News Flash

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

2024-05-22

The Play Every Town Project

Vermont pianist David Feurzeig is embarking on an ambitious tour, aiming to perform a free concert in each of the state's 252 municipalities. He'll also promote environmental causes through his music and online blog, highlighting local and state initiatives.
Read more at vtdigger.org

2024-05-21

Denk on LvB's 4th and More

Pianist Jeremy Denk, a member of the esteemed American Academy of Arts and Sciences, has released nearly 20 albums. A New York Times critic praised Denk in 2010, saying: "He's a pianist you want to hear, regardless of the repertoire."
Read more at sandiegouniontribune.com

2024-05-20

Inna Faliks - Not Only Pianist

Ukrainian-born pianist Inna Faliks, now 45, has achieved remarkable success, delivering thousands of recitals and concerts, and authoring a memoir. Born in Ukraine, her family moved to Chicago at 10 and she made her debut with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra just five years later.
Read more at sfcv.org

2024-05-19

Babayan on "Rachmaninoff for Two"

World-renowned pianist Sergei Babayan has joined forces with Daniil Trifonov to release "Rachmaninoff for Two," a tribute to the iconic composer's 150th birthday. This album honors Rachmaninoff's legacy and showcases the virtuosic partnership between the two pianists.
Read more at interlude.hk

2024-05-18

Who Will Compete in Leeds?

The Leeds International Piano Competition has revealed the 24 top pianists advancing to the Second Round, chosen from a global pool of talented 20-29-year-olds. They will compete in Leeds in September 2024, seeking a transformative experience and a chance to win one of music's most esteemed prizes.
Read more at pianistmagazine.com

2024-05-17

Hough's New Piano Concerto

Stephen Hough's new piano concerto, premiered by the Utah Symphony in January, debuted in Europe with the composer as soloist, accompanied by Mark Elder and the Halle. The work, subtitled "The World of Yesterday" after Stefan Zweig's memoir, explores musical nostalgia and the past.
Read more at theguardian.com

2024-05-16

Canadian Wins Montreal

The Montreal International Music Competition has announced the winners of its Piano 2024 edition. Jaeden Izik-Dzurko, 25, took first prize, performing Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and conductor Xian Zhang in the final round.
Read more at cbc.ca

2024-05-15

Bringing a Baby Grand back to Life

A team of student piano technicians from the Ohio Piano Technician Chris Purdy, joined forces to restore a baby grand piano to its former glory. The collaborative effort between these skilled students aimed to bring new life to the instrument, making it accessible once again for the community to enjoy
Read more at ohio.edu

2024-05-14

Paik's Mozart Project at 78

Pianist Kun-woo Pak, has released his first ever Mozart recording album, "Mozart: Piano Works 1", which is the first part of his planned Mozart trilogy. It marks a significant departure from Paik's usual repertoire, as he has never recorded Mozart before in his 68-year-long career.
Read more at koreaherald.com

2024-05-13

What about Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No 2?

The composer sanctioned two versions of "Tchaik 2": one with no cuts and another with cuts approved by Tchaikovsky. This survey focuses on the uncut version, while acknowledging the historical significance of the Siloti version, despite its cuts.
Read more at gramophone.co.uk

2024-05-12

Bernstein on Bernstein's Piano

Sydney Wang, a UCLA music composition student and pianist, flew to Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music in March to record a 40-minute album of Leonard Bernstein's music on the composer's own piano.
Read more at ucla.edu

2024-05-11

Apple's Ad "Crushing the Arts"

Apple has apologized for a backlash against an advert that depicted objects, including musical instruments and books, being crushed by a hydraulic press. The company stated the ad fell short of its goal to empower and celebrate creatives, as intended to showcase the latest iPad's capabilities.
Read more at bbc.com

2024-05-10

Traces of Titanic's Piano

The piano played a central role in the musical entertainment onboard the Titanic. It was located in the first-class lounge and was likely used by both professional musicians and amateur players. The restored Steinway on Titanic's sister ship Olympic can tell us a lot.
Read more at youtu.be

2024-05-09

Pianist Yang in Australia

Yang has selected challenging works for her Australian recitals, both technically and emotionally, including pieces from Tchaikovsky's The Seasons, Rachmaninov's Three Preludes, Stravinsky's Firebird Suite, and Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition.
Read more at limelight-arts.com.au

2024-05-08

Korean Excellence Awards

The Daewon Cultural Foundation celebrated its 20th anniversary by revealing the recipients of its 13th music award, which included pianists Yeol-Eom Son, Yunchan Lim and violinist Kim Bomsori.
Read more at koreaherald.com

2024-05-07

Pianist Pratt in Conversation

The album "Stillpoint", released in 2023, features seven compositions for piano, strings, and vocals. Each piece was commissioned by Pratt, inspired by T.S. Eliot's poem "Burnt Norton" from the Four Quartets. Montgomery's piece "Rounds" won a Grammy.
Read more at sfcv.org