flash explains that four-hand piano duo partners share neurons dealing with spatial seizing while playing. That suggests that we give you readers a gem on the same topic. Watch the sample from Michael Beyer's film production for EuroArts Music.

19 Nov 2013

Volodos in Vienna

"You can keep your Lang Langs, your Yuja Wangs, your Evgeny Kissins… I'd swap their collective virtuosity for one evening of Arcadi Volodos's consummate pianism. To my mind, he has produced nothing finer on disc than this live recital, captured in Vienna last spring." — Gramophone Magazine

19 Sep 2012

Pianist Benjamin Grosvenor Running Out of Time...

London based Karrot Animation Studios have been busy working on a music video for pianist Benjamin Grosvenor's performance of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue. The brief was to assemble a four minute version from the longer audio track whilst creating an animated narrative about Benjamin getting to a concert at New York's Radio City Hall.

03 Sep 2012

Maurizio Pollini's Chopin Etudes Astonish 50 Years Later

Why did we have had to wait over fifty years for this unique recording? Maurizio Pollini withheld his permission for his first complete recording of the Chopin Etudes Opp. 10 & 25 to be released. While the legendary DG recording from the 1970s has long been acknowledged as one of the finest versions of the Chopin Etudes, the previously unissued version from Abbey Road Studios in 1960 - characterised by a lighter touch and greater musical freedom - is now available on Testament label.

19 Dec 2011

Dynamic Duo Anderson & Roe Debut on the Steinway Label

Greg Anderson and Elizabeth Joy Roe form one of the most thrilling young piano duos performing today. The debut release from Anderson & Roe on the Steinway & Sons label is a showstopper captured in spectacular audiophile-quality sound by multi-Grammy-winning producer Steven Epstein.

10 Aug 2011

Grand Style Liszt with Bererzovsky

This CD, a collection of live recordings taken from performances at the Royal Festival Hall and the Festival de la Grange de Meslay, provides yet another example of Boris Berezovsky's stunning virtuosity and musicality.

25 Feb 2011

Schubert Live! - Pianist Imogen Cooper Continues the Series

Pianist Imogen Cooper: "Schubert has become even more necessary to my well-being, and I sense strongly that he is important for an audience's well-being too"

29 Dec 2010

Horowitz´s Master Alfred Cortot Speaks … and Plays…

Pianist Murray Perahia presents highlights of live recordings made during Cortot's 1954-60 Master Classes in Paris, featuring the pianist playing many works he never formally recorded.

30 Aug 2010

Twelve Nocturnes and a Waltz

Critically-acclaimed American pianist Robert Henry presents his highly anticipated debut recording "Twelwe Nocturnes and a Waltz". Released in 2010, this recording is a compilation of some of the world's best loved melodies, featuring Nocturnes of Chopin, Fauré, Grieg, Liszt and many others, including the world premiere of Alexei Stanchinsky's forgotten Nocturne from 1907.

24 Aug 2010

Lang Lang “Live in Vienna” Released in Multiple Formats

Recorded and filmed live in Vienna's legendary Musikverein concert hall, the Sony Classical debut is available on August 24 in multiple formats including vinyl and 3D video. This release represents Lang Lang's second live recorded recital to date after the best-selling "Live at Carnegie Hall" in 2004, which marked his international breakthrough as a recording artist. He has performed the new album's program at the world's major concert venues and will continue to tour with it throughout 2011.

27 May 2010

Another Sensational Release by Arcadi Volodos

Pianist Arcadi Volodos has been celebrated as a wizard at the keyboard since his 1997 debut recording. His new CD, "Live in Vienna," on SONY BMG EUROPE, features his virtuosity as a pianist and his skilled story narration and sense of timing.

22 Mar 2010

Brendel Plays and Introduces Schubert - 5 DVD Set

Alfred Brendel is an outstanding modern exponent of Schubert's piano music. He is capable of bringing not only the verve of this music but also its poetic intensity and intellectual depth to life with a special vibrancy. In this unique collection - a 5 DVD box (on Naxos) at a very attractive price - he plays all of Schubert's major works for keyboard and introduces each piece, throwing light on its compositional substance and at the same time revealing his own highly personal relationship with these masterpieces of Romantic music.

