Nicolas Hodges: Sir Harrison Birtwistle 80th Birthday Tribute Concert

In honor of Sir Harrison Birtwistle's 80th birthday, Wigmore Hall presents a concert by Nicolas Hodge on Sept 14

Working at the cutting edge of contemporary repertoire, pianist Nicolas Hodges has forged close relationships with many of today’s leading composers. In celebration of his 80th birthday, Sir Harrison Birtwistle is the focus of this particular concert. The composer’s finger-twisting Gigue Machine (premiered by Hodges) is accompanied by a world premiere commissioned by Wigmore Hall; these two pieces are separated by the Italian composer Ferruccio Busoni’s transcription of Mozart, while the concert is framed by Debussy’s two books of Études. 

The programme is a homage to the étude (study), a genre developed to help pianists advance their technique. However, this label fails to do justice to the musicality and expressivity of these pieces. Debussy’s Études are a masterpiece of his late years, ranging from contemplation to violence and humour to grace while posing a fiendish challenge to the pianist. Busoni’s puckish adaptation of Mozart imbues the composer’s elegant lines with a playful character and surprising harmonic twists.

Hodges is at the forefront of the contemporary music scene, commissioning and performing an astounding range of repertoire and making him one of the most important figures in this field. His crystalline sound and inherent musicality have made him the pianist of choice for many of today’s top composers and conductors, while his rock-solid technique has awed critics from across the world. Don’t miss the chance to see this outstanding artist in a colourful range of repertoire, including an exciting new contribution from one of Britain’s most highly-regarded composers.