Classical music and jazz: Latest news>April 15
Published: 15 April 2010
A whole lot of ivories are being tickled over the coming week by classical and jazz pianists. For a start, Pizza Express in Soho is hosting its annual Two Steinways festival involving a stellar line-up of UK and international jazz pianists. Among pianists playing at the four-day festival ending on Sunday evening are Kit Downes and Tom Cawley; Ian Shaw and Liane Carroll; Gwilym Simcock and Aaron Goldberg; and Joe Stilgoe and Anthony Strong.
At Kings Place on Saturday evening, renowned pianist Robert Lewin is giving a recital of mostly Beethoven music as part the Orchestra of the Age of the Enlightenment’s Beethoven with Guts festival.
On Monday evening, Kit Downes is in action again, joining in with Stan Sulzmann’s quartet at the Con Bar, and pianist Leon Greening is playing with vibraphonist Nat Steele’s band.
There’s a choice of pianists on Wednesday evening.
At the Wigmore Hall, highly acclaimed pianist Charles Owen is playing Bach’s monumental Fourth Partita and the young Brahms’ epic setting of Baroque-inspired variations.
At the Forge, Delancey Street, Camden Town, French composer-pianist Christophe Sirodeau is making his long-awaited UK debut playing Debussy’s intricate Etudes along with works by Henri Dutilleux, Frank Bridge, Jonathan Powell and Manuel de Falla.
Among other notable concerts is a fundraiser for Brain Tumour UK on Saturday evening at St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden. Australian-born guitarist Craig Ogden, one of the most existing artists of his generation, is playing pieces by Albeniz, Dowland, Piazzolla and others.