20 Aug 2009

British Excellence in New Tansman Piano Music Release

Chandos has been attentive in promoting the orchestral works of Alexandre Tansman, who due to the vagaries of fashion has to a great extent been ignored. They now embark on the piano music and a deeply personal project for soloist Margaret Fingerhut.

16 Jan 2009

Marathon Men - Two Complete Beethoven Sonatas Projects to Achieve Completion

Daniel Barenboim is not the only one to have successfully had the complete Beethoven sonatas on his agenda lately.

25 Nov 2008

Naxos Music Library - Online Music Streaming

NAXOS Music Library (NML) is a very useful resource for music professionals, students, amateurs and collectors. The service offers more than 26,000 CDs with over 371,000 tracks of music for online listening.

21 Nov 2008

Boxed Tribute to Retiring Brendel

In order to pay tribute to the great Austrian, the Brilliant Classics label has released a 35 CD box with early recordings, covering the period 1958-1970.

23 Mar 2020

Crash Course: How to Teach Piano Online

What you have been wondering and perhaps worrying about for many years is suddenly upon you. The question was if online piano lesson are worth it and if so, how to get started? Now there is no more time to ponder, this week you will be teaching all your piano students online!

16 Jan 2009

Books on Piano Pedaling

"The more I play, the more I am thoroughly convinced that the pedal is the soul of the piano. There are cases where the pedal is everything" Anton Rubinstein

09 Jan 2009

Piano Technique - the Leschetizky Method

This legendary manual in both English and German documents principles and techniques of the legendary piano teacher Theodor Leschetizky, who taught Paderewski, Schnabel and many other great pianists.

27 Sep 2008

Masterclasses on the Web Reach new Heights

Not only are piano competitions such as the Van Cliburn YouTube-competition and the Minnesota e-Competition moving out onto the web, but students, music colleges, schools and all music lovers now have the chance to gain inspiration and to learn from master classes given by some of the world's greatest musicians.

25 Sep 2008

Wilhelm Backhaus - Technical Problems Discussed

The legendary German pianist Wilhelm Backhaus (1884-1969) shares his thoughts on piano technique in an interview with Hariette Browner, published in her book Piano Mastery (1915)

15 Aug 2016

ABRSM Releases New Piano Syllabus for 2017/2018

ABRSM has released a new Piano syllabus for candidates taking exams in 2017 and 2018. The syllabus offers a broad selection of inspiring pieces that have been carefully selected to offer variety and new challenges to teachers and learners alike. It features a range of works from composers from around the world.

27 Jan 2014

The Bigger Picture: A Personal Perspective on Practicing Routines

In the third and final part of the series on building a career as a professional pianist, Alexander Buskermolen gives a personal perspective on practicing routines at the piano with practising tips by Dutch pedagogue Jan Wijn.

06 Dec 2022

New Study: Playing the Piano Boosts Brain Processing Power

A new study published by researchers at the University of Bath demonstrates the positive impact learning to play a musical instrument has on the brain’s ability to process sights and sounds, and shows how it can also help to lift a blue mood.

15 Sep 2015

Can We Play Like Mozart Did?

Classical piano pieces by such composers as Beethoven, Mozart and Chopin likely sounded much different when the masters first performed those works than they do today. Pianos themselves have changed considerably — but so, too, has technique.

27 Feb 2015

Medical Professionals See Irregular Heartbeat in Beethoven's Music

Citing rhythmic shifts and sudden stops in the German master's music, certain doctors and researchers think he suffered from arrhythmia.

03 Nov 2010

What is really Johann Sebastian in the Notebook?

The familiar Minuet in G and its partner piece, Minuet in G minor were traditionally believed to have been composed by J. S. Bach. However, recent research points to the German composer and organist Christian Petzold.

21 Sep 2009

Piano Lessons Can Help Children Improve Reading Skills

Children exposed to a multi-year programme of music tuition involving training in increasingly complex rhythmic, tonal, and practical skills display superior cognitive performance in reading skills compared with their non-musically trained peers, according to a study published recently in the journal Psychology of Music, published by SAGE.

06 Nov 2008

Smart like a Metronome?

Researchers at the medical university Karolinska Institutet and Umeå University (both in Sweden) have now demonstrated a correlation between general intelligence and the ability to tap out a simple regular rhythm.

