Thomas Ades is well know as a composer with a long list of Orchestral pieces, Opera, and Chamber Music to his name.
He is less well know for being runner-up in the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition in 1990 aged 19 – his instrument being the piano.
Even without knowing his musical talents the program presented at Wigmore Hall in London was hard to resist.
The sequence of presentation was slightly different from that proposed in the program. The Ades variations in the first half followed and reflected the Haydn Variations in F minor; and his piece after the interval was played last.
It was a substantial and well constructed program. Each piece was executed with great skill and sensitivity. There was much drama and emotion!
He played a couple of encores, possibly his own compositions. These were followed by a very short Kurtag piano tribute to Beethoven.
There is more on Thomas Ades here.
We found we were sitting next to Margherita Torretta. A professional pianist who specialises in older music. I got a nod of approval at the end of the Beethoven. She is looking forward to assembling a new CD themed on piano music about flowers. But, expecting her first child in January, she has stopped practice for the time being. Her interesting story is here.
