I haven’t written a post for ages. As I’ve said before, it all goes on Twitter and Facebook. But here I am to tell you that the 2022 Trasimeno Music Festival (our 17th festival) will take place from July 1-7th. It’s a huge amount of work to put it together, let alone play 6 concerts during the week, but I’m always so happy when we bring great musicians and artists to Umbria, together with an audience from all over the world. This year we are presenting a very full programme with a wide variety of repertoire. Have a look at the programme here. I hope many of you can come! Put all your problems aside and enjoy a few days of wonderful music in historic settings in very congenial company. You won’t regret it!
Other important engagements this month include a recital in the Leipzig Bach Festival on 17 June, in which I perform the complete Book II of Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier. Plus a tour of the UK with the Concerto Budapest orchestra which begins in London this Monday night, June 6th (Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major, K488).
After so many months in 2020 and 2021 sitting at home without concerts, it’s great to be working again and be playing for live audiences. I haven’t stopped since August of 2021. Indeed I can’t remember a time when I’ve been this busy. My Bach Odyssey, which began in 2016, officially came to an end in Tokyo on 25 May. That was a huge project but one which brought great joy to me and to many people. Apart from my solo recitals and orchestral appearances, I also shared the stage with both author Ian McEwan in Vienna and actor Roger Allam in London (see photo) in beautiful programmes of words and music. I so much enjoy those occasions.
Soon I will put up my concerts for the rest of 2022. I always wait until presenters have announced them before putting them online. There are lots of good things in store, so watch out!
The terrible situation in Ukraine preoccupies us all. We don’t know what the future holds. Music is a great refuge and comfort, and I am happy to spend my days in its company.
