News Flash

2025-02-26

Glass' Complete Etudes

Though solo piano music was peripheral to Philip Glass's early career, he increasingly performed his own works from the 1990s onward. To expand his repertoire and refine his skills, he composed Etudes, virtuosic pieces containing some of his most personal music.
Read more at gramophone.co.uk

2025-02-25

Pianist Under Influence

Young pianist Ishaan Leonard Rao's "Spice Route" album blends diverse influences, from Western classical music and Armenian folk to Turkish fusion and Indian classical music, reflecting his own musical heritage.
Read more at newindianexpress.com

2025-02-24

Pianist Masleev in His Dies Irae Trail

Dmitry Masleev, 2015 Tchaikovsky Competition winner, releases a new album featuring Liszt's Totentanz and Rhapsodie espagnole (arr. Petukhov) plus Rachmaninov's Rhapsody. He's accompanied by the Svetlanov Symphony Orchestra.
Read more at gramophone.co.uk

2025-02-24

The One and Only Volodos

Pianist Arcadi Volodos, known for his extraordinary technique, tonal palette, and musical insight, has reached the pinnacle of classical music. A late starter (at 16), his repertoire ranges from Schubert's lyricism to Liszt's virtuosity, and his transcriptions showcase deep musical understanding.
Read more at interlude.hk

2025-02-23

Lang Lang on Carnegie Hall

Pianist Lang Lang, a global musical ambassador, returns to Carnegie Hall for the second year of his Perspectives series. He hopes this "World Cup/Olympics" of music will allow him to explore new ideas and collaborations, including duet recitals, despite scheduling challenges.
Read more at playbill.com

2025-02-22

Things to Know About Liszt

In 1840, Franz Liszt's London concerts at Hanover Square Rooms marked the birth of the piano recital. Previously called "musical soliloquies," his concerts were the first to use the term "recital," borrowed from dramatic readings.
Read more at classical-music.com

2025-02-21

Vikingur's Canadian Goldberg

Fresh from his Grammy win for his DG recording, Víkingur Ólafsson returned to Toronto. His acclaimed Goldberg Variations release, accompanied by an 88-country tour, made this replacement concert a hot ticket for those who missed his previous sold-out show. Ólafsson's Goldbergs are a 21st-century benchmark.
Read more at ludwig-van.com

2025-02-20

Hazel Scott Documentary Premieres

The PBS documentary American Masters – The Disappearance of Miss Scott (premieres Feb. 21) explores the life of the early 20th-century star. Her fierce civil rights advocacy during Jim Crow included refusing to play segregated audiences. Dr. King even noted his first desegregated show was hers.
Read more at youtu.be

2025-02-19

More Liszt Transcendencies

Liszt's autobiography recounts his meeting with Beethoven, where he impressed the composer with a Bach fugue transposition. Beethoven praised him, predicting he'd bring joy to many. Liszt called it his "proudest moment," marking the start of his remarkable career.
Read more at interlude.hk

2025-02-18

What About Hough's Piano Concerto?

Stephen Hough's 2023 release, featuring his Piano Concerto and solo suites, feels like a homecoming. He's joined by The Hallé and Sir Mark Elder in the concerto, while the solo pieces, born from pandemic-era cancellations, reflect a period of creative introspection.
Read more at ebar.com

2025-02-17

Two Concertos in One Evening

Pianist Yuja Wang anchored a San Francisco Symphony program featuring two 20th-century concertos. For most pianists, Ravel's left-hand concerto would be a full program, but for Wang, it was just the first half.
Read more at www.sfcv.org

2025-02-16

The Amazing Hazel Scott

Trinidad-born Hazel Scott, the "darling of Café Society," was a child prodigy, accepted at Juilliard at 8. By 14, she toured with female bands, mentored by Billie Holiday, Fats Waller, and Art Tatum.
Read more at wqxr.org

2025-02-15

A Final Fantasy Recital

Final Fantasy's official piano concert, Crystalline Resonance, returns to Singapore after its 2023 Esplanade debut. This multi-continent tour showcases music by composers like Uematsu, Soken, and Shimamura, spanning the series's 40-year history.
Read more at hardwarezone.com

2025-02-14

The Great Maria Tipo Dies

Pianist Maria Tipo died at 93. Born in Naples (1931), she was admired for her Scarlatti, Clementi, Bach, Chopin, and Beethoven recordings. A student of Casella and Agosti, she won the Geneva competition, impressing Rubinstein.
Read more at bachtrack.com

2025-02-13

Liszt's Transcendencies

Liszt's Etude en douze exercices evolved through several revisions. In 1837, he released Vingt-quatre grandes études (still twelve studies), dedicated to Czerny. These further transformed into his most famous work, the Etudes d’exécution transcendante, published in 1851."
Read more at interlude.hk

2025-02-12

Pianist Tsujii in Conversation

Despite being blind, Japanese pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii, 2009 Van Cliburn winner, finds his greatest joy in the piano. From stage performances to recording contracts, the instrument embodies joy in his life.
Read more at koreaherald.com

2025-02-11

Bermudan Pianist Wins Grammy

Bermudian pianist Michelle Cann and soprano Karen Slack made Grammy history, becoming the first Black women duo to win their category. Cann performed on their award-winning album, Beyond The Years - Unpublished Songs Of Florence Price.
Read more at royalgazette.com

2025-02-10

Claudio Arrau - A Giant

Claudio Arrau, a 20th-century piano giant, was revered for his introspective and technically flawless performances. His emotionally resonant and intellectually rigorous playing established him as a master of the Romantic and Classical repertoires. His career spanned seven decades.
Read more at interlude.hk

2025-02-09

Vikingur + Grammy = True

Víkingur Ólafsson won his first Grammy for Best Classical Instrumental Solo for his Goldberg Variations recording. His Australian debut with the work earned rave reviews, with one critic calling it "wonderful, even miraculous," and praising Ólafsson's discovery of "colours we never knew were there.
Read more at /limelight-arts.com.au

2025-02-08

Next-Gen Bach?

A new generation of pianists blends classical precision with daring contemporary flair, pushing boundaries and creating dynamic soundscapes. Their fearless approach infuses classics with modern energy. Discover 10 fresh takes on Bach by today's hottest pianists.
Read more at interlude.hk

2025-02-07

Pianist Tao and Lumatone at Carnegie Hall

Conrad Tao, described the Lumatone, a 280-key digital keyboard, as "versatile, customizable," and capable of accessing pitches beyond a standard piano. The avant-garde concert contained music by Debussy, Schumann, Harold Arlen, as well as Tao himself.
Read more at seenandheard-international.com

2025-02-06

Most Popular Mozart Sonatas?

Mozart's beloved piano sonatas blend charm, wit, and elegance. These 18 works showcase his mastery of melody, harmony, and form, balancing classical structures with harmonic surprises and ingenious thematic development, expressing both humor and deep emotion. Which are your favourites?
Read more at interlude.hk

2025-02-05

Piano as Dementia Blocker

Piano is a popular instrument for adults learning something new, with many hoping its complex, independent hand movements can help prevent dementia. An expert told The Mainichi Shimbun that piano playing offers numerous brain benefits for elders, aiding dementia prevention.
Read more at mainichi.jp

2025-02-04

Two Tchaikovsky Winners in L.A.

Alexander and Alexandre, both in their 20s, share Tchaikovsky Competition gold medals, rising star status, and Russian roots. Yet, despite both performing Rachmaninoff in Southern California this weekend, these pianists couldn't be more different.
Read more at latimes.com