The Trasimeno Music Festival 2021 (our “mini” version) was a great joy from start to finish. Even though we were saddened not to have our usual audience from all over the world (we missed you!) it was still wonderful to be together again with so many familiar faces, and to also welcome new people to the Trasimeno family. My musical colleagues all outdid themselves. Rudolf Lutz amazed us with his improvisations and delighted us with his warm personality; Anna Bonitatibus was brilliant in Berlioz and Rossini; and the chamber musicians from Italy and Switzerland filled the Basilica of San Pietro in Perugia with glorious sound. We had fantastic venues this year, and the final dinner in the Piazza del Duomo of Spoleto was a magical evening none of us will ever forget.

Next year’s festival will take place from July 1-7, 2022, so mark it in your calendar now!

Travelling is not exactly easy at the moment, but in the last twelve days I’ve been twice in Sweden (Stockholm and Helsingborg) with Warsaw sandwiched in between (Chopin Festival). I’ve put most of my upcoming dates in my schedule for the next few months–a few are yet to be added once they’re confirmed. I was supposed to make the first of three double-CDs dedicated to the complete Mozart Sonatas (for Hyperion) at the end of September/beginning of October, but because of Brexit restrictions (such a mess and a tragedy!) I’ve had to postpone that to December. At least we were still able to get my team free then (producer, piano tuner), and the recording venue in Germany, and that gives me more time to prepare. But that accounts for the empty space in my calendar. More time to work in private. Never a bad thing.

Let’s hope that the coming months don’t bring further restrictions. We must all do our part. It’s great to be touring again, though, and meeting people and having live audiences!