F-sharp major is one of music’s most beautiful tonalities. I’ll be talking about Nikolai Medtner‘s Sonata-Ballade, Op. 27, written in exactly that key, tomorrow morning in a symposium at The British Library, London. This will be part of an exceptional program of talks, concerts, a master class and film screening from today through Saturday, all about Medtner, and with the participation of the finest scholars and performers. Really looking forward to the Medtner Study Day, one of the rare occasions of a research event fully dedicated to this composer’s music. Principal organizer of the Medtnerfest is my dear colleague Sasha Karpeyev.
Piano Sonata Talk in Vienna
Off to Vienna. Will be presenting my thoughts on Russian single-movement piano sonatas tomorrow at the University of Music and Performing Arts. Looking forward to blathering extensively about music by Medtner, Scriabin, Myaskovsky, Aleksandrov, and Prokofiev.
Music Memorising Workshop
I will be conducting an one-hour workshop on memorizing music and playing by heart this Sunday, 11:30 am, at Deutscher Tonkünstlerverband‘s studio Schillerstraße, Berlin-Charlottenburg. Cordial invitation to all the music teachers, instrumentalists and singers among my dear acquaintances. Admission is free.
Symbolist Piano Music
The first ever all-Medtner concert in my university is over, comprising the G minor Sonata, Op. 22, Sonata-Reminiscenza and Sonata tragica from Opp. 38 and 39, Sonata romantica, Op. 53 No. 1, as well as some skazki and Goethe songs. It’s been such an amazing evening! Thank you so much, Magdalena Müllerperth, Georgy Tchaidze, Evgeny Nikiforov, Emma Moore, SooJin Anjou, and Severin von Eckardstein for your beautiful performances. I’ll preserve the dearest memories of your playing.
Theremin and Piano Recital
My eight-year-old piece Nachtgirlande, now live recorded in a version for theremin and piano, with fabulous Carolina Eyck appearing as a soloist. Enjoy this trophy of the first-ever theremin recital in Berlin two days ago, with compositions and performances by Carolina, Christopher, and myself.