News Flash

2024-06-14

Hear Yuja Wang Live at Waldbuhne

On June 22, the Berliner Philharmoniker and Kirill Petrenko bring the season to a close with Ravel's thrilling Bolero under the starry Berlin sky at the Waldbuhne. Pianist Yuja Wang performs Prokofiev's First Piano Concerto, while Ravel's Suite No. 2 from Daphnis et Chloé whisks listeners away to a mythological idyll.
Read more at digitalconcerthall.com

2024-06-13

Ilya Schmukler Wins Geza Anda Competition

Ilya Shmukler, a piano student of Stanislav Ioudenitch at Park University's International Center for Music, won the top prize at the Concours Geza Anda 2024 in Zurich, Switzerland on June 8. He also received four additional awards, including the Audience Prize and the Mozart-Prize.
Read more at park.edu

2024-06-12

Pianist Stott's Last Performance

Having cherished a remarkable career as a concert pianist, Kathryn Stott will cease public performances. She intends to continue mentoring young musicians, recognizing them as the future of the art. She remains a highly sought-after teacher at Manchester's Royal Northern College of Music.
Read more at scotsman.com

2024-06-11

Levit is German National Pianist

Russian-born pianist Igor Levit has been awarded the German National Prize, a prestigious honor bestowed by the German National Foundation for his outstanding contributions to promoting unity among Germany and Europe, as well as fostering solidarity between nations.
Read more at classicalite.com

2024-06-10

A Major Take on Mozart

For pianist Orli Shaham, Mozart's piano music has been a lifelong passion. This recording is the culmination of a 40-year journey, delving deeply into the sonatas, uncovering their unique personalities, and unraveling the composer's creative processes and inspirations.
Read more at interlude.hk

2024-06-09

Hearing Zimerman Live

Attending Krystian Zimerman's concerts is a challenging endeavor, with limited engagements each year, no official website listing, and no general manager. However, his live performances are always unforgettable, showcasing his unique blend of instinctive playing, spontaneity, and unparalleled intensity.
Read more at interlude.hk

2024-06-08

The Piano Prodigy Dream

In the co-directed film "Piano Dreams", parents put their lives on hold to give their children the best possible start. Their selfless devotion is exemplified by a couple who choose to live apart so the father can earn enough for his child's tuition, embodying the ultimate sacrifice.
Read more at irishcatholic.com

2024-06-07

Levin Completing Mozart Cycle

Robert Levin's 30-year piano cycle of Mozart's concertos comes to a close with the release of the final disc on June 21. The cycle, featuring added improvisations, concludes with Concerto No. 27 in B-flat, the last of 13 volumes.
Read more at ft.com

2024-06-07

Finals in Geza Anda International Piano Competition

Six semifinalists took the stage to perform a Mozart concerto, conducted by the renowned and legendary Maestro Pletnev - a celebration tribute to the legendary Mozart interpreter Geza Anda. Three finalists are now chosen. Hear the streaming from Zurich on Saturday June 8!
Read more at facebook.com

2024-06-06

Hear and Learn about Isata Kanneh-Mason

Isata Kanneh-Mason is a talented and noticed British pianist, born into a family of music lovers, she is part of the renowned Kanneh-Mason family, which boasts several accomplished siblings: the renowned cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason and the skilled violinist Braimah Kanneh-Mason.
Read more at classical-music.com

2024-06-05

Watch Out for Piano Scams!

Scammers are exploiting the allure of a "free" piano, sending unsolicited emails to unsuspecting victims. Since January, researchers have identified multiple campaigns using piano-themed emails to lure targets into advanced fee fraud scams, often involving "free baby grands".
Read more at securityboulevard.com

2024-06-03

Famed Pianist on Tour at 90

Abdullah Ibrahim is South Africa's greatest jazz pianist-composer, rivaling the legendary Duke Ellington. His enduring legacy extends beyond performances and recordings to his vast catalog of compositions, cementing his status as a master of his craft.
Read more at dailymaverick.co.za

2024-06-02

A Master With His Students

Pianist Dang Thai Son, renowned globally, made history as the first Asian winner of the X International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw. His student, Canadian pianist Bruce Xiaoyu Li, also took top honors at the XVIII Chopin competition.
Read more at vietnamnews.vn

2024-06-01

Did You Play Vocalise?

Sergei Rachmaninoff's sublime melodies are renowned, with "Vocalise" being a standout. This haunting piece, from a collection of 14 songs, is notable for its text-free composition. Rachmaninoff believed that the beauty of the human voice could convey emotions more effectively than words.
Read more at interlude.hk

2024-05-31

Merging Piano and Fashion

Franz Liszt, known for his eccentric stage attire, would often mingle with fans between performances. Other pianists, like von Bulow and de Pachmann, demonstrated their individuality by unique antics, such as scratching off a piano brand or arriving at a recital with handmade socks made by George Sand for Frederic Chopin.
Read more at newyorker.com

2024-05-30

Size Matters - Stretto Pianos

As the industry evolves, some companies are offering smaller pianos, while others, like renowned conductor and pianist Daniel Barenboim, are modifying their instruments with narrower keys for recitals, a practice previously kept under wraps in the classical music world.
Read more at npr.org

2024-05-29

DG Signs Julius Asal

Deutsche Grammophon announces the exclusive signing of Julius Asal, a 26-year-old pianist renowned for his captivating performances, marked by elemental energies, subtle mood changes, and poetic expression. He also excels in program curation and improvisation in diverse styles.
Read more at deutschegrammophon.com

2024-05-28

Vietnamese Musicians Highlighted

World-renowned classical pianist Dang Thai Sơn, the first Asian artist to win the International Chopin Piano Competition, will collaborate with his students in a Hanoi concert next month, kicking off the "Timeless Resonance" series.
Read more at vietnamnews.vn

2024-05-27

More Forgotten Piano Sonatas

To mark World Pianist Day last year, Hermione Lai's blog showcased lesser-known piano sonatas. She invited readers to contribute suggestions, resulting in a follow-up episode featuring eight more hidden gems, offering a fresh perspective on the classical music world.
Read more at interlude.hk

2024-05-26

Edelweiss' Piano Inventions

The piano's origins are in Italy, refined by the French, and perfected by the Germans. However, in the 19th century, British manufacturers like Broadwood & Sons, Welmar, Kemble, and Knight produced exceptional pianos, but the industry's decline began with competition, lack of innovation, and the rise of the gramophone during the Great Depression.
Read more at ft.com

2024-05-25

Leon Fleisher's Heroic Power

In the mid-1990s, he received a diagnosis: he had focal dystonia, a neurological condition linked to writer's cramp. The advent of Botox and Rolfing, a deep massage technique, brought new hope for treatment.
Read more at gramophone.co.uk

2024-05-24

Sviatoslav Richter - The Legend

As a complex individual, Richter was both direct and enigmatic, with a dry sense of humor. He disliked recording, calling it "torture", but his extensive repertoire, from Bach to Britten, remains largely unrevealed, with 19th-century romantics being his specialty.
Read more at abc.net.au

2024-05-23

Glass' Pianistic Universe

Pianist Vicky Chow wanted to return to playing acoustically, as she had previously focused on electronic and experimental techniques. This new music allowed her to rediscover a more traditional, romantic playing style, which was therapeutic for her.
Read more at createastir.ca