Live, Video: Find classical music concert, opera, ballet and dance reviews | English | Ballade no. 4 in F minor, Op.52

A most appealing Romantic programme by the French pianist at Sydney's City Recital Hall, played with accurate finesse in search of emotional highlights. 

Yuja Wang stuns the Gilmore Festival audience with a formidable program of Messiaen, Debussy, Scriabin, and Chopin – and a generous selection of encores.

A packed house and an anticipatory buzz greet Boris Giltburg in a programme ranging from poetic Chopin to grisly Ravel.

The 19-year-old performs four masterpieces presented in chronological order and illustrating the evolution of the art of the keyboard from the mid-18th to the mid-20th century.

The French pianist's approach may be uncomplicated, but crisp articulation, interesting dynamics and a fine sense of shifting moods enliven a recital full of variety.

Ukrainian pianist Anna Fedorova gave compelling performances of Chopin’s profound Ballades and intricate Waltzes, full of intensity, dreaminess and frenzy.

The gifted Norwegian pianist brought a programme of varied and demanding works to the fourth recital of Lucerne’s renowned Piano Festival.

In his Wigmore Hall recital Nikolai Lugansky surveys the Russian seasons and explores Polish dance rhythms.

At Carnegie Hall, a lion in winter focuses on Chopin.

A risk-averse approach ruined the dramatic spontaneity of the Ballades but the 24 Preludes in the second half were much more convincing. 

An excellent second half performance of Chopin's Four Ballades is preceded by an interpretation of waltzes and études that often lacks nuance of phrasing and dynamics.

Andsnes continues to woo Irish audiences with a concert of miniatures.

Friendschip, new discoveries and variety of musical expressions at the opening concert of the 10th Pianoscope Festival in Beauvais.

Behzod Abduraimov shows excellent technical qualities resulting in fine performances of Schubert and Ravel, with less success in Chopin.

Manchester audiences hand out standing ovations once in a blue moon, but that which followed Lang Lang’s Mozart and Chopin programme tonight was the loudest and longest I have seen, after the brilliant Chinese pianist thrilled and delighted a sold-out Bridgewater Hall.

The past two seasons have seen the Chopin Society UK celebrate the composer’s bicentenary and its own 40th anniversary. The programme of monthly concerts that it puts on continues to feature a roster of well-known artists alongside those that deserve to be better known. The Yugoslav-born French-American pianist Eugen Indjic falls into the latter category.

An altogether warmer experience on Bonfire Night was enjoyed at Holt’s Auden Theatre, for a performance by one of today’s most successful and busy concert pianists, Freddy Kempf.

Love was definitely in the air at Freddy Kempf’s St. Valentine’s Day Concert. He gave a passion-filled performance of Beethoven’s Sonata in C minor, Op. 13, ‘Pathétique’ to open the night, which was fitting with the nature of the title. The true ‘Pathétique’ should have passionate expression that should be felt by the heart and transcend mere variations in tempo.

As the Liszt bicentenary year draws to a close, Georgian pianist Khatia Buniatishvili offered her own contribution to the celebrations in a sold-out recital at the Wigmore Hall, featuring music by Liszt, Chopin and Prokofiev.

Chinese pianist Di Xiao is already making a name for herself with sell-out concerts in many of Europe’s most prestigious venues and a triumphant tour of China, as well as two recordings. Her debut recital at London’s Wigmore Hall was a programme conjuring up images of moonlight while “illuminating other byways along the way”.Di Xiao opened with Beethoven’s Sonata Opus 27 No.

The first lunchtime concert of the Wigmore Hall’s autumn season featured young French pianist Lise de la Salle. With her 'glamour model' looks, Lise de la Salle could easily be dismissed as a “piano babe”, but at only 23, she is already making a name for herself, particularly through her recording of first concertos of Liszt, Prokofiev and Shostakovich.

Long recognised worldwide as a player of virtuosity and poise, it’s hard to pigeon-hole British pianist Imogen Cooper, though she has undoubtedly made her mark with her interpretations of classical repertoire (her ‘Schubert Live’ recordings have received much critical acclaim).

“He looks rather Churchillian, doesn’t he?” my friend whispered as the lights dimmed, and Charles Rosen tottered on stage with the help of a walking stick, which he hooked over the edge of the piano. The comparison seemed appropriate, for Charles Rosen is truly a grand elder statesman of the piano.

London’s Wigmore Hall, famous for its elegant concert hall and outstanding acoustics, has become synonymous with exceptional piano music. Having played host to a number of celebrated performers and composers, from Arthur Rubinstein to Saint-Saëns, Benjamin Britten to Joshua Bell, Wigmore Hall also ushers in today’s latest classical stars.One such star is Boris Giltburg.