02 Dec 2024

World of Piano Competitions – issue 2 2024

The World of Piano Competitions is a magazine initiated by PIANIST Magazine (Netherlands and Germany) and its Editor-in-Chief Eric Schoones. Here we get a rich insight into the world of international piano competitions through the eyes of its producers and participants.

14 Aug 2024

The Complete Piano Works of 16 Composers

Piano Street’s digital sheet music library is constantly growing. With the additions made during the past months, we now offer the complete solo piano works by sixteen of the most famous Classical, Romantic and Impressionist composers in the web’s most pianist friendly user interface.

31 Jul 2024

Poems of Ecstasy – Scriabin’s Complete Piano Works Now on Piano Street

The great early 20th-century composer Alexander Scriabin left us 74 published opuses, and several unpublished manuscripts, mainly from his teenage years – when he would never go to bed without first putting a copy of Chopin’s music under his pillow. All of these scores (220 pieces in total) can now be found on Piano Street’s Scriabin page.

13 Mar 2024

Enfant Terrible or Childishly Innocent? – Prokofiev’s Complete Piano Works Now on Piano Street

In our ongoing quest to provide you with a complete library of classical piano sheet music, the works of Sergey Prokofiev have been our most recent focus. As one of the most distinctive and original musical voices from the first half of the 20th century, Prokofiev has an obvious spot on the list of top piano composers. Welcome to the intense, humorous, and lyrical universe of his complete Sonatas, Concertos, character pieces, and transcriptions!

01 Jan 2024

Piano Street’s Top Picks of 2023

We wish you a Happy New Year with a list of recommended reading from Piano Street. These are the most read, discussed or shared articles of 2023. /The Piano Street Team

30 Nov 2023

Watch the Chopin Competition on Period Instruments with us!

Piano Street presents a new version of its popular tool (first presented during the 2010 Competition) for navigating the hundreds of great performances taking place during the recent Chopin Competition on Period Instruments. Use our list of pieces and pianists to find and compare your personal favorites among this year’s 35 contestants.

17 Nov 2023

A Daily Dose of Bach? – Access his Complete Scores on Piano Street

Johann Sebastian Bach’s keyboard music is some of the most essential repertoire for pianists, although he lived before the era of the modern piano. And you don’t need to look any further than Piano Street: our library of sheet music by Bach – 250 pieces waiting to be explored – is now complete.

12 Sep 2023

Rachmaninoff’s Complete Piano Works – Now on Piano Street

Piano Street celebrates Rachmaninoff’s 150-year anniversary by providing digital sheet music for his complete piano works. Browse the new scores and immerse yourself in a world of technical fireworks, profound emotion, and a uniquely rich harmonic language!

26 Jan 2023

The Complete Piano Works of 12 Composers

Piano Street’s digital sheet music library is constantly growing. With the additions made during the past months, we now offer the complete piano works by twelve of the most famous Classical, Romantic and Impressionist composers in the web’s most pianist friendly user interface.

01 Jan 2023

Piano Street’s Top Picks of 2022

With a handful of articles published every month since it's start in 2007, Piano Street's online magazine now consists of over 500 interviews, news, videos and in-depth articles about all kinds of piano-related topics. These are the 16 most read, discussed or shared articles of 2022.

14 May 2022

The World of Piano Competitions – issue 1 2022

As a collaborating partner Piano Street is proud to present the seventh issue of The World of Piano Competitions, a magazine initiated by PIANIST Magazine (Netherlands and Germany) and its Editor-in-Chief Eric Schoones. Here we get a rich insight into the world of international piano competitions through the eyes of its producers and participants.

29 Mar 2022

Piano Street 20 Years – Anniversary Gift Package

To celebrate our 20 years online, we have teamed up with a few carefully selected partners that share our goal of inspiring you to play and listen to great piano music. Today, on the World Piano Day, 29th March, each of the six partners have a generous gift waiting for you inside our membership area!

01 Jan 2022

Piano Street's Top Picks of 2021

Start up your piano year with this list of highly recommended reading from Piano Street. These are the 16 most read, discussed or shared articles of 2021. /The Piano Street Team

23 Dec 2021

Capturing The Christmas Spirit at the Piano!

