Monthly Archives: April 2011

Following in the footsteps?

Posted on April 26, 2011 by Christine Stevenson

The programme about Gustav Holst on BBC4 last Sunday was fascinating, not least because it had many interviews with his daughter, Imogen Holst. It was good to see the excellent Sian Edwards conducting the RCM orchestra, and then archive footage of Imogen Holst … Continue reading →

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Playing Jane’s piano

Posted on April 24, 2011 by Christine Stevenson

In one of my masterclasses in Australia recently, a young pianist sat down at the piano, and opened her copy of Chopin’s Nocturne Op 55 No 1. As always with this piece, it was the name of the dedicatee which struck me when … Continue reading →

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A Pianist with Chopsticks

Posted on April 14, 2011 by Christine Stevenson

Get any group of children near a piano, and there’s a good chance that one of them will start to play ‘Chopsticks’. It’s a fail-safe piece that anyone can learn by ear. There are ‘how to’ versions of it on … Continue reading →

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Wanted: One Piano, Six Hands, GSOH

Posted on April 7, 2011 by Christine Stevenson

To Benalla today in preparation for tomorrow’s recital. The invitation to perform in the concert series there came with a repertoire suggestion – Percy Grainger’s Zanzibar Boat-Song. Since it’s the fiftieth anniversary of Melbourne-born Grainger’s death, I’m delighted to include it, … Continue reading →

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Sonnets and Songs – Tre Sonetti del Petrarca

Posted on April 6, 2011 by Christine Stevenson

After the jaunty Canzonetta del Salvator Rosa in the Italian Année, Liszt turns to poetry – three sonnets by the 14th century poet, Petrarch. Love is the subject. Petrarch was in love with Laura de Noves; Liszt and Marie d’Agoult … Continue reading →

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Keep playing – even if the Titanic is sinking

Posted on April 3, 2011 by Christine Stevenson

To a remarkable venue on April 1 – the Abbotsford Convent in Melbourne, no longer a Convent, but a large Arts community where Radio 3MBS is based. I gave a live broadcast of pieces by Liszt. At least, I thought I … Continue reading →

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