London Piano Festival 2017, Kings Place

Chopin, Liszt, Brahms .... the music pours from the pianos and the players at the London Piano Festival, and there is new work too

Charles Owen and Katya Apekisheva founded and perform at the London Piano Festival. Photo: Sam Canetty-Clarke
Is there anyone who doesn't wish they could play the piano – or play it better? This enviable talent will be demonstrated by some of the finest performers at the keyboard during the second London Piano Festival at Kings Place.

Over its four days, the festival features music for solo piano, four hands at one piano, and two players at two pianos. The range of the instrument seems inexhaustible.

Founded last year by Charles Owen and Katya Apekisheva, the second festival again includes these brilliant players: they give the opening concert (Thurs 5 Oct), when the programme includes Brahms, Tchaikovsky and Liszt. The next evening (6 Oct), the great Nelson Goerner gives a solo recital dominated by Chopin.

On the Saturday of the festival, there are events all day, including performances by Lisa Smirnova, Melvyn Tan and Ilya Itin. The evening concludes with an extravaganza for two pianos, in which Smirnova, Tan, Itin and Danny Driver join Charles Owen and Katya Apekisheva for a spectacular programme that includes a specially commissioned work, RedMare, by London-based Russian-born composer Elena Langer.

After a family concert (Sun 8 Oct, 11AM), the festival ends with a live performance of his new album Held by jazz artist Jason Rebello.

And if that doesn't inspire you to practise those scales a little harder, you can always just wait for next year's festival...

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What London Piano Festival 2017, Kings Place
Where Kings Place, 90 York Way, London, N1 9AG | MAP
Nearest tube King's Cross St. Pancras (underground)
When 05 Oct 17 – 08 Oct 17, eight events, times vary
Price £7.50 - £44.50
Website Click here for more information and booking




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