Richard's Blog

For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream…  ... Vincent Van Gogh   In a small gallery on the fifth floor of the Museum of Modern Art in New York hangs one of the most famous paintings in Western culture; Vincent Van Gogh's 'The Starry Night' (1889). Tourists flock to have their photograph taken next to the painting, marching past Cubist masterpieces by Picasso, Braque and others without a second glance. Perhaps the Cubists do not have the same immediate allure, perhaps they are harder to understand, or perhaps Van Gogh's masterpiece is simply more famous, but these small galleries house some of the most iconic images in Western culture. I have always been interested in the links between art and music, and conceived this recording along the lines of a Cubist painting, considering nocturnes and night music from multiple angles, but...

I recently had the good fortune to perform Mozart's Piano Concerto in D minor, no.20, K466. The concert was held at G Live, the new concert hall in Guildford, and was a celebration of Cranleigh School's commitment to the performing arts, and a farewell to Headmaster Guy Waller, who retires this term. Here are my programme notes:   PIANO CONCERTO #20 IN D MINOR, K466               Allegro Romanze Allegro assai   Mozart’s Piano Concerto #20 in D minor is considered to be one of the greatest concertos in the repertoire, a masterpiece of form and structure, and a work of such drama and beauty that it has retained popularity for over two hundred years. Finished on 10th February 1785, and premiered the following evening, this darkest of concertos was an extraordinary departure for Mozart, anticipating the Romantic drama of Beethoven. Yet this is not Beethoven, and it would be misguided...

This has been a busy few weeks 'off the course', with some interesting developments away from the concert platform... I am delighted to be able to announce that I have just received confirmation that I have been elected to the official roster of 'Steinway Artists'. Around 1600 artists worldwide enjoy a special relationship with Steinway & Sons, from Lang Lang to Diana Krall and Billy Joel, and the roster also includes the 'immortals' such as Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, Sergei Rachmaninov and Arthur Rubinstein. Angus Meryon (clarinet) and I have also just heard that we were successful in our application to the Concert Promoter's Group run by Making Music, and will be Selected Artists for the 2014-15 season. This means that any Music Societies or Clubs who are affiliated to Making Music will be able to book us at a reduced rate during that period, but from our perspective it is...

Welcome to my redesigned website! I have had a busy (but hugely enjoyable) few months preparing a variety of different concert programmes, but I think the highlight for me would have to be the two performances I gave of Rachmaninov's epic Sonata for Piano and Cello, Op.19 with Andrew Fuller. Andrew is such a great musician to work with - an outstanding cellist, and a very easy chamber music partner too! I love the way he plays the Schubert 'Apreggione' Sonata – just like a great lieder singer. I hope we can do much more together... My piano duet partner, Faith Leadbetter, had to withdraw at the last minute from a concert in Bramley, Surrey with the flu – fortunately Andrew and I had been rehearsing the programme of Schubert, Martinu and Rachmaninov, and were able to give it at 24 hours notice! Happily, Faith is now recovered, and we are...