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 […]

The recently published compilation “Beauty and Hope in the 21st Century” contains nine contemporary solo piano pieces from internationally renowned composers. All of the works in the collection draw their inspiration from 20th and 21st-century artworks. Piano Street’s Patrick Jovell spoke with the publisher Nikolas Sideris about the project, who also shared his beliefs about society and the music industry […]

On October 7 Murray Perahia released 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.” Perahia joins Deutsche Grammophon Imagine if Cal Ripken […]

Piano Street visited Cremona last weekend to meet with Italian and international pianists and piano brand representatives at the Piano Experience. At the recent Cremona Mondomusica – an international music exhibition held every year at the end of September – about 300 exhibitors displayed thousands of fine, handcrafted musical instruments. The city of Cremona, situated in the region of Lombardy […]

Decca artist Valentina Lisitsa has during recent years recorded albums with Liszt, Rachmaninoff, Chopin, Schumann and Scriabin. She recorded Ives’ violin sonatas with Hilary Hahn (DG) and has explored contemporary territories with recordings of Philip Glass and Michael Nyman. Most recently, on August 26 this year, Lisitsa released a critically praised album with film music called Love Story (Decca) in […]

This summer, Daniel Barenboim launched a new YouTube channel. “I will talk about music – about pieces close to my heart, about pieces which I hope will interest you – and other subjects that preoccupy me, some social and some political, all subjects that have to do with the human being,” says Barenboim In one of the first eposides, Daniel […]

In a recent article at radiotimes.com, 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 […]

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. As an artist-in-residence Yuja Wang returned to her homeland to form a unique musical partnership with the famous Austrian percussionist. With her outstanding technical and musical projection Wang belongs to a select group of […]

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. Penny Milsom, ABRSM’s Executive Director: Products and Services, […]

On May 13-15 Malmö Symphony Orchestra celebrated Johannes Brahms in their brand new acousitically praised concert hall named “Malmö Live” in Malmö, Sweden. The orchestra’s chief conductor Marc Soustrot performed the complete symphonies and invited world renowned performers like the Capucons and Nikolaj Znaider for the concertos including the legendary pianist Elisabeth Leonskaja who played both piano concertos at the […]

Designed to be used both during lessons and while practicing at home, Piano Street’s unique Instructive Editions will save time and effort by guiding and structuring your practice. Using them is like always practicing with a teacher next to you; demanding but incredibly effective. Chopin’s popular Waltz in A minor (opus posth.) and Clarke’s A Trumpet Minuet from the current […]

The Italian pianist Ludovico Einaudi, renowned for his career composing scores for television and movies, gives a performance among the icebergs of the Arctic in conjunction with Greenpeace in an attempt to draw attention to the plight of the region. By composing and performing his Elegy for the Arctic Ludovico Einaudi has added his voice to those of eight million […]