Friday 22 April 2016

Article published in Manchester Evening News 22 April 2016


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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