Canadian pianist Angela Hewitt is our cover star this month. We reflect back on her four-year journey as she reaches the culmination of her Bach Odyssey. She also opens up to Claire Jackson on the unexpected loss of her Fazioli piano. Also this month, Brian Wise meets guitarist Sharon Isbin to discuss her wide range of collaborations, having performed with the likes of Sting, Joan Baez and Mark O’Connor.
We send classical music newbie Ian Taylor to the Southbank Centre to try out their new ‘Encounters’ scheme, which sees concert newcomers paired up with musicians – in this case, baritone Roderick Williams – to attend their first concerts.
Also this issue, Lucy Parham looks into iPad scores to decide whether one should ditch their sheet music in favour of tablet technology, as she trials the leading digital sheet music apps. Geoff Brown explores great composers who have been inspired by life’s mundane and unremarkable – including coffee, tax returns and lost pennies. Plus, writer, actor and presenter Stephen Fry discusses music that has shaped his life.
Michael Tanner finds the finest recordings of Wagner’s operatic masterpiece Parsifal and Felix Mendelssohn is our Composer of the Month.
Click here to download the inlay for this month's free cover CD.
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