Performer: Philippe Cassard

Waltzing on a Monday evening? Wigmore Hall is not exactly the Tower Ballroom, but last night it did a fair impression as a temple of dance when Philippe Cassard played the third of his Debussy Perspectives series.

“Wigmore Hall is flooded now!” confessed Philippe Cassard. It was Claude Debussy who left the tap running, with every form of precipitation – rain, snow, fog – pouring from the Steinway's keyboard, trickling from fountain, springing from river beds. 

At Wigmore Hall, Philippe Cassard took us on an engrossing picture postcard tour of Debussy’s musical world. 

Natalie Dessay’s recital at the Maison Symphonique last night should have been an art song lover’s dream come true. Instead the audience was treated to a bizarre spectacle of over-expression and under-singing.

Le petit festival de piano organisé par Vanessa Wagner dans le bel auditorium en bois clair du Musée des impressionnismes de Giverny a mis à l'honneur quatre pianistes remarquables.

Réduit au piano et privé de sa fameuse ouverture par Philippe Cassard, l'opéra de Haydn perd un peu de son âme mais bénéficie heureusement d'un quatuor vocal inspiré.

Don't trust appearances, which are those of a man about town: at the piano, Philippe Cassard is the embodiment of the darkest Sturm und Drang.