Renowned for his versatility as a performer of the great Romantic repertoire to contemporary works, pianist Peter Donohoe brings a rare combination of power, sensitivity and imagination to everything he plays.
Peter Donohoe closes our season with a landmark performance of Chopin’s two collections of Études – works dedicated to Liszt, that originated in exercises but in Chopin’s compositional artistry became ‘masterpieces’ (Berlioz), and ‘truly poetic’ (Schumann). Their popular melodies gained evocative nicknames from enthusiastic 19th century fans. The formidably demanding Études, including ‘Sadness’, ‘Revolutionary’ and ‘Winter Wind’, are today still attempted by only the greatest of pianists.
Peter Donohoe’s programme also includes some of Schubert’s beautiful Impromptus, as a tribute to his 200th anniversary and Schumann’s Variations on the name Abegg.
Peter Donohoe is widely admired as one of the most distinguished pianists of his generation, known for his extraordinary technical command, deep musical insight and a career that has taken him to major stages across the world.
His international reputation was launched in 1982 when he became joint winner of the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, a landmark achievement that led to collaborations with many of the world’s leading orchestras and conductors.
Beyond the concert platform, Peter Donohoe is a respected figure in the musical community, frequently serving on juries for major international competitions. In recognition of his contribution to classical music, he was awarded a CBE in 2010.
“I cannot imagine a living pianist capable of improving upon Donohoe’s outstanding artistry.” – Musical Opinion