News Flash

2025-04-17

Schubert's Wanderer

Schubert's art profoundly explores solitude. A rootless wanderer, he channeled this into music, notably three "Der Wanderer" Lieder and "Winterreise." These capture the wanderer's psyche: "Joy surrounds, yet I am alone"- a perfect summation of his aesthetic.
Read more at interlude.hk

2025-04-16

Back on Track - Kate Liu

Kate Liu, known for her third prize and top scores at the 2015 Chopin Competition, returns impressively after a hand injury. Her ambitious program, featuring late Beethoven and Brahms' monumental Piano Sonata No. 3, fulfills high expectations, marking a strong resurgence.
Read more at interlude.hk

2025-04-15

William Wordsworth's Piano Music

Poorly known piano music including the significant Sonata, now have their first complete recording after limited LP releases 60 years prior, revealing an honest style akin to Sibelius and Rubbra, focused on deep feeling, which contrasts his surprising gentle children's miniatures.
Read more at arcana.fm

2025-04-14

Pianist and Composer in AI

Clara Yang presents "Ex Machina," an immersive multimedia performance exploring the intersection of technology and humanity, at The Process Series. This 70-minute piece, "Piano in an AI World," questions human identity through a deconstruction of musical identity.
Read more at unc.edu

2025-04-13

Who is Going to The Cliburn?

Thirty elite pianists representing 17 nations will vie for top honors at the 17th Van Cliburn Competition in Fort Worth, May 21-June 7, 2025. This select group of 30 was chosen from 340 applicants after rigorous screening
Read more at culturemap.com

2025-04-12

Young Pianist Heading for Warsaw

In late April, Ma Tiankun competes in the preliminary round of the 19th Chopin Competition in Warsaw. His repertoire - études, nocturne, mazurkas, scherzo - aims to showcase Chopin's diverse facets and his own interpretive voice. If selected, the main competition follows in October.
Read more at chinadaily.com.cn

2025-04-11

Haochen Zhang on His New Album

Gold medalist at the 2009 Van Cliburn, Haochen Zhang is a celebrated soloist and chamber musician with a diverse discography. His new BIS album features monumental works by Beethoven (Hammerklavier Sonata) and Liszt (Sonata in B minor), composers central to his artistic journey.
Read more at blogcritics.org

2025-04-10

Lim in London

Yunchan Lim's Wigmore Hall debut performing the Goldberg Variations showcased a captivating blend of spontaneity and meticulous precision. The young Korean pianist's interpretation, his first UK performance of the work, revealed a striking maturity beyond his years.
Read more at theguardian.com

2025-04-09

A Historical Return

More than just a concert, this Vladimir Horowitz 1965 recital was a pivotal moment. Having been absent from the public eye since 1953 due to the debilitating effects of depression and anxiety, his return sparked intense curiosity throughout the musical community. The unspoken question hung in the air: after so long, could his genius still shine?
Read more at interlude.hk

2025-04-08

Myra Hess - National Treasure

Hear music from the APR Records album 'Myra Hess - The complete solo and concerto studio recordings' on the podcast discussing the new Kahn & Averill book release, Myra Hess - National Treasure.
Read more at gramophone.co.uk

2025-04-07

Best LvB Sonatas Cycles?

Many great pianists have recorded Beethoven's complete sonatas, each offering unique interpretations of his evolving genius, from poetic nuance to virtuosic power. This article examines six exceptional sets, comparing their insights, technique, and artistic vision, revealing the sonatas' endless richness for every listener.
Read more at classical-music.com

2025-04-06

The Piano Opens in Australia

Amanda Keller hosts this six-part series showcasing how pianos enrich everyday Australian lives. Pianists perform in public spaces, unknowingly observed by Harry Connick Jr. and Andrea Lam. These experts will mentor chosen talents for a life-changing performance at Sydney's City Recital Hall.
Read more at abc.net.au

