Paul Lewis, Piano

“Faced with such excellence, a mere critic can only abandon paper and pencil and listen to this heroic but deeply moving artist with awe and amazement,” wrote Gramophone of Paul Lewis. He explores the late piano music of three Austro-German masters in a recital that traces a path from the grace and wit of Haydn to the concentrated emotive power of Beethoven and Brahms.

Alexandre Tharaud, Piano

“He conceives the whole piece as a drama that sucks us in and doesn’t let go, and carefully paints vivid character along the way.” That’s what The Guardian wrote of Alexandre Tharaud’s recording of Bach’s Goldberg Variations. One of the pinnacles of keyboard literature, Bach’s set of 30 variations on an original theme poses extreme technical challenges for the performer, who must frequently cross and overlap hands to negotiate the winding threads of counterpoint.

Daniil Trifonov, Piano

Post- and neo-Romanticism, serialism, and minimalism are but a few musical styles that flourished in the 20th century and paved the way for the sounds of today. Daniil Trifonov, in what promises to be one of the most eclectic and exciting recitals of the season, performs a seminal work from each decade of the 20th century. Berg’s restless harmonies, Messiaen’s kaleidoscopic colors, Adams’s undulating rhythmic pulse, and more are explored by the fascinating and virtuosic young pianist.