THE International Piano Week grows every year, bringing internationally known pianists from all over the world to this glorious setting overlooking the Ribble Valley.
However this concert featured two local stars, one playing and one talking - Kathryn Stott and Martin Roscoe.
Kathryn's short recital was very well received and contained many pieces by unknown composers and others by musical giants like Ravel, Gershwin and Liszt. She pioneers bringing back to the public, pieces of forgotten genius; music by Lecuona, a Cuban composer, whose Afro-Caribbean rhythms livened up a performance that was, at times, somewhat muted and controlled; Czech composer Schulhoff, who was killed by the Nazis in a concentration camp, wrote jazz studies, which were fun, bringing back the era of the Charleston and 'Kitten on the Keys'.
This was an evening for the connoisseur, particularly in the second half when Martin Roscoe was interviewed by Kathryn, in what was an overlong affair, where extensive musical knowledge was required of the audience. Playing scratchy recordings, this navel gazing was alienating to anyone under the age of fifty.
High-point of the Festival is the performance this Saturday by John Lill, which unfortunately for most of us is totally sold out.
BRENDA KEAN
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