2025-04-05

Anton Mejias on Bach

Born in 2001, Finnish-Cuban pianist Anton Mejias showed early fascination with Bach. Debuting at eight, he mastered The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I, by ten. His repertoire now includes the complete French and English Suites, all six partitas, and The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book II.
Read more at gramophone.co.uk

2025-04-04

Indispensable Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach's enduring music has inspired composers for centuries, from the Classical and Romantic eras to today. Arrangements of Bach's keyboard music by legacy composers reveal pedagogical, interpretive, and evolving stylistic intentions across different performance mediums.
Read more at interlude.hk

2025-04-03

The Fedorova & Takser Piano Duo

After graduating from Moscow in 2009, pianists Fedorova and Takser emigrated to Canada in 2010. They credit their teacher Richard Raymond and the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal for adding "charm and flavour" to their rigorous Russian training, creating a unique blend of styles.
Read more at myscena.org

2025-04-02

Pianist Jumppanen and Boulez

In 2001, young pianist Paavali Jumppanen, studying with Krystian Zimmermann, played Boulez's challenging Second Sonata for the composer in Paris. This pivotal meeting led Boulez to invite Paavali to record his piano sonatas, deeply influencing his career path despite his outsider status to the avant-garde.
Read more at abc.net.au

2025-04-01

The Lipatti Legend

Despite personal and historical turmoil, Dinu Lipatti achieved international fame, enthralling audiences and critics. His years of dedicated preparation for each concerto showcased a profound commitment beyond virtuosity. Every note he played resonated with purpose and humanity.
Read more at interlude.hk

2025-03-31

Korean Top Prizes in Paris

Seventeen-year-old South Korean pianist Saehyun Kim triumphed at the 2025 Long-Thibaud Piano Competition with his Rachmaninoff 3rd. He also secured the Audience, Press Jury, and Paris Prizes, the latter voted on by over 20,000 Parisian music students. Kim's compatriot Hyo Lee won third prize.
Read more at theviolinchannel.com

2025-03-30

Rachmaninoff - The Last Great Romantic

Rachmaninoff, a nostalgic composer and the last great Romantic, sought to revive a bygone era. Thankfully, dedicated pianists, conductors, listeners, and critics like Fiona Maddocks share his spirit, ensuring his magnificent, anachronistic music remains vibrant and enduring.
Read more at thebulwark.com

2025-03-29

Clara - The Chopin Fan and Patron

Frédéric Chopin (1810) was nine years older than Clara Wieck (1819). In 1832 Paris, despite her father Friedrich's heavy-handed management, her performance impressed Chopin, whose early death (1849) contrasted with Clara Schumann's long career championing his music until 1896.
Read more at interlude.hk

2025-03-27

More Ravel Album Celebrations

The reviewer thinks that the double-album titles felt wrong for Ravel, a master of exquisite miniatures whose singular beauty risks dissolving when presented en masse. Impressively, both collections, by Bavouzet and Martineau largely avoid this pitfall, preserving the unique essence of his concise masterpieces.
Read more at ludwig-van.com

2025-03-26

On Shaping an Artistic Path

Drawing on competition experience, Jingci Liu employs structured weekly practice and strategic repertoire choices. Yet, she welcomes challenges, notably her acclaimed all-female program featuring Clara Schumann, Marianna von Martinez, and Lili Boulanger, a surprising and appreciated selection by the judges.
Read more at interlude.hk

2025-03-25

Thibaudet´s Tiny Desk

Jean-Yves Thibaudet, the renowned French pianist, excels in French repertoire but spans genres. He tackles Villa-Lobos's energetic works and Khachaturian's concerto on his latest album. His Tiny Desk performance featured favorites, including Ravel's "Pavane For a Dead Princess".
Read more at interlochenpublicradio.org

2025-03-24

Being a Contestant in The Cliburn

The 2025 Cliburn attracted 340 pianists from 45 nations, with China, the US, South Korea, and Italy leading. 77 were chosen for Texas live screenings, March 16-22. On April 9th, 30 finalists will be revealed for the May 21-24 rounds.
Read more at sfcv.org