Kirill Gerstein recital

KIRILL GERSTEIN Wigmore Hall recital Thursday 14 May 2015 I’ve not been going to many piano recitals recently. Too often in the past year or so I’ve traipsed into London full of eager anticipation, an interesting programme promised, an exciting talent on offer – and I’ve come away underwhelmed, undernourished and generally disappointed. This is…

Ivo the Divo

IVO THE DIVO I did something last night that I have only ever done once before: I walked out of a piano recital at the interval. If I hadn’t been sitting in the middle of Row K at the Royal Festival Hall I’d have walked out sooner. This was the much-heralded return to the venue…

FAVOURITE YOUTUBES

Thomas Trotter rehearsing my Toccata Festiva on the organ of Birmingham Town Hall in March 2012 (with me as page turner). He gave the world premiere later that day. https://youtu.be/GRSZQiuPhTs A masterclass in comic timing – Jimeoin’s debut on Live at the Apollo. The forgotten Peggy Cochrane (1902-88), a big star in her day, equally at…