News Flash

2025-07-19

Yunchan Lim and His Teacher

Currently, Lim studies under Sohn at the New England Conservatory, continuing their training from the Korea National University of Arts. On stage, Sohn's seasoned performance thoughtfully complemented Lim's, allowing the student to shine. Next, they'll perform together at Switzerland's Verbier Festival.
Read more at koreatimes.co.kr

2025-07-18

The Left Hand Story

The First World War dramatically changed left-hand piano music. Aside from a few exceptions, serious repertoire for the left hand didn't emerge until the 20th century, largely thanks to Paul Wittgenstein, who profoundly influenced its development.
Read more at theguardian.com

2025-07-17

Händel's Great Keyboard Suites

Händel’s Eight Great Keyboard Suites showcase his versatility and mastery, and, though less famous, they were highly popular among English aristocracy and amateurs, with many unauthorized copies reflecting their widespread admiration and commercial success. In 1720, Handel decided to provide a new edition.
Read more at interlude.hk

2025-07-14

"The Pianist" Remembered

Polish Radio commemorated 25 years since Władysław Szpilman's death, the renowned pianist, composer, and Holocaust survivor whose life inspired the Oscar-winning film "The Pianist." He worked for Polish Radio before and after WWII.
Read more at polskieradio.pl

2025-07-13

Pianist in Uganda

John Chen began his career by winning the 2004 Sydney International Piano Competition, earning accolades for Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, chamber music, and concertos. He has performed globally and now resides in Kampala, Uganda, as Deputy Principal and chaplain at Acacia International School.
Read more at rnz.co.nz

2025-07-12

Never Heard Satie

These lost Satie works resulted from meticulous research by Japanese composer and violinist Sato Matsui and British musicologist James Nye. They independently retrieved forgotten manuscripts and sketches, reconstructing Satie’s ideas into performable scores.
Read more at interlude.hk

2025-07-11

Avdeeva's Shostakovich

Shostakovich admired Soviet pianist Tatiana Nikolayeva’s playing of the WTC. Thus he composed preludes and fugues for her. Comparing her performances with Yulianna Avdeeva’s, winner of the 2010 Chopin Competition, reveals a lighter, more nuanced approach that explores emotional depth differently.
Read more at theguardian.com

2025-07-10

Gerstein's Corea Release

In 2010, Kirill Gerstein received the Gilmore Artist Award, inspiring him to pursue daring projects. He commissioned works from various composers and collaborated with jazz artists like Chick Corea and Mehldau, influenced by his jazz roots before focusing on classical. Recently Gerstein released Chick Corea’s “The Visitors” as a digital single.
Read more at youtube.com

2025-07-09

Key Leveling Innovation

Christoph Schulz thinks we need a solution to accelerate regulation, improve stability, and reduce stress on the crucial bottom key, damaged in 95% of pianos from factory leveling. During industry struggles, such innovations do uplift spirits and restore balance.
Read more at pianoindustryportal.com

2025-07-08

Do You Know Kim Saehyun?

Kim prioritizes authentic musical expression over dazzling technique. He believes true performance is about selflessness and connecting personally with individuals, valuing sincerity and genuine emotion over technical showmanship to truly share his musical story.
Read more at korea.net

2025-07-07

Yuja Between The Bars

An exceptional young artist who creates bold, original stage music, balancing youthful innovation with seasoned experience in the competitive classical world. Yannick Dondelinger hosts Yuja Wang for an informal chat covering Rachmaninov, cuisine, life in the USA, religion, Bach’s privacy, and memories with Claudio Abbado.
Read more at mahlerchamber.com

2025-07-06

The Schumann Sonatas

Though admired for their emotional depth and innovative form, Schumann’s three piano sonatas remain less popular due to their intricate inner voices, requiring virtuosic skill and deep interpretive understanding, blending Romantic expressivity with a literary-like narrative.
Read more at interlude.hk

2025-07-05

Top Pianists' Liszt Choices

Each pianist discovers their unique way into Liszt's world - whether through the fiery first Mephisto Waltz or the serene Bénédiction de Dieu dans la solitude. Hear eight top pianists on which Liszt piece they'd choose and why.
Read more at classical-music.com

2025-07-04

The New High Budget Chopin Film

A trailer for ‘Chopin, Chopin!’, one of Poland’s priciest films, has received mostly positive reviews after its online debut. The biopic, starring Eryk Kulm, will premiere on October 10, with a budget of €16.5 million.
Read more at tvpworld.com

2025-07-03

Reflections on The Queen Elisabeth

The Queen Elisabeth Competition is renowned for its excellent organization, focus on pure music rather than commercial interests, and transparency about candidates’ backgrounds. It is considered the fairest among international contests.
Read more at interlude.hk

2025-07-02

Oscar Peterson at 100

On August 15, we mark 100 years since jazz legend Oscar Peterson’s birth. Celebrations worldwide honor his extraordinary talent with concerts and tributes, highlighting a renowned pianist often overlooked in jazz’s main historical narratives despite widespread acclaim.
Read more at bigissue.com

2025-07-01

Cho and Ravel are Opus Winners

Pianist Cho Seong-jin was named Instrumentalist of the Year at Germany’s Opus Klassik 2025 awards, praised for his recordings and performances of Maurice Ravel’s works, celebrating the composer’s 150th anniversary.
Read more at chosun.com

2025-06-30

Musical Prodigy Myths

As a child, Kim favored TV and books over practice. Though she loves piano and performing, she admits practice was boring. Now, she views giftedness as part of neurodiversity, not just exceptional talent.
Read more at abc.net.au

2025-06-29

Standby for 40 Years

Terry Harper, who started tuning pianos at 19, has dedicated 40 years to perfecting the sound of grand pianos at the Sydney Opera House, working with renowned musicians like Vladimir Ashkenazi, Gary Burton, and Chick Corea.
Read more at abc.net.au

2025-06-28

Lockwood's Piano Works

Pianist Xenia Pestova Bennett releases "Annea Lockwood – The Piano Works," featuring four compositions spanning decades. While not as radical in 2025, their transformative quality arises from the interpreter's compelling performance and connection to Lockwood’s innovative spirit.
Read more at journalofmusic.com/

2025-06-27

Hewitt Celebrates 50th with Mozart

Canadian pianist Angela Hewitt concludes her Complete Mozart Piano Sonatas project with her final album, Mozart Piano Sonatas. This milestone marks her 50th album for Hyperion Records, showcasing works from the accessible K. 545 to Mozart’s profound late sonatas.
Read more at theviolinchannel.com

2025-06-26

Pianos at Expo 2025 Osaka

Pianos have long featured at Expos, symbolizing innovation since 1851. At Expo 2020 Dubai, notable models included “The Flying Piano” and “The Big Beleura.” Osaka’s Expo 2025 showcases a more modest but intriguing piano display.
Read more at worldpianonews.com

2025-06-25

Stolen Pianos

During WWII, nearly 8,000 pianos were looted by Nazis from Jewish families in France. Historian Caroline Piketty’s "Harmonies volées" recounts their story, with many returned post-liberation, though some remain lost.
Read more at france24.com

2025-06-24

Eight Composers Who Saw Sound

For a rare group of composers, synaesthesia is reality, blending senses to create extraordinary music. Olivier Messiaen, Rimsky-Korsakov, and Duke Ellington famously experienced colors, textures, and hues influencing their compositions in unique and vivid ways.
Read more at classical-music.com