Petrushka
After two lockdown cancellations, Simon and I finally played Victor Babin’s highly virtuosic two-piano transcription of 3 movements from Petrushka, in a BBC Radio 3 lunchtime recital from LSO St Lukes in January 2022. Also in the concert was Rachmaninov’s two-piano version of his enchanting Symphonic Dances. Watch the video
Section photo with incredible colleagues Siwan Rhys and Anaëlle Tourret, playing Bartók Music for Strings, Percussion and Celeste (COE/Rattle).
In rehearsal with COE/Robin Ticciati and Golda Schultz, ahead of European tour and Prom.
CCG recording session for “Steve Reich: The Sextets”.
The crazy world of Frank Zappa – in rehearsal with LPO.
The incredible Haydnsaal at Schloss Esterházy in Eisenstadt, Austria. First concert of COE tour.
La Défense Arena Paris, with RPO and Joe Hisaishi. Two sell-out crowds (capacity 22,000). Quite a blast!
The most luminous, heavenly-sounding celeste I’ve played – sheer joy! On tour with COE.
With Simon Crawford-Phillips and producer Jens Braun at the end of a 4-hands recording project of Schubert masterpieces and Bach-Kurtág transcriptions.
Team keyboard (the typing pool) for Turangalîla with LSO at EIF and on tour. I’ve never forgotten the impact of hearing this extraordinary piece live at the Free Trade Hall as an 11-year-old schoolboy: those sounds from another universe! Is there a greater expression of joy in all music? Backstage at Usher Hall with Cynthia Millar, Peter Donohoe, Liz Burley.
First time playing with Sinfonia of London and very happy to be here!
Film cameras at the Roundhouse Chalk Farm and a London orchestra in attendance… that’s all I’m allowed to say for now.
Update August 2023: now I can reveal
Elbphilharmonie Hamburg looking gloriously resplendent in the spring sunshine… this is what can happen when there is the vision and courage to create something spectacular for the arts!
not your average dressing room
the frustration
RFH rehearsal with London Sinfonietta for the brilliant Reich/Richter.
On set for filming of Belgravia.
A morning off in Köln with RPO.
My youngest grabbing some piano time in the lunch break at Abbey Road, during recording sessions with the Colin Currie Group.
Carnegie Hall with Colin Currie Group.
Sharing the tarmac at Stansted with Air Force One, on a charter with LSO the day of the Queen’s funeral.
Relaxing with LSO percs after the final concert of the tour, Lucerne.
Excited to play the colossal organ at the Berliner Philharmonie in Miraculous Mandarin.
In rehearsal with COE at the iconic Wiener Musikverein.
A sunny morning stroll in Santa Barbara with Catherine Edwards during LSO California tour.
Singapore with London Sinfonietta.
Morning hike in Santiago Chile, at end of an utterly memorable South America tour with LSO.
A much-appreciated bear hug from Sir Simon Rattle, after my LSO debut playing Petrushka.
Petrushka, Barbican, September 2017
Recording Peter Maxwell Davies with the wonderful Zoë Beyers, Edinburgh.
With CCG at the newly-opened Elbphilharmonie (cost 866 million €). No idea I’d packed the perfect rehearsal shirt!
Backstage at Opera City Tokyo with the great man.
Steve Reich: Quartet at Tokyo Opera City
Kirkwall Harbour just before midnight – the end of a Hebrides Ensemble stint at St Magnus Festival. Little had we guessed that the next day would usher in such a new and difficult dawn…
Happy faces, having finished recording Quartet at AIR Studios.
Post-concert wind down with Huw Watkins and Simon Crawford-Phillips. Rotterdam.
CCG and Steve Reich at Helsingin Musiikkitalo Finland.
US premiere of Quartet, NY.
Backstage antics before Crumb Vox Balaenae, with Hebrides Ensemble at Queen’s Hall.
Note to self: never move a rehearsal piano which doesn’t have an A-frame. Whoops! (we did get asked back)
Sultry Central Park NY with Huw Watkins, playing Stravinksy with Michael Clark Company.
Reich Sextet at Elbphilharmonie with Colin Currie Group.