Dear friends,
I hope this message finds you well and safe, and that your 2021 is off to a good start. With widespread vaccination now on the horizon, it seems like we can see the light at the end of the tunnel, a return to greater normalcy after this devastating pandemic. For the moment however, the situation remains incredibly difficult around the globe, and my thoughts are with those who have been most directly affected by this crisis.
Given the dynamics of COVID-19, the majority of my concerts in the current months have been cancelled. Among those that remain is an upcoming performance of Liszt’s Totentanz with the legendary Budapest Festival Orchestra and Maestro Ivan Fischer. This will be live-streamed at 9pm on February 6, which you’ll be able to watch here. I hope you can tune in!
Earlier this month my latest disc, an album of previously unrecorded works by the British late-Romantic composer York Bowen, was released by Hyperion—and it has since been receiving quite extraordinary accolades. It was selected by Gramophone in their Editor’s Choice list as one of the best discs of the month, accompanied by a rave review where the disc is tapped for a Gramophone Awards nomination:
“A terrific pianist with all the colouristic and stylistic attributes one could wish for allied to a formidable technique, the kind of musician whose artistry is like a compelling novel where you can hardly wait for what comes next… Superbly recorded and performed with such distinction, this release must be an early Awards nominee.” — Jeremy Nicholas
Shortly afterwards the disc debuted in the UK charts as the #1-selling classical instrumental disc, as well as the best-selling album of the month’s Gramophone Editor’s Choice lineup and eighth classical overall, behind a number of major orchestral and crossover releases. After further glowing reviews in Classical Music Sentinel, Music Web International and SWR2, among others, the disc was selected as BBC Music Magazine’s Instrumental Disc of the Month with a double 5-star review:
“This delightful disc is a treasure chest of lesser-known works given beautifully attentive performances from the acclaimed young pianist Nicolas Namoradze… Namoradze once more brings total technical assurance alongside exuberance and an unshowy sense of integrity to these fiendish pieces.” — Kate Wakeling
In my last newsletter I mentioned the upcoming publication of my piano works by Muse Press. You can now find the scores on their website, in hardcopy and digital download formats.
A final piece of news—one that’s not strictly music-related! I’ve begun a postgraduate degree in neuropsychology at the world-renowned Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London. It’s not a career change though; as many of you know, I’ve long been fascinated by cognitive science and what our developing understanding of the brain can bring to how we approach artistic practice and performance. Given the pandemic and reduced touring schedules, I’m taking the opportunity to deepen and formalize my studies in the field. It’s a truly thrilling new adventure.
I keep my fingers crossed that the global situation will be much improved within a few months’ time. I hope you all stay safe and healthy, and that our paths cross in better days in the near future!
Kind regards,
Nicolas
Soundbite: Bach-Busoni: Ich ruf zu dir, Herr BWV 639
Back in November I gave a streamed recital for the Chelsea Music Festival. I opened this performance with Busoni’s transcription of Bach’s iconic Chorale Prelude “Ich ruf zu dir, Herr”, a perfect balm for the soul in these troubling times.
Workshop: Recent score releases
My Etudes I-VI, Arabesque and “Moon, Refracted” are now available from Muse Press. I hope you’ll consider getting a copy!