A magnificient and emotional day in Japan

In the Shinto Temple of Akama Jingu in Shimonoseki...a traditional ceremony to celebrate the wedding of Pascal & Ami...close family and special friends joined us for a beautiful and simple celebration...there was music and dance...we drank sake and clapped our hands to wake up the Gods and remind them to bring us their blessings... Read More...

Tags: Piano, Pascal Rogé

Music societies in Scotland are strange places. I continue to be surprised by the depth of knowledge of some about artists that are on the cusp of greatness but not yet.

At Pollok House Arts society we have our fair share of people with "the knowledge". It might not get you around London but it can fair get you around some major but under recognised talent.

"Benjamin Grosvenor: teenage prodigy comes of age" is the heading from a recent article in the Telegraph. However the more I research Benjamin Grosvenor… Read More...

Tags: Benjamin Grosvenor, Piano

We are so pleased that Imogen Cooper, who has been to Pollok House Arts Society, is getting the recognition that she deserves.

Imogen Cooper's distinction as one of the most formidable musicians of her time is widely recognised. But the intellect, musicality and programming skills that she has demonstrated in her music-making in 2007 have, we feel, taken her to new levels. This award celebrates her achievements as a deeply thoughtful soloist, an inspirational keyboard director and a fastidiously accomplished chamber musician.

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Tags: Piano, Imogen Cooper

Over the Summer our Steinway piano is having its innards removed and worked on in time for the start of our season in October 08. As we are to have two great pianists next season we need it in tip-top condition.

There have been a couple of pesky notes in the upper register that need to be tuned every couple of hours for the piano to stay perfectly in tune. After this planned work they will be as well behaved as all the other notes.

Steinway have been most helpful. It is one of their trained technician that will be doing the work.

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Tags: Piano

If you do nothing else this Summer, make a date to schlep over to East Neuk as there is a musical treat to be heard - listening to Llyr Williams play as only Llyr can, at the East Neuk Festival. Last September we were so fortunate to hear Llyr play at Pollok House Arts Society.

Of course while there you should take in a couple of more concerts. Oh! Decisions, decisions - the Skampa Quartet or Sheila Chandra? Read More...

Tags: Llyr Williams, Music Festivals, Piano

Pollok House Arts Society was blessed with a wonderful concert from Cédric in November 2007. Scotland is to be blessed with another performance (actually two) from Cédric Tiberghien (Piano). On Friday 18 July he will be playing at Paxton House, Borders just a few miles from Berwick.

I mentioned two performances because on the very next evening, Saturday 19th he plays alongside another young musical genius - Alina Ibragimova (Violin).

More information at Music at Paxton. Read More...

Tags: Cédric Tiberghien, Music Festivals, Piano, Violin

Past performer at Pollok House Art Society wins "The Artist of the Year Award" - as voted for by Gramophone readers - was presented to pianist Angela Hewitt. The other nominees were Sir Simon Rattle, Valery Gergiev, Gerald Finley, Veronique Gens and Steven Isserlis. The Editor's Choice Award - given by Gramophone editor James Inverne - went to Gerald Finley's Stanford Songs of the Sea with BBC NOW, conducted by Richard Hickox (his fifth Gramophone award) and released by Chandos.
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Tags: Angela Hewitt, Piano

Harmonia Mundi has just released a new CD by Cédric Tiberghien - BRAHMS. Piano Concerto no.1. Haydn Variations

“[Tiberghien] is wonderfully restrained in music that is often hammered to death; he launches the finale with irresistible elan, and achieves a genuine sense of poetry in the slow movement”
The Guardian, 11 January 2008 Read More...

Tags: Cédric Tiberghien, Piano