About the Artist Paul Crewes Rachel Fine Artistic Director Managing Director PRESENTS IN HIS OWN WORDS BENJAMIN GROSVENOR British pianist Piano Series at the Southbank Centre as well as his "There are often particular Benjamin Grosvenor is internationally recognized for first tour of South America. The forthcoming season pieces that one has in mind his electrifying performances and insightful sees Benjamin embark on new collaborations with to play that become starting BENJAMIN GROSVENOR, PIANO interpretations. His virtuosic command over the most the Filarmonica della Scala and Riccardo Chailly, with points for a programme. In strenuous technical complexities underpins the whom he will perform Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1, building it, one then thinks remarkable depth and understanding of his the Tonhalle-Orchestra Zurich and François-Xavier about how the pieces connect Program musicianship. Benjamin is renowned for his Roth, the Orchestra of St Luke’s and Sir Roger and progress from one to distinctive sound, described as ‘poetic and gently Norrington, and with the London Symphony another, and how they come ironic, brilliant yet clear-minded, intelligent but not Orchestra for a performance of Brahms’ Piano together to build an emotional ROBERT SCHUMANN (1810-1856) without humour, all translated through a beautifully Concerto No. 1 under the baton of Alpesh Chauhan. arc over the evening. In this Arabesque, Op. 18 clear and singing touch’ (The Independent) making programme, the Schumann him one of the most sought-after young pianists in Benjamin enjoys incorporating chamber music Arabesque is included as a kind WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART (1756-1791) the world. collaborations into his schedule, including of 'palate-cleanser', setting the Sonata in B-flat Major, K. 333 Linz performances with the Escher, Elias and Endellion intimate atmosphere for two Allegro Benjamin first came to prominence as the String Quartets, chamber ensembles of the Orchestre classical sonatas. The sonatas outstanding winner of the Keyboard Final of the Symphonique de Montreal and the Naples themselves are very contrasted: Andante cantabile 2004 BBC Young Musician Competition at the age of Philharmonic, and at venues such as Paris’ Musée du Allegretto grazioso the Mozart a sunny, joyous eleven. Since then, he has become an internationally Louvre and London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall. Since the work; the Beethoven dark and regarded pianist performing with orchestras 2015-16 season Benjamin has been invited to LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) brooding. The Scriabin second including the London Philharmonic, RAI Torino, New participate in the prestigious “Junge Wilde” series by sonata that opens the second Sonata in c-sharp minor, Op. 27, No. 2 Moonlight York Philharmonic, Philharmonia Orchestra, Leipzig Konzerthaus Dortmund, where over the course of half follows the example of the Adagio sostenuto Gewandhausorchester, Tokyo Symphony, and in three years he will perform on a number of Moonlight with its slow first Allegretto venues such as the Royal Festival Hall, Barbican occasions. movement, but the two 'Sonata- Presto agitato Centre, Singapore’s Victoria Hall, The Frick Collection Fantasies' are also connected and Carnegie Hall. Benjamin has worked with In 2011 Benjamin signed to Decca Classics, and in in that the scene that the poet numerous esteemed conductors including Vladimir doing so has become the youngest British musician Rellstab imagined when hearing 15 minute intermission Ashkenazy, Jiří Bělohlávek, Semyon Bychkov, Andrey ever to sign to the label, and the first British pianist the Beethoven that gave the Boreyko, Sir Mark Elder, Alan Gilbert, Vladimir to sign to the label in almost 60 years. Benjamin’s piece its title (moonlight on ALEXANDER SCRIABIN (1872-1915) Jurowski, Andrew Litton, Andrew Manze, Ludovic 2014 release Dances, a recital album that presents a Lake Lucerne) is similar to the Sonata No. 2 in g-sharp minor, Op. 19 Fantasy Morlot, Kent Nagano, Alexander Shelley, Thomas historically and stylistically varied offering of works Andante Søndergård, Jac van Steen, John Storgards, Gabor influenced by dance, has been described as watery, moonlit imagery that Presto Takacs-Nagy, Michael Tilson Thomas and François- ‘breathtaking’ (The Guardian), offering “performance Scriabin himself imagined when Xavier Roth. after performance of surpassing brilliance and writing his work. It is, one character” (Gramophone Magazine) and won the BBC might say, the 'real' Moonlight ENRIQUE GRANADOS (1867-1916) At just nineteen, Benjamin performed with the BBC Music Magazine Instrumental Award 2015. Autumn sonata. Works from Granados' From Goyescas, Op. 11 Symphony Orchestra at the First Night of the 2011 2016 sees the release of Benjamin’s third recital disc Goyescas work well next to the Los Requiebros BBC Proms. Following re-invitations in 2012 for a for Decca, Homages. Scriabin as the music inhabits El fandango performance with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra the same kind of luminously- and Charles Dutoit and in 2014 for a recital and During his sensational career to date, Benjamin has coloured world, with dense, FRANZ LISZT (1811-1886) Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with the BBC received Gramophone’s ‘Young Artist of the Year and fluid piano writing. The music Rhapsodie espagnole, S. 254 Philharmonic and Gianandrea Noseda Benjamin ‘Instrumental Award’, a Classic Brits ‘Critics’ Award’, has an improvisation-like quality appeared in 2015 at the Last Night of the Proms UK ‘Critics’ Circle Award’ for Exceptional Young Talent that makes for interesting performing Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with and a Diapason d’Or ‘Jeune Talent’ Award. He has variety at this point of the the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Marin Alsop. been featured in two BBC television documentaries, programme, after three piano "BBC Breakfast" and "The Andrew Marr Show," as sonatas. It seemed natural then APRIL 30, 2017 AT 8PM Recent and future highlights include engagements well as in CNN’s "Human to Hero" series. The to end with the Liszt Spanish Bram Goldsmith Theater with the Cleveland and Hallé Orchestras, Bergen youngest of five brothers, Benjamin began playing Rhapsody, which continues with Philharmonic Orchestra, Atlanta, San Francisco, the piano aged 6. He studied at the Royal Academy the vibrant Spanish rhythms of Running Time: 100 minutes including a 15-minute intermission. Singapore, Melbourne, Washington National and of Music with Christopher Elton and Daniel-Ben the Granados. It is one of Liszt's KBS Symphony Orchestras. Major recital dates Pienaar, where he graduated in 2012 with the great 'showpieces', but one with DECCA, EMI include Vienna Konzerthaus, Zankel Hall at Carnegie ‘Queen’s Commendation for Excellence’ and in 2016 lot of substance to it." Exclusive Management: ARTS MANAGEMENT GROUP, INC., 130 West 57th St., New York, NY 10019 Hall, Cologne Philharmonie, Konzerthaus Berlin, the was made a Fellow. Benjamin has been supported Lucerne Festival, La Roque d’Antheron, International since 2013 by EFG International, the widely — Benjamin Grosvenor Special thanks to Marilyn Ziering for her gift of the Steinway & Sons piano featured in tonight’s performance. PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P27.