This new release, a 6-track EP from New York-based pianist Christopher Jessup (b.1998), is a kind of musical ‘amuse bouche’ in that it offers a taster of the breadth of Jessup’s repertoire coupled with his excellent, refined playing. It’s an

It seems that whenever Icelandic pianist Vikingur Ólafsson touches a piano, beautiful sounds flow from the instrument – whether it’s Bach, Rameau, Debussy or Philip Glass. His latest release on the DG label, From Afar, is no exception, with the

Declan Byrnie, child prodigy, and world-class concert pianist has enjoyed a glittering career from a young age, touring the world’s best concert halls and producing acclaimed recordings. Ten years into his career his wife dies in a terrible accident, and

One of the favourite activities of the 19th century was creating piano versions of works from other genres: symphonies reduced to the piano for two or four hands, favourite arias from favourite operas made into variation forms, songs with the

Four-hand Piano Version of Rachmaninoff’s most popular work After the complete and utter failure of his Symphony No. 1 at its premiere in 1897, Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff took a decade off from the genre, returning to create his Symphony

On 12 March 2020, pianist Igor Levit tweeted the following: Empty concert halls. The idea of listening to and experiencing music together is gone – for now. It’s necessary, yet so sad. But it’s ok. Still: I’d like to continue

The Salzburg Festival made its comeback in 2021 amid the pandemic and welcomed a full-capacity audience. Pianist Evgeny Kissin gave a compelling recital with a splendidly idiosyncratic programme, journeying from Alban Berg to Tikhon Khrennikov to George Gershwin in the

Review on Rossini Opera Festival 2022 – La Gazzetta and Otello The 43rd edition of the Rossini Opera Festival (ROF) in Pesaro, Rossini’s birthplace, featured a selection of rare Rossini operas and recitals. The nearly two week-long event again drew