The BIG RED has come to the Royal Albert Hall!

Press clipping dated 01-July: http://www.royalalberthall.com/press/pressreleases/release.aspx?id=13336 

The Royal Albert Hall is excited to announce that the BIG RED hand built Yamaha S6 Grand Piano, the only one of its kind in Britain, has arrived at the Hall. The BIG RED, originally played by Sir Elton John, has been kindly loaned from Markson Pianos, with whom the Royal Albert Hall is pleased to announce a new exclusive partnership. Individually assembled in the Yamaha concert grand workshop, Yamaha´s S6A grand piano was born in 2005 and has appeared on the X Factor, at the 02 Arena to promote Elton John’s Red Grand Tour and hired for the Showman’s show at Newbury. Simon Markson, Managing Director of Markson Pianos has said: ‘We are thrilled to be engaged in a music making venture at the Royal Albert Hall’s Elgar Room, with the provision of a striking Red Grand piano’.

Lucy Noble, Head of Programming at the Royal Albert Hall, said: ‘I am delighted that this wonderful piano will be enjoyed at the Hall and welcome the partnership with Markson Pianos, who have a sterling reputation for quality and excellence’. The striking instrument has been described as 6' 11" of pure joy to play and hear and is now situated in the Hall’s recently renovated Elgar Room, an impressive performance space and restaurant that is already steeped in history, having seen actors such as Dame Judi Dench and Sir Laurence Olivier perform. Re-opened in October 2009, the Elgar Room is one of London's premier new entertainment spaces, currently being used for the Hall’s Classical Coffee Morning series and Late Night Jazz series. The BIG RED is a fantastic feature for the Elgar Room and has also been used for glamorous post-show parties; most recently it was played at the Kristina after show party by Benny Andersson from ABBA!

The arrival of the BIG RED affirms the distinct style and versatility of the Elgar Room and will be a special feature of the Hall’s Late Night Jazz series, which encompasses a range of talented and credible artists; this has already included performances by Alex Stewart, the Alex Hutton Trio, Gill Manly, Parry Ray and Gustavo Marques. The Elgar Room has been established as a key late night venue in the capital to enjoy jazz. With doors opening at 9pm, music commencing at 10pm, and featuring cabaret style seating, table service and a selection of food and drinks, this makes for a relaxed and enjoyable evening that puts the Elgar Room on a par with other London jazz venues. The next season of Late Night Jazz, where you can witness the piano in action, commences in September. For more information and to book, please visit www.royalalberthall.com

Markson Pianos are pleased to announce the 4th edition of the 2010 Bosendorfer Wine and Music Soiree Series featuring Aisa Ijiri, at 7:30 on Wed. 28th April at the beautiful venue that is St. Mary Magdalene’s Church, Munster Square, NW1 3PL
We are delighted to welcome Aisa Ijiri for her second recital at St. Mary Magdalene’s Church; her performance here in October on the Bosendorfer Grand left the audience spellbound
Aisa Ijiri is one of the most talented Japanese pianists of her generation and has been described by Andrew Ball as "a radiant and poetic artist, her repertoire wide and imaginative and her pianism always at the service of the composer."

Aisa’s repertoire for the evening will include the following pieces:

Chopin: Mazurka in D major op.33-2
Chopin: Mazurka in B minor op.33-4

Chopin: Impromptu no.1 in A flat major op.29
Chopin: Polonaise-Fantasie, Op. 61
Kodaly: 3 pieces from “ 9 piano pieces”
Liszt: Les cloches de Geneve (Annees de Pelerinage/Suisse)
Liszt: Apres une Lecture de Dante- Fantasia quasi Sonata (Annees de
Pelerinage/Italie)

Ticket prices are £6 on the door, £3 concessions to include wine and nibbles so bring a friend along and enjoy an evening of music and wine.

The 5th of the Bosendorfer Concert Series featuring three rising stars of the Austrian Music Scene, Violinist Katharina Hotzenecker, cellist Thomas Kauffman and the talented young pianist Florian Feilmair, provided a sublime evening of chamber music at St. Mary Magdalene church in Munster Square, NW1.

Performing together for the first time, the trio of musicians gave a beautiful recital of Georg Druschetsky’s sonata for violin and bass in G major (1783), W.A. Mozart’s Sonata for piano and violin in E minor KV 304. The warmth and empathy conveyed through the music was unexpected for musicians collaborating together for the first time.

