International Piano offers a rich mix of inspiration and guidance to pianists and piano fans around the world, from dedicated amateurs and students to professional pianists, teachers and aficionados. Celebrating the piano in all its forms, including the fortepiano and digital keyboards, each edition of our magazine is packed with interviews, features, news and reviews showcasing the top artists of today and yesteryear.
Matters of judgement
International Piano
LETTERS • Write to International Piano, St Jude’s Church, Dulwich Road, London SE24 0PB, email international.piano@markallengroup.com or tweet @IP_mag. Star letters will receive a free CD from Hyperion’s best-selling Romantic Piano Concertos series
Steinway launches Royal Albert Hall Edition
Kazakh pianist wins Leeds Competition
PianoLink Competition winners announced in Cremona
Ólafsson begins residency with Iceland Symphony Orchestra
Finding balance • Colin Clarke talks to Alim Beisembayev, the thrilling yet thoughtful young winner of the 2021 Leeds International Piano Competition
Critical matter • Self-serving eunuchs or useful guides? Critics have long been the cause of strong feelings. Bryce Morrison looks at both sides of the argument
The Ill-Tempered Clavier • Is there a case for giving special treatment to minority groups in the arts? Charivari advocates a diversity agenda that puts talent at its heart
Measured journey • Polish pianist Piotr Anderszewski has spent 20 years formulating his ideas on Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier, picking up a Gramophone Award for his efforts. He explains to Jessica Duchen why for him it is still a work in progress
Give the gift of music this Christmas • Save 25% on subscriptions with code XMAS25
Bon viveur • Bryce Morrison marks the centenary of Swiss-Hungarian pianist Géza Anda, who expressed his love of high living in sumptuous and perceptive readings of works by Schumann, Liszt and Bartók
The one and only Madame • Canadian pianist Janina Fialkowska recalls her time in Paris as an impressionable teenager under the wing of her fabulously flamboyant, larger-than-life teacher Yvonne Lefébure
Feminine energy • French pianist and producer Lydia Jardon has been bringing female musicians together on a Breton ‘island of women’ for 20 years. She explains to Michael Johnson why women foster greater fluidity in piano playing
Tangible enchantment • Phoenix Pianos are well-known for their innovative design features but what are they like to play? British pianist Oliver Poole tells James Bacon why he loves Phoenix instruments
Competitions diary • Piano prizes around the world in 2022 and beyond
TWELVE KEYS TO THE PIANO REPERTOIRE • Part III – Late Romantic
MASTERCLASS • Italian pianist and conductor Vanessa Benelli Mosell explores the interpretative challenges of Debussy’s sweetly contemplative ‘Bruyères’
Bruyères From Préludes Book II
Two Mazurkas
Two Piano Pieces
Dedicated to Eleonore von Breuning Sonatina for Orphica *)
Three-Voice Fugue
Leeds looks to the future • It has been a time of great change at the Leeds International Piano Competition. Murray McLachlan attended the 20th edition, which honoured its founder’s name by celebrating piano playing positivity and opening new avenues
Gstaad Menuhin Festival
Critic’s choice
ALBUM OF THE MONTH
SUBSCRIBE TODAY • Never miss an issue of International Piano. There are three fantastic subscription options to choose from!
BOOKS • REVIEWS
REVIEWS • SHEET MUSIC
NEXT ISSUE
Recurring themes • Dutch pianist Joop Celis looks back over a lifetime of inspirational listening