Happy 150th Birthday, Maurice Ravel!
March 7 2025, marks the 150th birthday of Maurice Ravel. Piano Street presents a collection of material and links to resources for you to commemorate the great French composer. Often labelled an impressionist, Maurice Ravel’s style grew out of his great interest in a broad variety of styles, including Spanish folk music, French baroque, and American jazz. At the same […]
A New Kind of Piano Competition
Do piano competitions offer a good, fair, and attractive basis for a complete pianist and musician? In today’s scene, many competition organizers have started including additional elements for judging with a focus on preparing the competitor for a real, multifaceted musical life that reaches beyond prize money and temporary fame. Ralf Gothóni, the creator of a new kind of piano […]
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. This reflects of course her concert programmes as well as collaborations, where her recordings with French pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard stand out with two exceptionally strong proponents of contemporary aesthetics and pianism. Stefanovich […]
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. Cremona Musica takes place across three expansive exhibition halls at Cremona Fiere and features outdoor stage performances […]
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? The Pianist Born in […]
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. Moritz […]
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. Renowned British pianist Paul Lewis, stepped in to perform Beethoven’s G-major Concerto with the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra and Daniel Harding in Stockholm on February 23. This unexpected turn of events proved […]
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. Sometimes, sensations occur within the classical piano world that […]
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. Piano Street: Dear Susan, we were so happy to talk with you after the release of your book “The Piano – A […]
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. People within the professional piano community know his name, and most have heard his students on […]
Lucas Debargue – A Matter of Life or Death
Since Glenn Gould’s performances in Moscow in 1957 and Van Cliburn’s historic victory in the Tchaikovsky Competition the following year, at the height of the Cold War, no foreign pianist has attracted as much attention in Russia as Lucas Debargue. In 2015 he entered the famous competition in Moscow as a complete outsider, though he had only been studying the […]
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. We have previously written about Dr. Riley, who uses body scanning and heart rate to improve musicians’ playing, performance […]