Roman Zaslavsky understands how to contrast the two ingenious opposites Robert Schumann and Franz Liszt side by side, on one recording giving each one his due, thus offering a completely new approach to their music and also to two rather different…

Roman Zaslavsky is a master of piano technique that espouses nuance without resorting to arbitrary mannerisms. He first gained recognition by taking 1st prize - the Primer Gran Premio - at the José Iturbi International Music Competition in Valencia,…

The Belcea Quartet is one of the world’s leading chamber music ensembles, having won many international accolades. Now, with the string quartets, the musicians have rediscovered a gem of twentieth century chamber music. “Here is a composer moving…

Both come from Buenos Aires, both have made global careers for themselves. Martha Argerich and Daniel Barenboim are not only fellow countrymen; they also both began to give concerts in their youth, as soloists and with an orchestra. In addition, the…

The programme which Martin Helmchen devised for his recital at the 2011 Verbier Festival is like a statement of probity: a carefully constructed selection of works by three composers, Bach, Liszt and Beethoven. The chosen compositions place demands…

Lars Vogt’s performances at the 2011 Verbier Festival, in the Swiss Alps, offer a thoughtprovoking and varied programme. Works by some of the leading composers of the classical repertoire – Mozart, Schubert, Beethoven and Brahms – receive a…

"I have devoted my life to the piano and to music-making. Whether you acquire public fame or not, devoting one’s existence to serving art provides a rich life and the healthiest form of fulfillment. I feel music is my religion, the hall is my temple…

The French pianist, Adam Laloum, winner of the 2009 Clara Haskilag competition, is quickly becoming an international star, described by Le Monde as ‘a young pianist, yet already a great artist and poet’. Age is certainly no barrier for Laloum, who…

If there is one genre of music which baritone Thomas Hampson is exceptionally passionate about, it is the lied. To Hampson, song and singing are "the diary of our existence" and he has invested a great amount of time, work and love to luring this…

Nikolai Lugansky, already a major artist, has been hailed by his former teacher Tatiana Nikolajeva as the “next” in a line of great Russian pianists. He has been described as “a pianistic phenomenon of exceptional class” by the Netherlands’ NRC…