News Flash

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

2025-01-14

Prokofiev's Sarcasms

Prokofiev's "Sarcasms" (1912-14) explores a new musical language. This five-piece suite employs extremes in dynamics, clashing harmonies, and "wrong notes" to represent laughter, creating a seemingly grotesque style with rough accents and jagged rhythms juxtaposed against lyrical themes
Read more at interlude.hk

2025-01-13

Chopin Backstage in Miami

Ben Laude covers the finals of the US National Chopin Competition in Miami. Established in 1977 by Blanka A. Rosenstiel, the Chopin Foundation is a national non-profit organization dedicated to promoting classical music, inspired by the inaugural US Chopin Competition she presented in Miami in 1975.
Read more at youtube.com

2025-01-12

About and With Pianist Levanon

Despite his youth, pianist Yoav Levanon boasts an impressive resume: Carnegie Hall, Verbier Festival, Martha Argerich's festival, Fondation Louis Vuitton, collaborations with Barenboim and Perahia. His mature artistry, evident in his profound playing and grounded demeanor, belies his young age.
Read more at interlude.hk

2025-01-11

Chopin on Guitar?

Arranging Chopin's Second Piano Concerto for guitar is a controversial endeavor. While a grand piano offers full tone and sustained legato, the guitar encourages a more intimate, nuanced interpretation, akin to the subtleties Chopin may have achieved on his own Pleyel piano.
Read more at sfcv.org

2025-01-10

Pianist Kantorow - a Crash Course

Despite his stage presence – appearing rumpled and almost sleepy – 27-year-old Alexander Kantorow, the 2019 Tchaikovsky Competition Grand Prix winner, commands the piano with volcanic power and poetic grace. His mesmerizing performances have earned him comparisons to Liszt, as declared by Fanfare magazine.
Read more at classical-music.com

2025-01-09

Second Life Pianos

Seattle Piano Recycling, founded by Chad Newell, began unexpectedly while he was transporting pianos for Whidbey Island piano shop owner, Dean Petrich. Newell's business flourished alongside the rise of electronic keyboards, providing a lifeline for unwanted acoustic pianos.
Read more at seattlerefined.com

2025-01-08

Tha Funniest Pianist Ever

Victor Borge, the "comedian of the keyboard" and "funniest man in classical music," delighted audiences for decades with his unique blend of musical satire and witty banter. This irrepressible humourist, a student of Liszt pupil Lamond, eschewed a serious concert career to bring joy to millions.
Read more at interlude.hk

2025-01-07

Pianist and Composer Rose Riebl

Riebl attributes her "intuitive and immediate relationship with the instrument" to both her musical upbringing and an innate connection. While a musical household provided the nurturing environment, she believes it's deeper – a "musical language DNA," a mystical, almost spiritual resonance with the universe.
Read more at russh.com

2025-01-06

Fazil Say - 50 Years on Stage

Pianist and composer Fazıl Say marked his 50th year on stage with a spectacular concert, "50 Years at the Piano," at the Ahmed Adnan Saygun Art Center in Izmir.
Read more at dailysabah.com

2025-01-05

Michelangeli - The Legend

Legendary pianist Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, renowned for his "sculptural" playing, famously eschewed interviews and publicity. Yet, his concerts were legendary. To celebrate his birthday on January 5th, Interlude presents five of his immortal solo piano interpretations.
Read more at interlude.hk

2025-01-04

Master Pianists in Conversation

In 2024, James Jolly interviewed pianists Yevgeny Sudbin and Jean-Efflam Bavouzet at Tippet Rise. They discussed pianos, recording, repertoire, and their shared experience at this unique venue, facilitated by the exceptional recording facilities.
Read more at gramophone.co.uk

2025-01-03

Finding an Artist Among Your Staff

Career breaks come in all shapes and sizes. For aspiring pianist Ionut Ciubotaru, the path to success has been particularly winding. DW's Lucia Schulten met him at Brussels' Place Flagey concert hall to hear his story.
Read more at dw.com

2025-01-02

With and About Pianist Petrowska Quilico

Pianist Christina Petrowska Quilico's new album, 'More Rivers,' featuring Frank Horvat's composition, will be released on Navona Records on January 24th.This follows her acclaimed 1980s recording of Ann Southam's 'Rivers.'
Read more at ludwig-van.com

2025-01-01

The Wartime Pianist Heroine

London, 1940. The Blitz. Iconic images – St. Paul's amidst smoke, the Royals amidst rubble, Myra Hess playing amidst ruins – remain etched in our memory. These pictures symbolize the indomitable spirit of a nation facing adversity.
Read more at classical-music.com