Festival selling out

I'm pleased to announce that the first of the concerts at my North York Moors Chamber Music Festival has sold out and the remaining seven are selling fast. The demand for tickets has been overwhelming and I'm looking forward to enjoying another two weeks of musical bliss with esteemed colleagues and passionate audiences. After the festival is over the Walton/Shostakovich (1) concertos with the Philharmonia are released by Signum Classics completing the Anglo-Russian trilogy and including the world premiere recording of the revised ending Walton wrote in 1975.

Daniel and I have also been following up our Grieg/Rachmaninov CD with one of Chopin and Saint-Saens (2nd sonata) which is now ready for release after the New Year. Before the year is out we'll be back in the studio to record two further discs of sonatas by Britten, Shostakovich, Prokofiev, Debussy, Poulenc and Faure. Our disc of sonatas by Brahms (e minor), Thuille and Strauss is now out on JCL online. Furthermore, I'll be recording the Dvorak and Schumann concertos early next year with the Philharmonia and filming the Britten solo suites as part of a box set of his complete works for cello. I think it's what they call a dam bursting . . . .. .!

Recording and Performing with Duran Duran

An interview about my recent performance with Simon le Bon at the Raisa Gorbachev Foundation

Festival and recording time

It's been such a hectic few weeks; multi-tasking seems to be part of modern life and career these days, not that I'm complaining. I'm pleased to announce the completion of the Anglo-Russian trilogy so the final disc in this set (Walton and Shostakovich No.1 concertos) is now being mastered for an Autumn release. This includes the world premiere of the revised ending William Walton wrote for the concerto in 1975 but until now never heard, performed or recorded. I am privileged to be the first. Perhaps it was destiny with my name . .. . ! We were poised to send Lady Walton this first recorded version but alas, rest her soul, she recently passed away. And so the CD will be dedicated to her memory.

Meanwhile, my pianist Daniel Grimwood and I are following the Grieg/Rachmaninov disc with another coupling: Chopin and Saint-Saëns' (No.2) sonatas, recorded at Wyastone towards the end of this week. For once it might not snow. Although . .. .. .

And later in the year I shall be back in the studio with the Philharmonia Orchestra to record the great Dvorak and Schumann concertos.

My second London performance this year is approaching on May 9th at King's Place with sonatas by Beethoven, Brahms, Britten and Prokofiev. I love London audiences, as I do Yorkshire ones . . ...

. . the second North York Moors Chamber Music Festival is now unveiled - details are up on www.nymchambermusicfestival.org - after last year's sell out festival I am expecting big things for this one and looking forward to it immensely. Do spread the word and come along! Advance booking highly recommended (bookings@nymchambermusicfestival.org or 01751 417795).

The dam has burst and the music shall now pour forth at an intense rate . . . . . . !

Frank interview

Frank interview about the reasons behind the music

A significant week

What a week - Classic FM podcast (see earlier blog), BBC Music Magazine Chamber Choice CD of the month with a double 5***** review and chosen for download, tomorrow live on Radio 3 at 5.15pm (14th January) and news of a Wigmore Hall appearance on March 9th and a King's Place recital on May 9th. Thrilled with the reception of the new CD, the radio support and now that I've completed the Anglo-Russian trilogy, the Walton and Shostakovich (1st) concertos with the Philharmonia under Alexander Briger is to be released later in the year. Meanwhile, Daniel Grimwood and I shall be following up on the recent CD with a recording of Chopin and Saint-Saens (2nd) sonatas in March for a release later in the year too. It always seems to snow when I record so hoping this latest onslaught of arctic weather will be over soon - we nearly got snowed in at the Wyastone Estate last year for the recording... ! Thank you for listening and supporting. If you can brave the elements this weekend on the 16th January and live in London, Daniel and I are giving a recital for the Hendon Music Society in a programme of Mendelssohn, Schumann, Chopin and, appropriately in this weather, Shostakovich...

BBC Music Magazine Chamber Choice CD of the month double 5***** review

BBC Music Magazine BBC Choice CD of the month - double 5***** review

Classic FM interview podcast

Listen to the podcast Here.