Researchers have discovered the manuscript of a hitherto unknown piano piece by German composer Robert Schumann. Experts speak of “a sensational discovery”. The twenty-four bar piece, named Ahnung, is not dated, but researches say it was written in 1838, the year in which Schumann also composed his famous Kinderszenen. The piece will have its premiere in September 2009, when it […]

LIMITED AVAILABILITY Available only until May 12, the Swedish Television offers a live HD performance of Sergei Rachmaninov´s third Piano Concerto with pianist Leif Ove Andsnes, the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra and conductor Lionel Bringuier as of February 20, 2009. Content: 0:00 Introduction (in Swedish) 1:10 Alex Wade introduces Rach 3 and talks to Jonathan Philips 9:44 Interview with Leif […]

Lukas Foss, an American pianist and composer, has died. He was 86. Foss also had a career as a conductor. His works include solo pieces for piano, choral and chamber music and many orchestral works in styles ranging from neo-classical to contemporary. Born Lukas Fuchs in Berlin Aug. 15, 1922, he studied piano and music theory and composed music from […]

The list of famous left-handed pianists is a who’s who, from 20th-century legends Vladimir Horowitz, Arthur Rubinstein and Glenn Gould to today’s keyboard masters Daniel Barenboim, Radu Lupu, Leif Ove Andsnes, Steven Blier, Richard Goode, Helene Grimaud … and many more. Pianist Russell Young, director of Kennesaw State University’s opera and music theater program, believes being left-handed is an advantage […]

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.). Patrick: Congratulations on your Grammy award! Is it possible to know what this will mean to you and your life? Gloria: I doubt that the award will change my life, […]

A much longed-for documentation of the pianist and piano pedagogue Hans Leygraf’s methodology is now to be found on two DVDs (a Finkernagel & Lück production 2006, 366 minutes approx. Region code: 0). These recordings, made among a selected few of his students in Salzburg, extends from the appropriate way of touching the keys to interpretation of the music as […]

Daniel Barenboim is not the only one to have successfully had the complete Beethoven sonatas on his agenda lately. A Grammy nominee for “Best Classical Album (Without Orchestra)” for the second volume of his Complete Beethoven Sontata recordings for ECM, András Schiff began in 2004, a series of performances in Europe in which he explored the 32 Beethoven piano sonatas […]

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. The video platform will be accessible to the public at www.berliner-philharmoniker.de. In the first live broadcast on Jan. 6, the Berliner Philharmoniker under Sir Simon Rattle will present […]

Alexander Melnikov’s extraordinary 2006 Scriabin recording for Harmonia Mundi tickled our curiosity about what was to come. And our wish came true. Alternating in the roles of soloist and accompanist (with soprano Elena Brilova) , his latest Rachmaninoff recording adds up to one hundred percent presence. Melnikov delivers some of the most intelligently musical and technically impressive Rachmaninoff interpretations available. […]

The Steinway Concept, the Last Son and the Amazing Journey From the Past to the Present and Into the Future 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 […]

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. In addition to this 500 CDs are added every month. It also contains comprehensive liner notes, opera synopses, libretti, composer and artist biographies and other essential information. The […]

Alfred Brendel: The Complete Vox, Turnabout, and Vanguard Solo Recordings, 1958-1970 Alfred Brendel, who during his six decades of performances, mastered the works of Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn and Schubert, has now decided to explore other passions in life such as literature and painting. He will give his last concert on December 18, 2008, in Vienna. Brendel will be 77 in […]