Every December the world is overflooded with Christmas music in a multitude of forms. But what can pianists play besides traditional arrangements offered by every major music publisher? Piano Street has gratefully received lovely contributions by noteworthy pianist/composers who have managed to take our beloved Christmas tunes a bit further in their own unique way by offering fine arrangements for pianists to practice and enjoy during the holidays.

08 Oct 2021

Watch the Chopin Competition With Us!

During the 18th International Chopin Competition, Piano Street presented a new version of its popular tool for navigating the hundreds of great performances taking place during the event. Use our list of pieces and pianists to find and compare your personal favorites among this year’s 160 contestants.

04 Jun 2021

The World of Piano Competitions - issue 1 2021

As a collaborating partner Piano Street is proud to present the fifth issue of The World of Piano Competitions, a magazine initiated by PIANIST Magazine (Netherlands and Germany) and its Editor-in-Chief Eric Schoones. Here we get a rich insight into the world of international piano competitions through the eyes of its producers and participants.

16 Dec 2020

34 Works by Beethoven Added to Piano Street

We've spent the months leading up to Beethoven's birthday preparing a number of his scores that have been missing from our sheet music library. As part of this week's celebrations, we're happy to announce that our Beethoven section - comprising 130 works - is now complete!

28 Nov 2020

The World of Piano Competitions - issue 2 2020

As a collaborating partner Piano Street is proud to present the fourth issue of The World of Piano Competitions. Here we get a rich insight into the world of international piano competitions through the eyes of its producers and participants.

07 Apr 2020

New Feature: Live Streamed Piano Recitals

With music venues on lock down across the world and many of us spending a lot more time at home, we can now enjoy the growing supply of concerts via live stream to watch from home on our TV, computer or smartphone. Piano Street has launced a new feature to help you keep track of upcoming livestreamed piano events. Watch the new ticker on our homepage!

22 Mar 2020

193 Pieces by Liszt Added to Piano Street's Sheet Music Library

The latest addition to our already vast piano sheet music library almost doubles the number of pieces by Franz Liszt. Last week, we added 193 pieces by this multifaceted composer, taking a significant step towards our goal of publishing a complete library of the classical piano repertoire. Our Liszt section is now nearly complete, but more will follow - with this extremely productive and hard-working composer-pianist it's hard to know where to stop!

04 Mar 2020

Piano News on Instagram

Although there is a tremendous activity of piano playing going on, the world could indeed benefit from even more! If you agree, help us promoting the art of piano music and piano playing by liking, sharing and commenting on our posts from the website or social media.

31 Dec 2019

Piano Street’s Top Picks of 2019

We wish you a Happy New Year with a list of highly recommended reading from Piano Street. These are the 15 most read, discussed or shared articles of 2019.

12 Dec 2019

200+ Pieces Added to Piano Street’s Sheet Music Library

There is no end to our efforts to render the Piano Street sheet music library more and more complete. In recent months, we’ve added a large number of pieces by some of the greatest composers – Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Brahms, Debussy, and Grieg.

14 Mar 2019

Keep Track of the Latest Piano Albums with Piano Street

Piano Street’s mission is to promote classical piano music, and we are always looking for new ways to enable you to listen, learn, and play. There’s no question that piano playing is thriving all over the world, and on the World Wide Web – just look at the flood of new recordings, videos, and streamed concerts constantly available just a few clicks away.

04 Apr 2018

Piano Street at Musikmesse in Frankfurt 2018

This April, Piano Street will be exhibiting at Musikmesse in Frankfurt, Germany. The exhibition will take place at the Messe Frankfurt Convention Centre and is the world's biggest trade show for musical instruments, sheet music, music production and marketing. Piano Street will be showing the digital services available for individuals and for institutions.

30 Dec 2017

Top Picks of 2017

We wish you a Happy New Piano Year with a list of highly recommended reading from Piano Street. These are the twelve most read, discussed or shared articles of 2017.

30 Dec 2016

The Audiovisual Study Tool (AST) Updated

In a significant improvement of Piano Street's Audiovisual Study Tool (AST), all pieces in the digital sheet music library are now connected to hand picked recordings, 11 248 tracks by the greatest pianists on labels such as EMI, Decca, Deutche Grammophon, Sony Classical and many others. All recordings are available for unlimited online streaming for Piano Street Gold members.

