| Thursday 29 October 2026 | 19:30 |
| Benjamin, Sir George (b. 1960) | Two or Four | |
| Benjamin, Sir George (b. 1960) | Divisions | |
| Messiaen, Olivier (1908-1992) | Visions de l'amen, for two pianos |
| Charles Owen | Piano |
| Katya Apekisheva | Piano |
| Sir George Benjamin | Speaker |
| Donald Macleod | Speaker |
The London Piano Festival 2026 opens with an evening of conversation and music exploring the creative lineage between Olivier Messiaen and Sir George Benjamin. BBC Radio 3’s Donald Macleod is in conversation with Sir George Benjamin, followed by performances from Artistic Directors Charles Owen and Katya Apekisheva of Benjamin’s Two or Four and Divisions, alongside Messiaen’s monumental Visions de l’Amen.
The opening performance of LPF 2026 begins with a discussion between BBC Radio 3’s Donald Macleod and Sir George Benjamin, exploring Benjamin’s formative relationship with his teacher, Olivier Messiaen, and the lasting impact of Messiaen’s musical and spiritual thinking on his work.
The discussion is paired with performances of George Benjamin’s Two or Four and Divisions, both for piano, four hands and concludes with Messiaen’s monumental Visions de l’Amen (1943), one of the landmark works of the twentieth‑century piano repertoire. Written for two pianos, its seven movements combine radiant harmony, intricate rhythm and visionary intensity.
This event will last for approximately 2 hours with an interval.
