GRAHAM SCOTT, head of keyboard at the Royal
Northern College of Music and himself an alumnus, has an interesting two days
coming, on April 28 and 29.
First is the college’s Piano Recital Prize
competition (7pm in the Carole Nash Recital Room), when today’s young hopeful
pianists will aim to make their mark for the future.
The following day Graham is giving a solo
recital himself (1.15pm, same venue) – the fourth in the RNCM series of staff
recitals, new this season.
He knows what it’s like to be a student
with high hopes, having been one here himself – and he knows the challenges
today’s students face. I asked what advice he gives them.
“Choosing the right repertoire is vitally
important at the start of a career,” he says. “I think we choose two
types of repertoire. Repertoire that suits us, something that shows off
our best attributes. We also need to be able to bring something new,
interpretively, to this.
“The other type is repertoire that
addresses weaknesses in our playing – it’s not generally for public consumption,
but helps us improve.
“It is also a good idea to include
something new to the listener that captures their attention.
“I tell students to be able to seize every opportunity
that comes. It helps to be good at many things: teaching, chamber music,
recitals and concertos. It is possible to find your niche, however, such
as in playing contemporary music.
“And if you are resilient, entering
competitions is good way of opening doors.”
Thinking on to his solo recital, I asked
about the programme. He begins with Alban Berg’s piano sonata – a work he
played in a memorable recital here six years ago – and ends with Chopin’s Polonaise-Fantaisie
in A flat.
In between there’s a new piece by RNCM head
of composition Adam Gorb – another parallel with that 2010 recital.
“I have chosen repertoire that I have
enjoyed playing over a number of years,” he says, “ – pieces that I have an
affinity with.
“Adam Gorb’s new work is called Brahms And
Red Wine. Adam was invited to a ‘Brahms and red wine’ evening a few years
ago – at the time he didn’t like Brahms or red wine … over the years he has
come to like both.
“The piece has quotes from Brahms,
interwoven with Adam’s own compositional language. It’s a very inventive
piece … and not too difficult to play.”
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