A few weeks ago I spoke to Steven Palmer at Sheargold Music as part of their new video-blog series, about my career and my new book. I was delighted to have the opportunity to chat on camera about So You Want To Play The Piano? Sheargold Music owns a large piano and music shop in Cobham, Surrey. You can watch…
Category: Melanie Spanswick
Peter Donohoe in conversation Melanie Spanswick
My guest in this episode of Classical Conversations is British pianist Peter Donohoe. Find out more about Peter, here. Here’s the transcript for those who prefer to read interviews: MELANIE SPANSWICK: British concert pianist Peter Donohoe has had an extraordinary career spanning over forty years encompassing a huge repertoire. He was silver medallist in the 1982…
Murray McLachlan in conversation with Melanie Spanswick
My sixteenth interview in the Classical Conversations Series is with pianist and pedagogue Murray McLachlan. Find out more about Murray, here. Here’s the transcript for those who prefer to read interviews: MELANIE SPANSWICK: British concert pianist Murray McLachlan plays recitals and concerts all around the world. He’s recorded over forty discs and he’s Head of Keyboard…
Some thoughts on the Van Cliburn Competition 2013
The Winner of the 2013 Van Cliburn Piano Competition has just been announced and as is so often the case, there has been much controversy over the decision. I haven’t been following all the various rounds but I have been enjoying the updates on Twitter and the general consensus about winners. The Van Cliburn Competition…
The Royal Over-Seas League 2013 Final
I recently attended the Royal Over-Seas League Competition final, held at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London. I have never been to the final of this competition before, although I have accompanied various participants over the years during the earlier rounds. The ROSL competition was established many years ago (the ROSL was founded in 1910)…
Ivan Ilić’s Interview with Morton Feldman scholar, Chris Villars
I recently interviewed Serbian American pianist, Ivan Ilić. Ivan has published this interesting interview with Chris Villars, a scholar who runs a website devoted to the American composer, Morton Feldman. Interview with Morton Feldman scholar, Chris Villars. Chris Villars was born in Cambridge in 1949. He has lived most of his life in London, until…
Energy is Eternal Light: A tribute to Steve Martland
British composer Steve Martland died unexpectedly of a heart attack at the age of just 53 on May 6th 2013. Martland was born in Liverpool and studied at Liverpool University attending the Royal Conservatory in the Hague on a Mendelssohn scholarship. He studied with Louis Andriessen and then later with Gunther Schuller at the Berkshire…
Graham Fitch in Conversation with Melanie Spanswick
This is the fifteenth interview in my Classical Conversations Series and British pianist and teacher Graham Fitch is my guest. Find out more about Graham, here. Here’s the transcript for those who prefer to read interviews: MELANIE SPANSWICK: British concert pianist, Graham Fitch, has played concerts all around the world to great critical acclaim. He was Head…
Celebrating 200 years of Wagner via Liszt
This week marked the 200th anniversary of Richard Wagner’s birth on May 22nd (1813 – 1883). Love him or hate him, Wagner made his beliefs heard, whether they be musical or political. His music is decadent to say the least and full of grand romantic gestures, declarations, and huge orchestral forces. It is impressive, even…
Paul Lewis in conversation with Melanie Spanswick
The fourteenth interview in my Classical Conversations Series features British pianist Paul Lewis. I caught up with him at his Buckinghamshire home. Find out more about Paul, here. Here’s the transcript for those who prefer to read my interviews: MELANIE SPANSWICK: British concert pianist Paul Lewis is one of the leading pianists of his generation. He’s…
Warm-ups
A couple of days ago, I was discussing ‘warm-ups’ with a colleague. We talked for well over an hour, not all about warming up admittedly, but it is possible to chat about this subject endlessly. After all, everybody’s regime is different. If you’re just starting to learn the piano, or any instrument for that matter,…
Some thoughts on the 2013 BBC Proms
Booking for the BBC Proms this year has only just started but by all accounts, tickets are being scooped up pretty quickly. So with this in mind, I duly purchased a Prom Guide to see what was on offer this year. I haven’t been to a Prom concert for years, not because I don’t enjoy them,…