As part of the Cerne Abbas music festival in Dorset, members of the Gaudier Ensemble have been giving masterclasses in the church to some local young musicians. Two years ago I had the pleasure of teaching a talented young Dorset pianist, Max Blass-Laker, and yesterday he played to me again. I remember that two years ago, [...]

I’m down in Dorset for the annual music festival of the Gaudier Ensemble in Cerne Abbas. Last night I finished my rehearsals in time to join a crowd of people walking from the centre of the village and up the hill where the famous Cerne Abbas Giant is depicted. On top of the hill, as night fell, [...]

I don’t think I’ve ever played and listened to so much Brahms as I have this week. The Orion Quartet and I have now done three Brahms concerts this week in Oxford and London, and there’s another tonight in King’s Place. Every programme has been a mix of Brahms string quartets and piano quartets or quintet. We’ve agreed [...]

It’s just a week now until the first of my three concerts with the Orion Quartet at King’s Place. Quartet fans will know that the Orion are, indeed, stars. Our concerts are part of the ‘Brahms Unwrapped’ series at King’s Place in London. They’re on May 31, June 1 and 2 – all at 7.30pm. [...]

A very interesting discussion the other day at an event organised by the Worshipful Company of Musicians to find out whether young musicians feel they’re getting enough career advice. Many young musicians said sadly that in music the bar is set very high for ‘success’. In the world of performance, everyone thinks ’success’ means international stardom; this is [...]