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2024-11-25

Pletnev's Rach 1 and 2

ARTE TV invites to a concert with Rachmaninoff's First and Second Piano Concertos from Paris with Mikhail Pletnev and the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France conducted by Dima Slobodeniuk.
Read more at arte.tv

2024-11-24

Biegel Grammy Nominee

Commissioned by Biegel and a consortium of five orchestras, "Dreams of the Fallen" blends piano concerto and choral symphony. The piece, inspired by the poetry of Iraq War veteran Brian Turner, delves into the emotional impact of war on a soldier.
Read more at brooklyn.edu

2024-11-23

Cho Celebrates Ravel

Pianist Cho Seong-jin will embark on a musical journey through the works of Maurice Ravel in 2025, marking the composer's 150th birth anniversary.
Read more at koreatimes.co.kr

2024-11-22

Recording Debussy

Pianist Anna Sybuleva has returned to Signum label with a new recording: Debussy's complete Préludes. While on tour, Sybuleva discussed Debussy's music, piano technique, and her desire to delve deeper into Rameau's compositions.
Read more at planethugill.com

2024-11-21

Pianist Biss on Anxiety

Jonathan Biss performed Schumann’s piano concerto with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The performance left him deeply affected by the composer's inner turmoil. Despite the familiar questions about Schumann’s mental state and its influence on the music, the pianist remains committed to exploring the depths of the composer’s soul.
Read more at nytimes.com

2024-11-20

Q + A with Grosvenor

Grosvenor's piano career skyrocketed after his 2004 BBC Young Musician Competition win. In 2011, he became Decca Classics' youngest British signee. Since then, he's had a distinguished career. The Daily Princetonian interviewed him about his musical journey, performance style, and cherished memories.
Read more at dailyprincetonian.com

2024-11-19

Gold for Lim

Korean pianist Lim Yunchan has been awarded the prestigious Diapason d'Or de l'Ann?e for his album "Chopin: Etudes." The young musician was honored in the annual awards ceremony held Wednesday in Paris, as announced by his agency.
Read more at koreatimes.co.kr

2024-11-18

The Cziffra Universe

Gyorgy Cziffra was a virtuoso with a unique ability to infuse his music with intellectual depth. While technical brilliance is essential, it can sometimes be seen as mere showmanship. However, a true pianist must master technique to fully express themselves.
Read more at interlude.hk

2024-11-17

The Disney Ambassador Pianist

Lang Lang will bring Disney magic to Abu Dhabi, combining classic tunes with a modern twist. His concert will feature a full orchestra and special guests, performing beloved songs like "Let It Go" and "The Bare Necessities."
Read more at khaleejtimes.com

2024-11-16

World's Fastest Pianist?

Pianist Thurzo Zoltan attempted to break the world record for most piano key hits in 30 seconds on October 23rd in Biharia village. This attempt honored his mother, Thurzó Margit Terézia, who passed away on the same date in 2023. The current record of 495 hits is held by Japanese musician Keita Hattori, set in December 2023.
Read more at theviolinchannel.com

2024-11-15

New Book: The Piano - You Can't Knock It

The Piano: You Can't Knock It is a comprehensive guide to the piano, exploring its history, mechanics, acoustics, famous players, and more. It's a versatile book that can be read cover to cover or dipped into at random.
Read more at worldpianonews.com

2024-11-14

Piano maker Edelweiss

Despite years of piano expertise, Edelweiss lacked in-house design skills. They hired Delwin Fandrich, a renowned American designer, to create plans for a miniature grand piano, aiming for the world's smallest.
Read more at ft.com

2024-11-13

Sakamoto's Opus Grammy Nominee

Late Japanese music legend Ryuichi Sakamoto's final solo piano work "Opus" is on the 2025 Grammy nominations list.
Read more at yomiuri.co.jp

2024-11-12

The Synaesthetic Pianist

Synaesthesia, a unique sensory experience, can influence artistic expression. Sound-color synaesthesia, one of its many forms, has inspired composers like Ligeti and Scriabin. They used this neurological phenomenon to associate specific colors with musical keys and chords, adding a vibrant dimension to their compositions.
Read more at classical-music.com

2024-11-11

Fujita at Carnegie Hall

Fujita's Sunday afternoon recital in Carnegie Hall invited contemplation: Could the culture of haiku, tea ceremonies, and Takemitsu offer a new lens through which to view the European canon?
Read more at newyorkclassicalreview.com

2024-11-10

Free Pianos Everywhere

A piano pandemic: the internet is flooded with free pianos. But beware, potential pianists! These instruments are not for the faint of heart or back.
Read more at timesunion.com

2024-11-09

Watch the 12th Hamamatsu Piano Competition Live

The 2024 Hamamatsu International Piano Competition is live-streamed on YouTube and yhe Gramophone website. This triennial event, held in Hamamatsu, Japan, is open to pianists under 30.
Read more at gramophone.co.uk

2024-11-08

The Ever Popular Rach 2

In 1900, a deeply troubled Sergei Rachmaninov began composing his monumental Piano Concerto No. 2. Criticized harshly for his First Symphony, he sought help from Nikolai Dahl. Dedicated to his therapist, the concerto is a testament to the power of healing and the triumph of the human spirit.
Read more at classicfm.com

2024-11-07

Not-So-Known for Piano Duet

Dutch pianist brothers Lucas and Arthur Jussen have been inseparable musical collaborators since childhood.This month, they release recordings of "tiny diamonds" - short waltzes and lullabies inspired by and sometimes defying late 19th and early 20th-century French Impressionism.
Read more at npr.org

2024-11-05

War Steinways

In late 1941, Steinway & Sons received a request from the U.S. government to build heavy-duty pianos for the military. With four sons and several nephews serving, President Theodore E. Steinway recognized music's power to uplift troops. By June 1942, the first prototypes were ready for inspection. When the war ended, Steinway had shipped over 5,000 pianos.
Read more at steinway.com

2024-11-04

Yuja + Vikingur = True

Piano powerhouses Yuja Wang and Víkingur Ólafsson join forces for a dazzling concert tour. They traverse a wide-ranging program, from Schubert's intimate Fantasia to the impossible complexities of Nancarrow's Studies, arranged by Adès. Their journey also include works by Adams, Berio, and Cage. They conclude with Rachmaninov's epic Symphonic Dances, adapted for two pianos.
Read more at ft.com

2024-11-03

Denk's Ives Album

Renowned for his interpretations of Ives' challenging music, pianist Jeremy Denk highlights the composer's four violin sonatas. The album also features remastered versions of Ives' Piano Sonatas Nos. 1 and 2 from Denk's acclaimed 2010 debut.
Read more at theviolinchannel.com

2024-11-02

Paderewski in Paso Robles

World-renowned pianist and composer Ignacy Paderewski sought relief from neuritis in Paso Robles, California. Drawn to the town's therapeutic sulfur hot springs, he discovered a sanctuary where he could heal and escape the demands of his musical and political career for the next 25 years.
Read more at pasoroblespress.com

2024-11-01

Kantorow on His New Album

Alexandre Kantorow, the 2019 International Tchaikovsky Competition piano winner and Grand Prix recipient, is one of the world's finest young pianists. He has recorded a series of acclaimed albums for BIS, including the recently released Gramophone Editor's Choice: the three youthful piano sonatas by Brahms, Schubert's Wanderer Fantasy, and a selection of Schubert/Liszt songs.
Read more at gramophone.co.uk