News Flash

2025-03-20

The Great Herbie Hancock

Hancock's Polar Music Prize, akin to a musical Nobel, prompted this conversation. He joins legends like McCartney, Dylan, and Wonder. He's thrilled, especially given Wayne Shorter's prior win, highlighting their shared history in Miles Davis's quintet.
Read more at bbc.com

2025-03-19

Lisiecki on Chopin

Approaching his 30th year, pianist Jan Lisiecki, a Deutsche Grammophon recording artist since the age of 15, continues to captivate audiences. Now, with the 2025 release of "Preludes," his 11th album for DG, Lisiecki reaffirms his commitment to letting the music speak for itself.
Read more at sfcv.org

2025-03-18

Young-Gen Schumann

Schumann's piano works demand mental and emotional depth, exceeding mere technical skill. Beyond difficulty, they explore intimacy, drama, and poetry. Today's pianists offer fresh interpretations, showcasing innovative approaches to his complex, evocative compositions.
Read more at interlude.hk

2025-03-17

Piano Legends' Last Recording

Over a century, recordings brought legendary pianists' artistry to listeners. We explore six masters' final recordings, some captured mere days before their passing. These poignant works offer a glimpse into their enduring genius, a final testament to their musical legacy.
Read more at interlude.hk

2025-03-16

Pianist Izik-Dzurko in Conversation

The Leeds victory, a peak for the Canadian pianist, capped arduous years of competitive striving. He declared it his final contest, a welcome closure. Beyond technique, competitions demand mental fortitude. Izik-Dzurko felt a need to transcend the constant ranking, finding its relentless nature spiritually taxing.
Read more at ludwig-van.com

2025-03-15

Jablonski Takes on Stevenson

Ronald Stevenson's piano works, once overlooked by top pianists, now flourish. Peter Jablonski's Ondine series showcases diverse, short pieces, including premieres. This comprehensive anthology offers a representative glimpse into Stevenson's vast piano repertoire.
Read more at gramophone.co.uk

2025-03-14

New Piano Sounds from Frahm

German composer Nils Frahm, famed for his classical-electronic fusion and improvisational live performances, discussed his creative methods with Ali Moore. He revealed the story behind his renowned track, featuring a grand piano played with toilet brushes.
Read more at abc.net.au

2025-03-13

Denk on Politics in Music

Amidst chaos, pianist Jeremy Denk seeks solace through music. He suggests analyzing societal issues via musical works, exploring how they reflect and influence our fractured culture. Denk discussed books addressing American divisions, hoping they'll foster a deeper understanding of our shared humanity.
Read more at newyorker.com

2025-03-12

Ravel for a Truly Left Handed Pianist

Ravel's left-hand concerto, born of adversity, is a somber, grand, and darkly absurd piece. Unlike his G major concerto, it uniquely blends pathos with a solemn, almost grotesque, magnificence, marking a distinct departure in his work.
Read more at bachtrack.com

2025-03-11

Aquiring Cortot's Pleyel

Muzaffar Shah's Pleyel obsession began at 27, seeking one for his new flat. He prioritized the piano over furniture. Pleyel, Chopin's favorite, was lauded for its "veiled sonority." Shah, captivated by Chopin's preference, pursued the instrument's unique sound.
Read more at thetimes.com/

2025-03-10

Australian Legend Hyde

Pianist and Miriam Hyde, a steadfast composer, defied trends, remaining true to her romantic, pastoral style. Despite critics, she left 150 scores, many unpublished. Her daughter, is dedicated to publishing all of Hyde's works, honoring her mother's creative legacy.
Read more at abc.net.au

2025-03-09

Tao Plays a Lumatone

The Lumatone, a 280-key MIDI device, dwarfs the piano's 88. It unlocks 53 microtones per octave, far beyond the standard 12. As Tao performed, its keys glowed with vibrant colors, resembling a luminous, musical Lite-Brite.
Read more at .bizjournals.com

2025-03-08

The Enigmatic Horowitz

Horowitz, even decades after death, sparks debate. Richter deemed him "great pianist, trivial mind," echoed by Rubinstein's critiques. Despite technical brilliance, he was seen as arrogant and uninteresting. Grove's Dictionary notes his skill didn't ensure musical depth.
Read more at classical-music.com

2025-03-07

Meet Hannes Minaar!

Hannes Minnaar, praised for his 'buoyant' and 'deference' playing, is a renowned Dutch pianist. He collaborates with esteemed conductors and orchestras throughout Europe. Minnaar's deep connection to Beethoven is evident in his recordings and upcoming Hong Kong performance, featuring a piano quintet version of the fourth concerto and Shostakovich solo works.
Read more at interlude.hk

2025-03-06

A Unique Piano Formula

Liszt admired Moszkowski's blend of brilliance and depth, mirroring late 19th-century trends. Paderewski praised his piano writing, second only to Chopin. Married to Chaminade's sister, the wealthy Moszkowski couple aided fellow musicians in Paris.
Read more at interlude.hk

2025-03-05

More Than Only Jazz

Some musicians exist within their own unique realm, requiring no external validation. Jazz and Black vernacular music, with their rich history and accomplishments, stand independently. They possess an incredibly deep internal framework. Their worth is inherent, not needing comparison to other musical forms.
Read more at jazztimes.com

2025-03-05

Who Made it to the Warsaw Preliminaries?

From 642 applications, 171 artists from 28 nations will compete in the 19th Chopin Competition Preliminaries. China leads with 60+ participants, followed by South Korea, Japan, and Poland. Global representation includes Canada, Italy, Brazil, Thailand, Malaysia, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan.
Read more at polskieradio.pl

2025-03-04

A Surviving Piano's Story

Amidst Hiroshima's atomic devastation, a survivor: Akiko Kawamoto's piano. Born in Los Angeles (1926), she moved to Hiroshima with her family in 1933, bringing their piano. At 19, she perished 800 meters from the 1945 blast. Plans exist to bring her story to Hiroshima for the 80th anniversary.
Read more at nhk.or.jp

2025-03-04

Lim Takes on Goldbergs

Reserved Lim's Goldbergs defied convention. His ambitious performance, especially the initial variations, revealed a musician unbound by formula. His musical vision, though quietly expressed, was powerfully and undeniably free.
Read more at sfcv.org

2025-03-02

Collaborating Pianists on Strike!

Piano accompanists at the Paris and Lyon Conservatories have been striking since February 12, 2025, demanding fair pay and an end to a €1,650 monthly wage cap. Faculty and others support their protest against insufficient salaries.
Read more at theviolinchannel.com

2025-03-01

Making an Opera from a Piano Work

Enrique Granados's Goyescas, inspired by Goya, began as a 1911 piano suite. In 1915, he adapted it into a one-act opera, debuting at the Met in 1916. Originally for Paris, WWI moved it to New York, making it the Met's first Spanish opera.
Read more at interlude.hk

2025-03-01

The Vikingur and Yuja Spectacle

Two-piano duos often thrive on shared vision, with pianists facing each other for connection, like siblings or spouses. Ólafsson and Wang defy this, sitting side-by-side, pianos angled apart. Their unlikely partnership, amidst contrasting styles, challenges typical duo dynamics.
Read more at latimes.com

2025-02-28

Overlooked Piano Concertos

How many overlooked piano concerto masterpieces exist? Ten leading pianists reveal their choices of undeservedly neglected concertos. Do you know the composers listed in this selection?
Read more at classical-music.com

2025-02-27

Take the Clara Schumann Quiz!

Which training method was Clara following when young, or what do you know about her being the first female to teach at the Hoch Conservatory 1878–1892? Give the Quiz a try!
Read more at interlude.hk