The 200th anniversary of Chopin\u2019s birth falls in 2010. What better excuse could there be for the International Piano Series to celebrate this most magical of pianist-composers? Including celebratory programmes from two of today\u2019s greatest Chopin players, Krystian Zimerman and Maurizio Pollini, this season\u2019s IPS recitals revolve around the composer, along with his contemporaries, peers and successors. Series debuts for the important young artists, C\u00e9dric Tiberghien and Yevgeny Sudbin and for the distinguished Turkish pianist H\u00fcseyin Sermet all offer tributes to Chopin; Peter Donohoe\u2019s masterclass is devoted to his works; and some of the world\u2019s finest Chopin scholars meet for a fascinating day of discussion at the Chopin Forum. In addition, six pre-concert talks on the theme Chopin at 200: Celebrating a Musical Imagination will accompany the Chopin recitals. Presented by renowned experts John Rink, Jim Samson, Adrian Thomas and Roy Howat, the talks will focus on Chopin\u2019s musical innovations as well as his creative use of past traditions.
\nMany of the best-loved pianists on the international circuit are appearing in this year\u2019s series, beginning with the immensely popular young Macedonian Simon Trp\u010deski. Among the familiar faces who draw crowds worldwide are Pascal Rog\u00e9 from France, Yundi Li from China and the British stars John Lill and Paul Lewis. Norwegian Leif Ove Andsnes presents an adventurous concert including Mussorgsky\u2019s Pictures at an Exhibition with an installation inspired by the work from the artist Robin Rhode; Imogen Cooper continues her wonderful survey of Schubert\u2019s piano music; and Cristina Ortiz brings a touch of Brazilian exoticism to her programme of Debussy and Villa-Lobos. In short, every concert is a special event in its own right \u2013 the place for every piano fan to be.<\/p>\n