News Flash

2025-08-22

Horowitz’s Teacher

From a strikingly musical family, Felix Blumenfeld learned piano from his brother, while siblings pursued music, his father taught music and French, his cousin was Karol Szymanowski, and his nephew Heinrich Neuhaus guided iconic pianists like Richter and Gilels.
Read more at interlude.hk

2025-08-21

Korean Piano Stars

Lim’s fame reminds Paik of her own, following major competition successes from 1989–1994. As Korea’s first female pianist in the spotlight, she sold out recitals, recorded CDs, taught at Seoul National University, and now co-chairs NEC’s piano department.
Read more at koreatimes.co.kr

2025-08-20

Starting Today: Chopin and His Europe 2025

The 21st “Chopin and His Europe” festival runs 20 August–6 September, presenting 29 concerts. Audiences will hear renowned soloists, orchestras, and chamber ensembles, alongside emerging performers, with programs blending celebrated masterpieces and rediscovered gems worthy of preservation from obscurity.
Read more at polskieradio.pl

2025-08-19

Chopin Through The Nocturne Lens

Chopin refined ideas through performance and teaching, leaving traces in manuscripts, first editions, and students’ versions. Early recordings by Mikuli’s and Mathias’s pupils reveal phrasing, rubato, and tone, offering historical insight equally vital as written notes.
Read more at gramophone.co.uk

2025-08-18

The Cliburn Winner's Works

After the 17th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, 29-year-old Aristo Sham said he aimed to present his best self during performances, focusing solely on his own playing and what he could control, ignoring external factors.
Read more at tpr.org

2025-08-17

A Natural Concerto Step

Rumi Kang, is composing a piano concerto under Professor Hu’s guidance. Though unlikely to finish this summer, it may become his senior project, requiring handwritten drafts, visible revisions, and patience with the demanding creative process.
Read more at denison.edu

2025-08-16

The Do Good Recitalist

Ryan Hull, a third-year McGill student, has spent the summer cycling across Quebec and performing classical piano concerts to raise funds and awareness for rare “orphan” diseases, which affect too few people to attract significant treatment development.
Read more at mcgill.ca

2025-08-15

Oscar Peterson at 100

Born in Montreal on Aug. 15, 1925, Oscar Peterson began recording in Canada two decades later, choosing a swinging, bluesy piano style over bebop trends, drawing from Nat Cole’s trio while big band swing waned and modern jazz emerged
Read more at wrti.org

2025-08-14

The Very Popular Mr. Tiersen

Yann Tiersen's eclectic style blends classical, folk, pop, and ambient elements. His breakthrough came with the whimsical soundtrack for the 2001 film "Amélie", which earned him international acclaim and introduced his delicate piano melodies to a wider audience.
Read more at interlude.hk

2025-08-12

Mehldau Covers

Jazz pianist Brad Mehldau's new album, *Ride Into The Sun*, is a tribute to Elliott Smith. The LP features 10 of Smith's songs, plus a few originals and covers of tracks by other artists.
Read more at stereogum.com

2025-08-11

More on John Williams' Piano Concerto

At 93, legendary composer John Williams, known for scoring blockbusters, premiered his first piano concerto. The new piece was written for pianist Emanuel Ax and debuted with the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Read more at classicfm.com

2025-08-10

Pianists' Pianists

Who is the greatest pianist of all time? BBC asked 100 leading pianists to name the performers who have brought the most magic to the keyboard. The result is their handpicked selection of the 20 greatest pianists.
Read more at classical-music.com

2025-08-09

Do You Know Edith Farnadi?

Brazilian pianist Nelson Freire cherished Edith Farnadi’s recordings and live performances, especially her unique, gypsy-influenced style, which greatly influenced his musical taste and remains memorable to this day.
Read more at gramophone.co.uk

2025-08-08

A Drive with Alexander Gavrylyuk

Australian-Ukrainian pianist Alexander Gavrylyuk joins Vanessa Hughes in Eugene Goossens Hall on Drive Live. He recalls childhood summers in Ukraine, the influence of folk music, and disciplined practice that helped shape his virtuoso piano career.
Read more at abc.net.au

2025-08-07

Master of Collaboration

Masterful Israeli pianist Itamar Golan has spent decades as a cornerstone of modern chamber music. Renowned for his exquisite balance of sensitivity and fire, his selfless and nuanced presence elevates every musical partner.
Read more at interlude.hk

2025-08-06

Paralyzed Pianist Back on Stage

Pianist Riccardo Baldini, paralyzed six years ago, made a triumphant return to the stage. He developed his own technology to help him play again, fulfilling his dream of performing after losing the use of his pedals and his body's "self-awareness."
Read more at ctvnews.ca

2025-08-05

Pianos for Peace

After surviving the atomic blast, seven piano owners donated their A-bombed instruments to Hiroshima-based tuner Yagawa Mitsunori. He restores these pianos just enough to "sing" again, carefully preserving the marks left by history.
Read more at nhk.or.jp

2025-08-05

Sir Andras Schiff in Interview

The Barenboim-Said Akademie's musical perspectives podcast is a perfect way to connect with listeners. Here people share their lives as music students and explore what it's like to be a young musician today, all while talking with inspiring artists.
Read more at pbs-1.io.swhost.in

2025-08-04

Lang Lang on Teaching and Education

From the renowned pianist's classroom initiatives to his own son, Lang Lang shares what a young classical musician needs to succeed. He'll discuss this and more in an interview ahead of his performance at Interlochen.
Read more at interlochenpublicradio.org

2025-08-03

21st Century Jazz

Drawing inspiration from legends like Sonny Rollins and Thelonious Monk, Cornish's debut album, "You’re Exaggerating!", arrives August 22 on the legendary Blue Note Records, showcasing his own unique sound shaped by his years in Los Angeles.
Read more at texasmonthly.com

2025-08-01

A New Piano Concerto by John Williams

John Williams composed the piano concerto for Emanuel Ax, showcasing his impressive skills. The abstract, nonlinear piece features cadenzas and improvisatory-like passages, highlighting Ax’s virtuosity as he navigates complex, meticulously notated solo moments.
Read more at thelegacyofjohnwilliams.com

2025-07-31

A Bunch of Masterclasses

PIANIST (UK) offers a curated series of masterclasses featuring renowned pianists from both past and contemporary times.
Read more at pianistmagazine.com

2025-07-30

Aspen, Ravel and de la Salle

Join CPR Classical and the Aspen Music Festival and School for a special live-streamed concert at CPRClassical.org. Enjoy a Aspen Summerfest performance from home - featuring pianist Lise de la Salle and music by Gabriella Smith, Ravel, and Nielsen. The concert starts at 11:30 PM (GMT), August 1.
Read more at .cpr.org

2025-07-29

Chinese Pianist and Composer Signs with DG

Yu-Peng Chen, a renowned Chinese pianist and composer, is the first from China to sign with Deutsche Grammophon. His debut on DG is the extended edition of Fantasyland with the London Philharmonic, set for release in November 2025.
Read more at theviolinchannel.com