The Chopin Society UK

19/08/2026

Chopin's beloved Pleyel piano is singing again in Nohant this week

"When I feel in good form and strong enough to find my own sound, I need a Pleyel piano" - ‎Baron Henri Blaze de Bury quoting Chopin -

The intimate and subtle tones of Chopin's favourite piano, described by him as non plus ultra, proved to be one of the most inspiring in the place, where he composed two-thirds of his works, including such masterpieces like the Ballade in A flat major, the Fantasy in F minor and Polonaise in A flat major...How very fitting, therefore, that Pleyel pianos - revived lately by the Algam company based in Nantes. France - are taking centre stage in the new International Piano Competition held this very week in Nohant! Since 1 June 1839 Chopin spent at that George Sand estate seven summers, each time working on pianos sent to him by Pleyel from Paris.

Up to this summer those stays were commemorated by the annual Nohant Festival Chopin - now in its 60th year. The Chopin Pleyel Piano Competition is the initiative of its director, Monsieur Yves Henry, himself a renowned pianist and pedagogue, who also chairs the Jury consisting of eminent international pianists and musicologist. The event's Honorary Patron is Martha Argerich.

The 26 finalists are facing three stages (including the Final in two parts), initially performing a chosen Etude, a Nocturne and one of the Scherzi or Ballade. The 24 Preludes Op.28 can be chosen in the second round ; the Sonatas No 2 Op.35 or Op.58, Mazurka,Polonaise and Nocturne plus one of the two concerti with the Orchestre de Chambre Royal de Wallone must be played in the last round.

The Gala Concert will conclude this engaging event performed on contemporary Pleyel piano as well as one of the 1844 vintage.

The prizes are also quite exceptional: The winner will receive €10000 plus a brand new Pleyel piano plus a Pleyel Magistral system and a Pleyel Imperator 250 speaker (total worth €40000). The value of the second prize will be €25000 and third prize €6000. There will be a variety of additional awards, including concert engagements in France and abroad.

Marek Ostas

21/07/2026

"Jazz bassist Simon Woolf, an enthusiastic Member of the Chopin Society, delighted guests with his performance at Sunday's Members Matinée and has asked us to let you know about his next presentation."

For one night only!
Alex Clarke meets Donovan Haffner in "Alto Summit"
With Donovan heading across the pond later this year this is a unique opportunity to hear these two outstanding young saxophonists side by side.
Backed by the same superlative rhythm section which accompanied Alex in her appearance at Sands earlier this year:
Fraser Urquhart – piano
Simon Woolf – double-bass
Joe Dessauer -drums

Thursday 23rd July
Booking link here:-
https://sandsmusic.eventive.org/schedule/69a463a6b1512faeacdd0e5a

21/07/2026

Photos by Yurie Lee of Sunday's hugely successful Members' Matinee in Putney. Many thanks to her, and also to Stefan and Arjang Byron who hosted the event, and made everyone's day even better with their splendidly generous buffet tea and beautiful garden.

03/07/2026

OUR HONORARY PRESIDENT MURRAY PERAHIA RECEIVES LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

We are delighted to share the news that Murray Perahia KBE has been given a prestigious Pomegranate Lifetime Achievement Award for Music.

The iconic pianist and conductor Murray Perahia has received the Pomegranate Lifetime Achievement Award for Music. The honour will be bestowed by the NYSJFF (New York Sephardic Jewish Film Festival) on Monday, 1 June, at The Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York. Lovingly sculpted by the Baghdad-born world-renowned artist Oded Halahmy, the Pomegranates honour vibrant Sephardi voices for outstanding achievements in history, literature, poetry, music, dance, customs, and traditions.
Murray Perahia is a GRAMMY® Award–winning pianist and conductor widely regarded as one of the most distinguished musicians of our time. Born in New York City to a family of Sephardic heritage, his artistry is marked by a deep sense of musical integrity, elegance, and intellectual depth.
Perahia rose to international prominence after winning the Leeds International Piano Competition, launching a career that has spanned the world’s leading concert halls. He is especially celebrated for his interpretations of Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, and Chopin, combining lyrical sensitivity with structural clarity.
A longtime collaborator with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Perahia has performed both as pianist and conductor, shaping performances of exceptional refinement. His extensive discography has received numerous honors, including multiple GRAMMY and Gramophone Awards, and is widely regarded as a benchmark in the piano repertoire.
Renowned for his thoughtful musicianship and expressive subtlety, Perahia continues to captivate audiences worldwide. In recognition of his contributions to music, he was awarded an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE).
Photo: Omri Dagan

08/06/2026

Yesterday's superb concert in the Duke's Hall of the Royal Academy of Music. Martino Tirimo excelled in a remarkable programme of little-known Chopin and the Schubert B flat sonata. Legendary performances in which his rich sound brought back memories of the great pianists of the past. (Photos: Marek Ostas)

05/06/2026

170 TICKETS NOW SOLD FOR MARTINO TIRIMO'S RECITAL at The Royal Academy of Music. Book now via WeGotTickets.com Search "Tirimo".

02/06/2026

We still have a few tickets left for Martino Tirimo's recital next Sunday at the Royal Academy of Music. Go to Wegottickets.com and search for "Tirimo". 15 years ago he performed the entire Chopin opus at King's Place. Here's a short promotional video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvkEol80D6g

Martino Tirimo- Performs ahead of his Spring 2010 Chopin Unwrapped...

01/06/2026

"The genius of Chopin is the deepest and fullest in feelings and emotions that has ever existed. He made a single instrument speak the language of infinity. He could often capture in ten lines that a child could play poems of a boundless exaltation, drama of unequalled power"
GEORGE SAND, Historie de ma vie,1855

The musical genius of Chopin was very much in evidence at a recent event at Robinson College, University of Cambridge thanks to the expertise of Professor John Rink and pianistic talent of Krzysztof Moskalewicz. Organised by the Polish Embassy in London, the event was aimed at the Polish community in Cambridge, however, its ultimate goal is to establish a platform to foster a broader Anglo-Polish academic partnership and cultural exchange ,hence it was attended by representatives of both nationalities.

And who better to inaugurate this initiative than Professor John Rink, world's authority on the Polish composer, a three-time jury member of the Chopin Competition in Warsaw, Emeritus Professor of Music at the University of Cambridge; not forgetting his long Honorary Membership of the Chopin Society UK ! In his usual enlightening and passionate lecture (clearly Chopin is the Professor's forte), John Rink analysed some of the aspects of Chopin compositions that established him as a musical genius: its lyricism, poetry, inventive technique, outstanding abilities, melodic tones inspired by the Italian bel canto as well as heroic and folk pieces derived from Fryderyk's Polish heritage.

The soloist of the evening was Krzysztof Moskalewicz, who's no stranger to top London venues - Westminster Cathedral Hall included. A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music and the Guildhall School, he's currently establishing his concert and teaching career in Singapore from which he arrived...hours before the Cambridge engagement.

The Chopin factor can cause inspirational response. Just like his music.

Marek Ostas

18/05/2026

Nice photo of the first people in the post-concert lineup at the Green Room door on Sunday. From the left: Leslie MacLeod-Miller, Marek Ostas, Donohoe, Lady Rose Cholmondeley. With thanks to Member Bernie Hepplewhite.

18/05/2026

Photos by Marek Ostas of our latest recital held on Sunday. Peter Donohoe was amazing!