Wood, Wire, and Fire: The Architects of the Piano’s Soul
For three centuries, we have mythologized the virtuosos and idolized the composers. In a wide-ranging new chronicle, Jeremy Nicholas turns the spotlight on the eccentric inventors, cabinet-makers, and resilient visionaries who built the instruments behind the music. Consider the concert grand. It sits on the world’s great stages like a sleeping leviathan – a marvel of engineering comprising ten thousand […]
Toward the Flame: Boris Petrushansky’s Journey Through Scriabin’s Universe
On the anniversary of Alexander Scriabin’s death. Alexander Scriabin died in April 1915, at forty-three, of a fever that took him within a week — leaving his great mystical project unfinished. He left behind a piano language no one had spoken before, one that a century later still questions every interpreter who approaches it. Boris Petrushansky has spent a lifetime […]
“The Sound Always Comes First” — Andrea Bonatta on Teaching Liszt
Why tone matters more than speed, why reading Goethe matters as much as practising octaves, and how a single insight can transform a performance. Italian pianist and scholar Andrea Bonatta has spent decades exploring the contradictions of Franz Liszt, from performer to man of faith, virtuoso to poet. Here, in conversation with Piano Street at Liszt Utrecht 2026, he shares […]
Beatrice Rana’s “Classiche Forme”
This upcoming summer marks the highly anticipated 10th edition of the Classiche Forme chamber music festival, run by acclaimed pianist Beatrice Rana. As preparations for the milestone anniversary get underway, we now get a fascinating look back at the last edition by guest writer Laurence Vittes from Bachtrack. The ninth edition of Beatrice Rana’s weeklong ‘Classiche Forme’ chamber music festival […]
How Many Hours Should You Practice the Piano? – The Lines Between Science, Method and Passion
It is a timeless question, a persistent voice in the mind of every pianist: “How many hours must I practice to truly improve?” It springs from a perfectly legitimate desire to measure the commitment required to transform our ambitions into sound, whether that means playing a simple minuet or dreaming of the world’s most prestigious stages. Giulio Cinelli from Pianosolo.it […]
A Jazz Piano Christmas 2025 – But not at the Kennedy Center
For more than three decades, “A Jazz Piano Christmas” at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. has been a quiet highlight of the holiday season for jazz and piano lovers. No fixed formulas, no “seasonal jazz” clichés — just strong pianistic voices working with familiar material. This year, the live concert is on pause. Here’s what changed, and where pianists […]
Wagner’s Universe in a Pianist’s Hands
One of the most thrilling performances offered at Cremona Musica this year was the Wagner by Liszt recital given by Filippo Tenisci – Italian pianist, born 1998 and celebrated for his refined interpretations and expressive mastery of the Romantic repertoire. After his recital we got the chance talking to Tenici about his Wagner/Liszt project. A winner of the 2023 Bayreuth […]
Italian Focus at Cremona Musica Piano Experience 2025
At the end of September, the annual Cremona Musica exhibition – a significant global event – took place, offering new insights into the music industry. As a member of the Media Lounge, Piano Street is again pleased to provide a pianistic perspective on key events. Every autumn, the historic city of Cremona – long celebrated as the cradle of violin […]
Boris Giltburg’s Big Season in Germany
Boris Giltburg is set for a remarkable season across Germany, performing with top orchestras in Essen, Dresden, Frankfurt, and Leipzig. In this wide-ranging interview with Eric Schoones, the pianist reflects on his deep connection to Rachmaninoff, the emotional depths of Beethoven, and his upcoming exploration of Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier—a new “final frontier” in his artistic journey. The charismatic Boris Giltburg, […]
Chopin and His Europe Festival Returns
Warsaw is once again gearing up for one of its annual musical highlights. The 21st edition of the Chopin and His Europe Festival kicked off on 20 August and runs until 6 September, packing in 29 concerts featuring a mix of world-renowned soloists, orchestras, and chamber ensembles. As always, audiences can expect a blend of beloved classics and rediscovered gems. […]
The Piano Taking Center Stage at the 2025 Verbier Festival
For piano lovers, the Verbier Festival 2025 again shaped up to be a dream come true. This summer, the festival was rolling out one of its most interesting piano lineups yet, blending household names, rising stars, and even a little jazz for good measure. From mid-July through early August, nearly every day was offering something exciting for anyone who could […]
The Crucible of Keys: A Century of Glory and Grit at the Queen Elisabeth Piano Competition
The piano world is buzzing with excitement this summer. As we predicted, recent media channels have been dominated by news and updates from three of the world’s most prestigious piano competitions: Chopin, Cliburn, and Queen Elisabeth. In its recent issue, the magazine “The World of Piano Competitions” dedicated a special feature to the Queen Elisabeth Competition, where Piano Street’s Patrick […]