The Well-Tempered Ear

Today is World Piano Day. Deutsche Grammophon has a free online celebration | March 29, 2023

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By Jacob Stockinger

Today — Wednesday March 29, 2023 — is World Piano Day.

That is because today is the 88th day of the year — and most pianos these days have 88 keys, with the exception of the Austrian high-end maker Bösendorfer, which also makes models with 91 and 97 keys.

Deutsche Grammophon is the world’s oldest recording label and has signed many great pianists in the past and continues to do so  today, including two of the Ear’s young favorites: South Korean pianist and 2015 Chopin Competition gold medalist Seong-Jin Cho (below top) and Icelandic pianist Vikingur Olaffsson (below bottom).

Here’s the press release:

“Deutsche Grammophon is set to mark World Piano Day on 29 March 2023 with its fourth international festival of pianism. 

“Available to enjoy without charge on DG’s streaming service STAGE+ and the label’s YouTube channel, the festival will turn the spotlight on artists including Joep Beving, Seong-Jin Cho, Brian Eno and Roger Eno, Jan Lisiecki, Hélène Grimaud, Lucas and Arthur Jussen, Evgeny Kissin, Lang Lang, Bruce Liu, Fabian Müller, Víkingur Ólafsson, Max Richter, Grigory Sokolov and Daniil Trifonov.

“Together they will offer a feast of music ranging from the keyboard works of J.S. Bach and Handel to contemporary compositions.

“Music-lovers will be able to tune in free of charge for 30 days by using promo code WORLDPIANODAY. Full details can be found at https://worldpianoday.com.”

Piano students and fans will love the many close-ups and hand shots.

You can also sample the 1 hour, 21 minute-digital celebration on YouTube via this link (be sure to click of HEAR MORE to see the pianist, the piece and the timing) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1H5ZRqfDZ7Y.

You can hear one of The Ear’s favorite young pianists, pieces and recordings — a new release — at the bottom.

Who is your favorite established pianist?

Who is your favorite young pianist?

What are your favorite piano pieces?

Do you have a favorite piano recording, old or new, to recommend?

The Ear wants to hear.

 


6 Comments »

  1. Thanks for today’s post. Every time I remember that this is World Piano Day, I smile. That should account for something.

    Like

    Comment by Ginny Moore Kruse — March 29, 2023 @ 4:17 pm

  2. Too many guys. How about — Maria João Alexandre Barbosa Pires (my favorite), Valentina Lisitsa, Yuja Wang, Martha Argerich. Must be many others.

    Liked by 1 person

    Comment by Ronnie — March 29, 2023 @ 11:47 am

    • Hi Ronnie
      Thank you for your reply.
      You make an excellent point — especially because Pires (one of my favorites too), Yang and Argerich are all DG artists and have taken part in one or more of the three previous DG virtual celebrations of World Piano Day.
      Maybe DG will take note of this and correct the problem next year.
      One can hope.
      Best
      The Ear

      Like

      Comment by welltemperedear — March 29, 2023 @ 12:53 pm

  3. Hi Jacob, How can we contact you directly? Kind regards, Richard – Verisimal

    Like

    Comment by Richard Castillon — March 29, 2023 @ 4:49 am

    • Hello Richard
      Thank you for your inquiry.
      You can start by leaving a message here about the reason you want to contact me directly.
      Does it have to do with promotional materials?
      Best wishes,
      Jacob

      Like

      Comment by welltemperedear — March 29, 2023 @ 12:58 pm


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