Piano

Chopin’s Spirit Fills Polish Mountain Town at Festival

A few hundred people gather in front of a large white tent in the peaceful spa town of Duszniki-Zdroj, nestled on the Polish-Czech border. Inside, the Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra is preparing to open the 80th edition of the International Chopin Piano Festival. "I've loved Chopin for so many years!" said Erin Gao, a 33-year-old from ...

Pianist Igor Levit to Perform Marathon 16-Hour Concert in London

This Thursday and Friday, acclaimed pianist Igor Levit will undertake an extraordinary feat in London: a solo performance of Vexations by French composer Erik Satie, a piece intended to last over 16 hours. The event, directed by renowned performance artist Marina Abramović, will take place at the Southbank Centre and is being billed as "a test of ...

A Duo, Two Pianos, a Thousand Emotions: The Labèque Sisters Enchant Abu Dhabi

For the 22nd edition of the Abu Dhabi Festival, at the Red Theater of NYU Abu Dhabi, Katia and Marielle Labèque captivated the audience. Their recital wove a striking dialogue between Glass and Cocteau, with Ravel as a musical bridge. The evening opened with Glass’s La Belle et la Bête, its hypnotic motifs unfolding across two ...

Martial Solal: Master of the Free Note, Eternally Unforgettable

King of improvisation, Martial Solal left an indelible mark on the history of jazz as one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century. He passed away on December 12 at the age of 97. This prodigious musician, composer, arranger, and conductor made his name on the international stage, challenging the American giants of music. Born in Algiers in ...