An evening of music & wine

The Piano Studio & The Bluthner Piano Centre hosted an inspiring evening of music and wine in Mayfair for Richard Meyrick's students and their family and friends on Thursday 6th December 2007.

Richard invites all of his pupils at The Piano Studio in the City to play at these relaxing and entertaining concerts. Surrounded by fantastic Bluthner pianos at the Centre, 12 students played for the audience of 60 on a concert grand.

Richard opened the evening with Chopin's Scherzo No. 2 in B flat minor Op. 31, which he has just recorded for a new set of CDs for the pianoMan project coming out in the new year.

In Richard's notes for this recording, he wrote of Chopin's favourite Scherzo: The melody, marked “con anima”, is repeated three times during the lengthy proceedings, the last time bringing us to the coda in a magnificent key change. The gorgeous melody overlies a six-note-per-bar left-hand accompaniment of exceeding richness. The trio, filled with longing, takes on a pianistic complexity.

The evening was then turned over to the students, whom Richard praised for their courage, enthusiasm for the piano, hard work and playing abilities. The pupils who take piano lessons in London are familiar with Richard's unique piano exercises which develop their piano technique.

"I have performed about 80 concerts this year and I know how hard it is to perform in concert," Richard told the audience, "It must be as difficult as going on the pitch as a professional footballer or a surgeon entering theatre.

"So I congratulate all of you who are brave enough to get up here and play."

Edmund Noon opened with Joplin's Maple Leaf Rag, followed by Stephen Rosefield playing Debussy;s La Fille aux cheveux de lin and Andrew Hinds performing Praeludium & Allemande from Partita No. 1 by J.S. Bach.

Chopin's Nocturne in F flat Op. 9 No. 2 was performed by David Medhurst. Christopher Clement Davies played Consolation No. 3 by Liszt and he was followed to the stage by Stacey Overholt who played Beethoven's Bagatelle in D Op. 119 No. 3.

pianoMan scholar Kathryn McDonagh made the journey to London from Northern Ireland with her family and played Chopin's Waltz in C sharp minor Op. 64 No 2.

Guy Collins performed Traumerei by Schumann, Christopher Edwards played Scarlatti Sonata in F minor K.466, L 118 and Nigel Jones played Prelude & Fugue in B flat minor by J.S. Bach.

Elizabeth Bennett performed Chopin's Berceuse Op. 57 and Harry Anderson concluded the evening with Rachmaninov's Prelude in D Op. 23 No. 4.

Richard thanked Roger Willson for hosting the evening at The Bluthner Piano Centre and encouraged his students to play at the 2008 Music & Wine evening.

» Click here for some photos from the evening