12 Dec 2016

The Complete Piano Music by Franz Schubert

Unlike Mozart, Beethoven, Liszt or Chopin, Schubert was not a keyboard virtuoso. He played the piano only in the intimate gatherings known as Schubertiads. Nevertheless, he is certainly one of the greatest composers for piano, exploring the expressive potential of the keyboard in a succession of masterpieces for solo piano, piano duet, chamber music and song accompaniment. Therefore, it's an event worth celebrating when Piano Street now publish his dances as well as his complete piano sonatas, which in addition to the previously available selection of Impromptus, Moments Musicaux and many other pieces give you the complete picture of Schubert as a composer for the piano.

25 Nov 2016

13 Easy Pieces by Beethoven and Gurlitt

Piano Street adds six pieces by Beethoven and seven pieces by Gurlitt to our catalogue of easy and intermediate pieces. Recordings of all the pieces will soon be available.

07 Jul 2016

Piano Street Reaches 20,000 Likes on Facebook!

The Piano Street team would like to say a special thank you to all piano fans around the world who like us on Facebook, where our page has recently passed 20,000 likes!

03 Mar 2016

Mendelssohn, Albéniz and Six More Composers Added to the Audiovisual Study Tool

245 pieces by 8 composers have been added in a recent update of Piano Street's Audiovisual Study Tool (AST). Sheet music and hand-picked YouTube, Spotify and Naxos recordings of piano pieces by Albéniz, Alkan, Balakirev, Bartok, Burgmüller, Field, Kuhlau and Mendelssohn are now available one mouse click away, along with Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin and others.

02 Mar 2016

The New List of Instructive Editions

At the Music Education Expo in London last week, we received a lot of positive feedback from piano teachers and students who had successfully used Piano Street's Instructive Editions to improve the learning process. You can easily find the pieces having instructive editions on the new list.

24 Dec 2014

Musical Holiday Greetings from Piano Street!

DOWNLOADABLE GIFTS: As a musical holiday gift, you are welcome to try out to learn "a small piece that sounds big" in 49 easy steps or to compose your own ending to one of Mozart's most loved piano pieces.

16 Apr 2014

The New Concept: Scores for All Stages of Learning

On the recent Music Education Expo in London, Piano Street presented a new concept for sheet music publication. Depending on your own level of experience and where you are in the learning process of a particular piece, you may need fingering, pedal markings, practice and performance tips, or perhaps the right opposite - a clean Urtext score.

27 Feb 2014

World Premiere: Piano Piece in G by Felix Mendelssohn

The first edition ever of a newly discovered piece by Mendelssohn was presented by Piano Street at the Music Education Expo in London earlier this month. The Urtext Piano Score and Autograph Manuscript are now available for download.

24 Dec 2013

Happy Holidays! Musical Greetings from Piano Street

The most popular composer among Piano Street's members is Frédéric Chopin. As a holiday gift to our members and the piano playing world, we have prepared special piano scores of two of his masterpieces, in two different editions each. As another holiday surprise, a completely new feature has been activated in each member's account.

17 Dec 2013

AST Updated: 700 Piano Pieces Added

The Piano Street Team has been hard at work: 1200 man hours of listening and hand picking the greatest among the many great performers playing the greatest piano music is tough work. But we have persisted. We have not complained. And here we are, now even more convinced of the amazing possibilities the Internet has to offer and - not least - with a new update of Piano Street's unique AST.

29 Aug 2013

Announce your Piano Recitals and Events at Piano Street

In line with Piano Street's mission to stimulate and promote live piano music performances, we welcome all members to post announcements and invitations to their upcoming piano recitals in the new recital section of the forum.

18 Mar 2013

Piano Street Proudly Presents: The New Unique Audiovisual Study Tool (AST)

A new, revolutionary tool that allows you to learn piano pieces faster, broaden your repertoire knowledge, improve your interpretational skills or to simply immerse yourself in the refined art of classical piano music, has finally arrived!

01 Jun 2012

New Bach Recordings - Four Preludes & Fugues from WTC

Piano Street's series of recordings of Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier with pianist Martin Sturfält continues with four pairs of Preludes and Fugues, two from the first book and two from the second book

29 Jul 2011

Piano Street Receives 5-Star Excellence Award

Shopper Approved has collected over 1,000 ratings from paying Piano Street Gold members and due to the high level of customer satisfaction Piano Street has received the exclusive Shopper Approved 5-Star Excellence Award.

