Interviews with musicians, composers and conductors
Probably playing at short notice for Frank Sinatra at the Albert Hall (someone in his team was indisposed). His drummer warned me off anything ‘flashy’ – “Mr Sinatra don’t like no concertos”. But the great man said, “Aw, let the kid play” (what a gent!).
I tend to judge venues as much by the pianos they offer as well as their acoustic. The Wigmore Hall ticks all boxes for me. While I love performing in its acoustic, it also has one of the best-maintained Steinways in the country.
Who or what inspired you to take up composing, and pursue a career in music? I wanted to make my own music from my earliest
Who or what inspired you to take up the piano, and pursue a career in music? My wonderful mother was a passionate amateur pianist, and
The sense that people you respect and care about are straining every sinew for the sake of your compositional efforts and their realisation is a uniquely humbling experience. At times it has made the music seem to stare back at me, externalised and somehow become ‘other’.
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