With Benjamin Grosvenor’s Silicon Valley recital only days away, we asked Mark Ainley, an expert of historical piano recordings, to comment on what makes Grosvenor so special.
Ainley shared a few of the more impressive tidbits from Grosvnor’s career, as well as as some insightful comments. We thought our blog readers would enjoy this as much as we did.
Grosvenor – Among a Handful of Top Pianists
Ainley considers Grosvenor among the handful of pianists with an authentic approach to Romantic pianism.
“He plays in the grand manner of the greatest legends of the piano in the 19th century, with nobility of conception, a refinement of sonority, and shaping of phrasing that stands him apart from many of his more famous colleagues. He is truly a pianist’s pianist.
“At Grosvenor’s last Vancouver recital I met a local retired professor and touring pianist. Over the course of his long life, he has heard some of the greatest legends of the piano, including Solomon, Gieseking, Kempff, Backhaus, and Grainger. His take on Grosvenor? ‘He is as good if not better than anyone else I’ve heard. There are other ways to play, but why would one want to? Everything he does is perfect.’ “
Facts About Benjamin Grosvenor that Ainley Considers Especially Worthwhile
At age 10, in 2003, he became the youngest-ever winner of four competitions: The Southend Young Musician of the Year, The Essex Young Musician of the Year, The Emanuel Trophy and The EPTA Trophy.
The next year at 11, he won the BBC Music Competition and in 2011 at age 19, he was the youngest musician to play the opening concert of the Proms season in its 100+-year history, at the age of 19 – here is his encore from that concert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T79YWTc7HvU
For more information, read these reports by Mark Ainley about Benjamin Grosvenor:
Here’s an interview I did with him when he was 19, just before he opened the Proms… http://www.thepianofiles.com/benjamin-grosvenor-interview/
And another more recent interview: http://www.thepianofiles.com/catching-up-with-benjamin-grosvenor/
