News Flash

2024-07-16

Beethoven's Sonata 31 Under the Microscope

Beethoven's Sonata Op 110 was initially overlooked, but its recognition grew thanks to Franz Liszt and his students. Liszt performed it publicly at least twice and taught it in his masterclasses, with some of his comments recorded by Amy Fay, Carl Lachmund and August Göllerich.
Read more at gramophone.co.uk

2024-07-16

Lang Lang's Olympic Run

Chinese pianist Lang Lang joined the Olympic torch relay in Paris, carrying the torch away from the historic Pantheon on Sunday. The relay's first day in the host city culminated in a fireworks display and cauldron lighting ceremony, coinciding with France's Bastille Day celebrations.
Read more at cgtn.com

2024-07-15

Japanese Jazz Pianist Akiyoshi

Toshiko Akiyoshi, a Japanese-American jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader, has enjoyed a remarkable career spanning over seven decades. With 14 Grammy nominations, she's a true legend, still actively touring at 94 and making history as the first Japanese musician to attend Berklee College of Music.
Read more at classicfm.com

2024-07-14

Pianist Thibaudet's Many Senses

Pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet's love for wine was cultivated during family trips to Burgundy, where he developed a passion for the region's rich wine culture. He now combines this interest with music as an artistic advisor at the Festival Musique et Vin au Clos Vougeot, blending classical concerts with wine tastings.
Read more at winespectator.com

2024-07-13

Considering a Summer Music Festival?

Maybe you want to combine your summer travels with a musical twist? Explore Musical America's comprehensive list of Summer Festivals 2024, featuring an eclectic mix of events that will enhance your vacation experien
Read more at musicalamerica.com

2024-07-12

An Irish Blended Pianist and Composer

Gerard O'Donnell, a classically trained pianist, blends Irish storytelling traditions with classical elegance, creating music that is both minimalist and lyrical. His compositions fuse pagan fervour with refined harmony, reflecting the unique spirit of Ireland's rich cultural heritage.
Read more at irishpost.com

2024-07-10

Chopin in Colombia and Boganyi

The Federico Chopin Institute in Colombia, established in 1998 by the InterColombia Cultural Corporation, aims to honor the life and work of the renowned Polish composer as part of a global network of institutes connected to the Federico Chopin Institute in Warsaw.
Read more at thecitypaperbogota.com

2024-07-09

Pianist's Creative Grief

When pianist Adam Tendler inherited a manila envelope full of cash, he swiftly conceived a plan to transform the unexpected windfall. Weeks after his father's passing, he began commissioning piano solos themed around inheritance, using music to process grief and create a lasting legacy.
Read more at ebar.com

2024-07-08

Concerto for Piano and Cobla!

The cobla is a traditional Catalan music ensemble found in both Catalonia and Northern Catalonia, France. Primarily, it serves as an accompaniment for the sardana, a customary Catalan folk dance performed in a circular formation.
Read more at interlude.hk

2024-07-07

YouTube Pianist Incites

Cole Lam, a 17-year-old YouTuber whose piano covers of classic hit songs have won him a million followers, has been inspiring primary school children to play a musical instrument.
Read more at bbc.com

2024-07-06

Lang Lang on AI and Music

Does the future of music belong to artificial intelligence? World-famous pianist Lang Lang explored this question during a recent interview. Seeking answers, the classical pianist turned to JEN, an AI music generator developed by Futureverse and trained on Alibaba Cloud's platform.
Read more at alizila.com/

2024-07-05

Singaporean Piano Music

Piano Extravaganza's founder Dr. Chang emphasizes the need to promote local composers, as Singaporean piano music remains relatively unexplored. With a rising number of talented pianists in Singapore possessing varied repertoires, many achieve professional success later in life without formal training.
Read more at straitstimes.com

2024-07-04

The Kung Fu Pianist

Pianist Andreas Haefliger, unable to touch his knees at the start, now greatly benefits from practicing, transforming his music approach. He now carefully considers what, when, and how to play, altering his perspective significantly.
Read more at steinway.com

2024-07-03

Unique Historical Piano Insights

In a new regular column for International Piano, the guru of historical recordings, Mark Ainley explores historic treasures both familiar and obscure, recommending new discoveries and encouraging fresh listening.
Read more at thepianofiles.com

2024-07-01

Wild's Lisztian Outlook on Porgy and Bess

In the 19th century, opera-themed Fantasies by virtuoso pianist-composers, notably Franz Liszt, gained immense popularity among concert-goers for their symphonic piano renditions emulating orchestral effects and vocal qualities.
Read more at interlude.hk

2024-06-30

Pianist de Larrocha - The Composer

Alicia de Larrocha was most prolific as a composer during her late teens, a period characterized by youth and romanticism. She later became renowned for her renditions of Spanish composers.
Read more at interlude.hk

2024-06-29

Beethoven's Metal Influence?

Over a year ago, scientists sequenced Beethoven's genome from his hair samples, revealing genetic links to liver disease. However, some researchers now suspect that heavy metal toxicity may have played a role in his numerous health issues, beyond what his genes suggest.
Read more at ualrpublicradio.org

2024-06-28

BBC Musician of the Year Reaches Out

Pianist Thomas Luke caught Jacob Collier's attention by arranging the musician's song "Little Blue" for multiple pianos. In just a couple of days, Thomas recorded and produced the piece, which he uploaded to YouTube. Impressed, Jacob Collier invited Thomas to meet him at his London album release concert shortly after.
Read more at onthewight.com

2024-06-27

Levit Goes Brahms

Pianist Igor Levit and conductor Thielemann's debut joint recording features the two concertos on a triple album, paired with opp. 39/15 and 116-119 solo performances. Their initial meeting was unplanned, yet both had long been curious about each other before coming together for this collaborative effort.
Read more at gramophone.co.uk

2024-06-26

Rachmaninoff's Soulmate

Young Moiseiwitsch's attempt to wow the renowned teacher Leschetizky with Chopin's Revolutionary etude fell flat. The master sternly advised him to practice more, citing a hundred subtle nuances he had sacrificed for showiness, and to return in two months with genuine mastery.
Read more at gramophone.co.uk

2024-06-25

Sorabji's Mammoth Opus

Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji's most renowned composition is Opus Clavicembalisticum (1930), a single 5-hour movement. He prohibited performances and publication from 1940 to 1976, releasing his works only in private recordings. In 1976, he allowed Michael Habermann and Yonty Solomon to perform his pieces.
Read more at gramophone.co.uk

2024-06-24

Comparing Argerich and Tipo in Bach

In 1986, 16-year-old pianist Nelson Goerner, fresh from Vincenzo Scaramuzza's school in Buenos Aires, sought Martha Argerich's guidance on a European teacher. She promptly recommended Maria Tipo, whom she described as a "sensational artist".
Read more at interlude.hk

2024-06-23

Chopin's Travels - Now as E-Book

Henryk F. Nowaczyk, a history enthusiast, dedicated his research to Chopin's biography, focusing on lesser-known, understudied aspects. He combed archives for source materials, meticulously reconstructing forgotten events and shedding light on enigmatic episodes through his meticulous deciphering of the composer's correspondence.
Read more at legimi.pl

2024-06-22

A Yunchan Lim Crash Course

Yunchan Lim, a prodigious South Korean pianist, was born on March 20, 2004. In 2022, he made headlines worldwide when he achieved a remarkable feat, becoming the youngest person to ever win the prestigious Van Cliburn International Piano Competition at the age of 18.
Read more at classical-music.com