A Sudden Chat with Paul Lewis about Beethoven & Schubert
Substituting for the suddenly indisposed Janine Jensen, pianist Paul Lewis shares his ideas on his global Schubert project, classical repertoire focus and views on titans Beethoven vs. Schubert. Renowned British pianist Paul Lewis, stepped in to perform Beethoven’s G-major Concerto with the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra and Daniel Harding in Stockholm on February 23. This unexpected turn of events proved […]
A Massive Glimpse Into Ligeti’s Pianistic Universe
Performing Ligeti’s complete Etudes is a challenge for any pianist. Young pianist Han Chen has received both attention and glowing reviews for his recording of the entire set for Naxos. We had the opportunity to speak with the pianist after his impressive recital at the Piano Experience in Cremona last fall. Sometimes, sensations occur within the classical piano world that […]
New Book: Women and the Piano by Susan Tomes
Susan Tomes’ latest book is a captivating and thought-provoking exploration of women pianists’ history, praised for its engaging storytelling, thorough research, and insightful analysis. The book combines historical narrative with Tomes’ personal insights as a performing female pianist. Piano Street: Dear Susan, we were so happy to talk with you after the release of your book “The Piano – A […]
Master Teacher Christopher Elton – Never Ending Impetus
With 50 years at the Royal Academy of Music and an international teaching career, Professor Christopher Elton has gained unique experience in how to coach accomplished artists. In this unique interview for Piano Street, Elton shares his insights and views on the big perspective. People within the professional piano community know his name, and most have heard his students on […]
Lucas Debargue – A Matter of Life or Death
Since Glenn Gould’s performances in Moscow in 1957 and Van Cliburn’s historic victory in the Tchaikovsky Competition the following year, at the height of the Cold War, no foreign pianist has attracted as much attention in Russia as Lucas Debargue. In 2015 he entered the famous competition in Moscow as a complete outsider, though he had only been studying the […]
Does Rachmaninoff Touch Your Heart?
Today, with smartwatches and everyday electronics, it is increasingly common to measure training results, heart rate, calorie consumption, and overall health. But monitoring heart rate of pianists and audience can reveal interesting insights on several other aspects within the musical field. We have previously written about Dr. Riley, who uses body scanning and heart rate to improve musicians’ playing, performance […]
Rhapsody in Blue – A Piece of American History at 100!
The centennial celebration of George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue has taken place with a bang and noise around the world. The renowned work of American classical music has become synonymous with the jazz age in America over the past century. Piano Street provides a quick overview of the acclaimed composition, including recommended performances and additional resources for reading and listening […]
Driving an Old Car – The Art of Decoding Historical Instruments
How can we approach and learn about period instruments? We think the best way would be to follow the path of a pianist who actually did and additionally, very successfully. We talked with the second prize winner and winner of the prize for best Polish participant of the 2nd International Chopin Competition on Period Instruments, pianist Piotr Pawlak. Piano Street […]
Body and Intention – Tracking Down Musicians’ Health
It is easy to take piano playing and musicianship for granted but most people have experienced physical tension and strain while practicing. The American pianist, pedagogue, and researcher Dr. Kathleen Riley has spent many years developing a method called Optimal Performance, scanning pianists’ bodies using electrodes. In a Masterclass with students and pianist Garrick Ohlsson as test subjects at San […]
Jean-Jacques Eigeldinger – Following in the Footsteps of Chopin’s Legacy
Jean-Jacques Eigeldinger, a universally recognized profile for his Chopin research and lifelong dedication to teaching, graciously accepts to answer the questions of this interview for Cremona Musica, where he received the Cremona Music Award for Communication 2023. His professional career is filled with prestigious positions: he is an emeritus professor of Musicology at the University of Geneva, has taught at […]
Book: Reading Franz Liszt
Pianist Paul Roberts’ latest book “Reading Franz Liszt” invites readers into Liszt’s world through an engaging examination of his most cherished compositions and the underlying literary works that influenced them. Exploring the depths of Franz Liszt’s legacy, Roberts presents a fresh perspective on the legendary composer, emphasizing his poetic sensitivity alongside his technical prowess. Paul Roberts is widely recognized for […]
Bruno Monsaingeon – Fascination and Confidence
After his films about greats like Glenn Gould, Yehudi Menuhin, Sviatoslav Richter and many others, films in which he exposes the soul of those artists with great empathy, Bruno Monsaingeon himself is quasi a legend. In recent months, he has been putting the finishing touches to a film about Klaus Mäkelä, the new chief conductor of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. […]