News Flash

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

2025-02-04

A New Kind of Piano Competition

The Shanghai International Musician Competition redefines piano excellence. Unlike traditional competitions, it challenges pianists in solo performance, chamber music, lied accompaniment, and conducting from the keyboard. This Shanghai-Savonlinna collaboration sets a new standard for musical artistry, reflecting the modern pianist's evolving demands.
Read more at shanghaimusiciancompetition.com

2025-02-03

77 Contestants at Cliburn

The Cliburn has announced the 77 pianists from 22 countries selected from 340 applicants for the live Screening Auditions (March 16-22, 2025) of the 17th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition (May 21-June 7, 2025). The Auditions are free and open to the public.
Read more at fwtx.com

2025-02-02

First Time Ever - Field's Nocturnes on DG

Alice Sara Ott's latest album features the complete nocturnes by John Field, including lesser-known pieces like "The Troubadour" and "Dernière pensée." This reflects Ott's inclination to explore unconventional paths
Read more at gramophone.co.uk

2025-02-01

New Book: A National Pianistic Treasure

During WWII, Dame Myra Hess's legendary National Gallery lunchtime concerts uplifted Londoners. This first biography in 50 years explores her journey from rebellious musician to national heroine, revealing unpublished material, her famous Bach transcription, collaborations, and vibrant diaries, showcasing her unique, generous, courageous, and humorous personality.
Read more at kahnandaverill.co.uk

2025-01-31

Stellar Pianists in Lucerne

Lucerne's "Le Piano Symphonique" festival thrives on drama. Headliner Martha Argerich, the legendary pianist, arrived from the US battling a nasty flu. At 83, her health was a major concern. Would the star be able to perform?
Read more at theguardian.com

2025-01-30

The Viral Pianist Awarded

The Leonard Bernstein Award, a €10,000 prize from the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival, is sponsored by Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe. This year, pianist Hayato Sumino AKA Cateen is the recipient.
Read more at theviolinchannel.com

2025-01-29

Cho Celebrating Ravel

Gramophone's James Jolly interviewed pianist Seong-Jin Cho following his performance of all Ravel solo works in a single evening in Liechtenstein. They discussed Ravel's significant contributions to the piano repertoire.
Read more at gramophone.co.uk

2025-01-28

22 Hours Satie with Levit!

Igor Levit will perform Erik Satie's "Vexations" 840 times consecutively at London's Southbank Centre on April 24th, a 22-hour marathon following Satie's 1893 instructions.
Read more at people.com

2025-01-28

Happy Birthday Arthur Rubinstein

Born on January 28th, Arthur Rubinstein remains a legendary 20th-century pianist. His legacy rests upon his expressive artistry, impeccable technique, and profound emotional connection to the music.
Read more at interlude.hk

2025-01-27

Bruce Liu at Carnegie Hall

Bruce Liu, 2021 Chopin Competition winner, has transcended his early fame. Beyond Chopin, he masterfully navigates French repertoire and now, in his second Carnegie Hall recital, delves into the profound world of Russian music.
Read more at bachtrack.com

2025-01-26

Pianist Presents Forbidden Love

David Kadouch's "Forbidden Love," showcases a diverse range of composers from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including Tchaikovsky, Poland's Karol Szymanowski, and French singer-songwriter Charles Trenet.
Read more at npr.org

2025-01-25

Not Only Liszt with Batsashvili

Mariam Batsashvili, a Georgian pianist in her early 30s and a former BBC New Generation Artist, captivated a large, enthusiastic audience at Wigmore Hall, suggesting she has cultivated a strong following in London.
Read more at theguardian.com

2025-01-24

The Chopin Year 2025 and a New Biopic

Yuja Wang's initial Chopin experience came from a film featuring Hugh Grant as the composer. Coinciding with the 19th Chopin Competition in Warsaw, a new film about the composer will be released.
Read more at polskieradio.pl

2025-01-23

AI to Help Pianists

In a groundbreaking study, Stanford researchers collected a comprehensive dataset of 3D hand motions from 15 elite pianists performing 153 piano pieces. This dataset, spanning 10 hours, includes synchronized audio and key press data, providing valuable insights into the intricate movements of expert pianists.
Read more at stanford.edu

2025-01-22

Malofeev and The Creative Life

Young pianist Alexander Malofeev, a rising star gracing world-class stages, shares his journey. He delves into the dedication and artistry needed to connect with audiences and create unforgettable performances.
Read more at youtube.com

2025-01-22

Schönberg's Archives in Ashes

Wildfires in Los Angeles destroyed over 100,000 scores by pioneering composer Arnold Schoenberg. Housed at his family's Belmont Music Publishing, these scores were crucial for orchestras and musicians. While no original manuscripts were lost, this irreplaceable collection facilitated widespread access to Schoenberg's music.
Read more at latimes.com

2025-01-21

Cho's Complete Ravel Take

Seong-jin Cho's "Ravel: Complete Solo Piano Works" released Jan. 17. His two piano concerto recordings follow Feb. 21. A deluxe edition with all tracks arrives April 11.
Read more at theviolinchannel.com

2025-01-19

Polish EU Presidency Inauguration

A gala celebrating Poland's EU Presidency will take place Wednesday evening at the Lithuanian National Philharmonic, featuring renowned Polish pianist Rafał Blechacz with the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra.
Read more at .polskieradio.pl

2025-01-18

A Playing Faster Aid?

A robotic exoskeleton boosted finger speed by 30% in trained pianists. After a half-hour session with the device, which moves fingers for them, these musicians overcame plateaus in their playing.
Read more at newscientist.com

2025-01-17

Korean Chopin to Israel

Pianist Yeon-Min Park enjoyed her time in Israel, settling in easily. Despite limited prior knowledge, she fell in love with the country and its people, finding surprising similarities between Israel and Korea.
Read more at jpost.com

2025-01-16

Juilliard Scores at US Chopin Competition

The Juilliard School won 1st, 2nd and 6th prizes at the National Chopin Piano Competition of the United States. The first prize winner is granted participation at the International Chopin Competition in Warsaw this fall.
Read more at chopin.org

2025-01-15

Vikingur and John Adams

At the Ojai Music Festival, pianist Vikingur Olafsson casually suggested to composer John Adams, "You know you'll write me a concerto, right?" After a pause, Adams replied, "I guess you're right".
Read more at nytimes.com

2025-01-14

Espressive Playing Can Cause Injury

A new case study pioneers the documentation of how expressive intentions impact upper-body kinematics in expert pianists. It investigates the influence of these intentions across musical contexts on joint range of motion, postures associated with piano-related injuries, and wrist angular jerk, considering both proximal and distal joints.
Read more at frontiersin.org