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Old Men Writing Short Pieces. Or, Why I Keep Playing the Last Music Composers Wrote

There is a moment in every composer's life when he stops writing symphonies and starts writing small things. Beethoven called his last piano pieces…

Schiermonnikoog. Or, How I Learned to Stop

The Schiermonnikoog Festival invited me to play three concerts. Nobody mentioned the bicycle. Schiermonnikoog is a small island off the north coast of the…

Why Cramer’s Piano Quintets Deserve to Be Played Again

Preparing Piano Quintet No. 3, or Why Good Manners Ruined His Career

Johann Baptist Cramer had a serious problem. He was excellent at everything he did. He was admired by Beethoven. He was one of the most respected pian…

Gaia Festival, Thun. Or: How Having Nothing To Do Became My Greatest Achievement

I went to the Gaia Musikfestival in Thun with a shocking amount of free time. This is unusual for a music festival. Normally you are busy. Rehearsing.…

Why Classical Music Is Still Cool (Even If No One Admits It)

Let’s be honest: classical music doesn’t always have the best PR. It’s often painted as old-fashioned, overly serious, and only for those with refined…

Is Classical Music Dying? No, But It’s Changing

If you’ve spent any time in classical music circles, you’ve probably heard the question: “Is classical music dying?” It’s an ongoing debate, fueled by…

Schubert, Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms

And Me

Releasing an album feels a little like sending a message in a bottle. You record, refine, obsess over every detail, and then, eventually, you let it g…