28 Jun 2011

New Sheet Music: Liszt - Transcriptions of Songs by Schubert

Transcriptions and paraphrases played an important part in shaping Liszt's role as leading musical figure of his generation. Seven transcriptions of songs by Franz Schubert has been added to the sheet music library.

15 Dec 2010

New sheet music: Chopin - Four Concert Pieces

Four concert pieces by Chopin, including Variations on Mozart's 'La ci darem la mano' and Andante spianato, in editions by Mikuli (solo piano part with orchestral cues) have been added to our sheet music library.

26 Aug 2010

Chopin Preludes - New Urtext Sheet Music

Written partly during Chopin's catastrophic wintertime stay on Majorca, the 24 Preludes, opus 28, are some of the composer's most mysterious works. Schumann said of them: "They are sketches, beginnings of études, or, so to speak, ruins, individual eagle pinions, all disorder and wild confusions."

30 Jul 2010

New Recordings: Schubert - Six Moments Musicaux op 94

The Moments Musicaux were published only a few months before Schubert's death in 1828. Most of them were composed during 1827 or 1828, with the exception of Nos. 3 and 6, dating from 1823 and 1824 respectively.

28 Jul 2010

New Sheet Music and Recordings: Brahms - Two Intermezzi

Two of Johannes Brahms' most popular late piano pieces are now available as Urtext scores and recordings from Piano Street's sheet music library.

07 Jul 2010

The Four Ballades by Chopin - New Urtext Edition

The Ballade or Ballad was originally a sung poem, recounting a myth or an historical event. The form, with its connotations of simple folkloric authenticity, became popular in literature with the rise of Romanticism; Chopin is usually credited with originating the genre for the piano. Piano Street has published a new urtext edition of the four Ballades by Frédéric Chopin.

24 Jun 2010

New Bach Recordings - Two Preludes and Fugues

A new instalment of two Preludes and Fugues from Bach's WTC I, performed by Martin Sturfält, has been published; the joyous and energetic C-sharp major set (which must surely be one of the most difficult to read on account of the extreme choice of key - seven sharps - taking you through keys such as B-sharp and E-sharp major!) and the simply remarkable work in B minor.

28 May 2010

The Nocturnes by Chopin - New Urtext Edition

The Nocturnes span the whole of Frédéric Chopin's career, and among them are some of the composer's most beloved works. Piano Street has now published a new urtext edition of the Nocturnes by Chopin. This new edition, containing Chopin's own fingering, attempts to present the most valid version of these pieces following consensus among today's prominent scholars and pianists.

24 Oct 2009

Franck Miniatures - Sheet music and recordings

In César Franck's keyboard music he clearly indicated in the scores for which specific instrument the music was composed for; piano, organ or harmonium. The harmonium pieces are however often performed on the organ. Some of those pieces are also suitable for the piano.

21 Oct 2009

Gabriel Fauré's Piano Music

Gabriel Fauré is considered one of the most influential and gifted French composers of the late romantic and early 20th century period. His early compositions, influenced by Chopin and his teacher Saint-Saënt, are of very romantic character while he later developed a more personal and harmonically complex musical style.

24 Sep 2009

Busoni - 25 original pieces and 15 Bach transcriptions

The Italian pianist Busoni's important achievements as a composer were long over-shadowed by the fact that he was generally thought the greatest piano virtuoso after Liszt. The solo piano versions of Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor (for organ) and the Chaconne from the second Violin Partita are among his most well-known transcriptions.

30 Mar 2009

Improvisations - New Forum Section

In the history of Western music, from the medieval until the romantic period, improvisation was an important skill for all composers and keyboard players. Bach, Handel, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, Liszt, and many others were celebrated for their ability to improvise.

10 Nov 2008

Beethoven's Last Piano Piece?

Ludwig van Beethoven's supposedly "last piano work" has been found by musicologist Peter McCallum, while studying the composer's final music sketchbook at the Berlin's state library.

29 Sep 2008

Scriabin Mazurkas - Sheet Music

Scriabin's unique musical vision is transformed into something striking and original: mazurka-fantasies characterised by extraordinary charm and sensuality, often assimilating the style of late night improvisations.