Beautifully Nuanced: Leon McCawley at King’s Place

Sublime and satirical Russian music served to an appreciative but less than capacity audience at the Anvil. 

As London became a vision in white and all went quiet, the Southbank Centre was abuzz with all manner of arts-related activities. One rail replacement bus and a brisk walk behind me, I had made it to see the Philharmonia Orchestra’s matinee concert of 20th-century English music, framed around John Ireland’s Piano Concerto.

Acclaimed British pianist Leon McCawley opened the Wigmore Hall’s 2013 London Pianoforte Series with a varied programme of piano music by masters of the instrument spanning two centuries, from Bach to Rachmaninov.

A lunchtime recital at the Wigmore Hall is always a pleasure, and a welcome opportunity to pause for an hour or so to enjoy exceptionally high-quality music in a fine setting, and today’s concert, given by pianist Leon McCawley was no exception.

Saturday 16th April's audience received the full advantages of the chronological programming of the sonatas in Leon McCawley's Mozart Marathon at Kings Place this weekend. The five sonatas in the programme span some of the most critical events and emotional highs and lows in Mozart's life, reflected in this music.

In his first New York appearance since the termination of his contract as BSO Music Director, Nelsons courts public sympathy and makes some thrilling music.