Although their performance of a trio composed for Katharin Hotzenecker by Balduin Sulzer was brilliant, their interpretation of Antonin Dvorks piano trio in E minor Op. 90 ‘ Dumsky’ was the crowning moment of the evening.

We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday March 31st to for the next edition of our Bosendorfer Concert Series. 

February 24th 2010 at 7.30 pm at St. Mary Magdalene Church, Munster Square, NW1. Nearest Tube: Great Portland Street. 

The 5^th edition of the Bosendorfer Concert Series will showcase three young rising stars of the Austrian music scene.Violinist Katharina Hotzenecker will be joined by the up-and-coming cellist Thomas Kauffman and the talented young pianist Florian Feilmair for an evening of chamber music at St. Mary Magdalene CChurch in Munster Square, NW1. The trio are receiving well-deserved recognition from the Austrian Music scene where their polished performances have made an impact.They individually have been the recipients of several major music prizes, among them the Gradus ad Parnassum 2008 (Florian Feilmair), Prima la Musica (Katharina Hotzenecjker) and Heinrich Schiff pupil Thomas Kaufmann was the winner of the Schubert Competition. The programme notably includes the performance of a trio composed for Katharin Hotzenecker by Balduin Sulzer, as well as Georg Druschetsky’s sonata for violin and bass in G major (1783), W.A. Mozart’s Sonata for piano and violin in E minor KV 304, Antonin Dvorks piano trio in E minor Op. 90 ‘ Dumsky’.  The concert will take place on Wednesday, February 24^th at 7:30pm at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Munster Square, NW1 3PL.Tickets £6 on the door, £5 concessions. Special Offer: 2 tickets for the price of one, so bring a friend to enjoy a complimentary after-show glass of wine and nibbles.  

Leon Bosch and Sung Suk Kangs recent recital on the Piano and Double Bass at St. Mary Magdalene Church was a success in many ways.

The evening consisted of a cosy, intimate performance thanks to Bosch’s warm rapport with the audience, introducing the varied repertoire and sharing his insights into the pieces performed.

Bosch and Kang gave a sublime yet vibrant interpretation of the programme; that they attained a balance between the Bosendorfer Concert Grand and the Double Bass is a testament to the projection of Bosch’s playing.

Moreover, the concert raised £250 for the Disaster Emergency Council in support of the victims of the Haiti Earthquake, so thank you all for your generosity!

We look forward to seeing you for the next edition of the Bosendorfer Concert Series on February 24^st 2010.

Subject: Leon Bosch recital at St Mary Magdalene Church, Munster Square, NW1 on 27^th Jan. 2010 at 7.30pm. Tickets £6. Concessions £5. Special Offer: 2 tickets for the price of one, so bring a friend! 

Braving a chilly January night on Wednesday 27^th to reach St. Mary Magdalene’s Church in Munster Square for the upcoming installment of the Bösendorfer Concert Series is a far less perilous journey than the one Leon Bosch, the evening’s virtuoso bassist, undertook to arrive where he is today.Born in Cape Town, South Africa, Leon Bosch was imprisoned in 1976 for his part in a student uprising.  Banned from studying Law by the oppressive South African regime at the time, Bosch applied to the universities’ music faculty in retaliation, marking the start of a brilliant, albeit at that time unexpected career as a double bassist.Bosch went on to secure a place at the Royal Northern College of Music and sponsors that took him to Europe to further his mastery of the double bass, despite the South African apartheid laws stating that only white performers were allowed to study overseas. Against the odds, Bosch’s career has flourished, earning him an honored place among bass players worldwide. He has worked with conductors such as Pinchas Zukerman, Nicolas Kraemer, Nicolae Moldoveanu and Guido Johannes Rumstadt and collaborated with leading chamber music groups. Bosch has a growing discography including his forthcoming CD Vol 2 release of Bottesini works for double base featuring the Bosendorfer Grand  that will be played by Sung Suk Kang at St. Mary Magdalene Church, Munster Square, NW1 3PL. The concert will start at 7:30 pm, tickets are £6, concessions £5. We have a special offer of two tickets for the price of one, so why not bring a friend along to hear Leon Bosch brighten up the end of a cold, dark January with harmonies of hope and freedom. In Bosch’s own words: " When I play the bass at least, I am a totally free human spirit."