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2024-12-17

What about Reger's Piano Concerto?

Max Reger's Piano Concerto in F minor (Op. 114) premiered in Leipzig on December 15, 1910, with Frieda Kwast-Hodapp as soloist and Arthur Nikisch conducting. The performance was met with scathing criticism, typical of Reger's contemporary reception.
Read more at interlude.hk

2024-12-16

Beethoven's Great Bagatelles

Beethoven's Bagatelles, though he called them "trifles", belie their simplicity. Some were originally intended for his piano sonatas, suggesting they possess the same compositional depth and significance as full-fledged sonata movements.
Read more at interlude.hk

2024-12-15

Yuja in a Speed Q + A

Yuja Wang, world-renowned pianist celebrated for her dazzling technique and charisma, achieved global recognition at just 21. In this BBC interview, she discusses motivation, inspiration, and the keys to her success.
Read more at bbc.com

2024-12-12

Ashkenazy in Conversation

Legendary pianist and conductor,Vladimir Ashkenazy shares insights from his career. He discusses playing for Sviatoslav Richter, the impact of not winning the Chopin Competition, and the pressures of Soviet-era competitions. He also reveals his passion for European football and shares a heartfelt message about the human soul.
Read more at livingthecreativelife.org

2024-12-11

Great Pianists on Memory

Maria Joao Pires famously performed Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 20 despite preparing the wrong one. This interview with Noa Kageyama explores memorization tactics pianists use to achieve such remarkable feats.
Read more at tonebase.co

2024-12-10

Taking Piano Lessons Is Good For You

"The pleasure of practicing, of marking my own progress, is, as hokey as it sounds, its own reward." writes artist Sarah Hotchkiss at KQED Arts & Culture. None of this is really a surprise. Studies show that engaging in artistic, expressive hobbies has clear mental health benefits.
Read more at kqed.org

2024-12-09

Chopin in Top at Apple Music Classical

What does the album top list for 2024 say about how we enjoy classical music? The piano is a strong feature of the charts, featuring as the lead instrument in four of the top five.
Read more at euronews.com

2024-12-08

Sad Piano: Because times change – and so do we

Being a composer is not about sitting in a room writing complex symphonies, says Matthew Hindson. It's about making music that connects.
Read more at limelight-arts.com.au

2024-12-04

Chopin the Teacher

In the first of two columns about Chopin’s teaching practices, Kenneth Hamilton outlines the state of our current knowledge, which underpins our understanding of the man and his music.
Read more at gramophone.co.uk

2024-12-01

Trifonov Teaches Thrilled Students

"He shaped my journey and my passion for music," piano student Cemeron Akioka said of Trifonov. "He's the first person that I go to when I’m thinking about learning a new piece. I listen to his recordings first." Now he got the chance to meet Trifonov in a master-class in Chicago.
Read more at cso.org

2024-11-28

Frahm Bluring the Lines

Berlin-based pianist Nils Frahm has spent the last two decades blurring the lines between classical and contemporary music. Owing to his unconventional blend of piano and ambient electronic minimalism, Frahm has had to push back at the industry’s exploitative attempts to pigeonhole him as a "neo classical" artist.
Read more at musicradar.com

2024-11-27

Winning Pianist Inspired by YouTube

"I watched the 10th Hamamatsu Piano Competition on YouTube in 2018 and knew I wanted to enter it one day", says Manami Suzuki who became the first Japanese pianist to win the Hamamatsu International Piano Competition after performing Beethoven's 3rd piano concerto in yesterday's final round.
Read more at gramophone.co.uk

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