PrettyInScarlett

This time it didn't rain! After a few years' gap we returned to Hebden Bridge for another sellout Piano Festival concert. I left it so late that we almost didn't get tickets for headliner Anna Tsybuleva! Understandably a sellout as Anna is the winner of the 2015 Leeds International Piano Competition. A pretty impressive biography listed on the festival website - and the concert programme was equally impressive: Beethoven - Fantasy Op. 77 ; Schubert -  'Der Wanderer' Fantasy in C, D.760 ; Brahms -  '7 Fantasies' Op.116 ; and Liszt -  Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12 .  Described by Jonathan Biss as a little odd, the Fantasy Op. 77 is a multi-key, multi-meter, many-tempoed smorgasbord of writing, clearly showing Beethoven's genius as an improviser. Certainly parts of the Fantasy felt like a musical puppet show! Anna displayed the piece superbly (especially the quieter sections).  Suitably warmed, we headed for the intense dark/light of the '...

Hebden Bridge marina Continuing my week of high quality concerts, M and I set off for Hebden Bridge yesterday with tickets to a sold out concert by renowned pianist Noriko Ogawa . Another new place experience too; for a small town there is a lot going on in Hebden Bridge. A fun afternoon exploring the town and sampling the culinary treasures of places like The Olive Branch ... and a visit to the local record shop, Muse Music . Hebden Bridge Piano Festival (this year part of Yorkshire Festival ) was based in the recently renovated and community run Town Hall . A very bright, comfortable space with a cosy cafe as well. Arriving for the evening concert we heard most of Dale Storr 's early evening set in the cafe, performing New Orleans style blues piano. An excellent performance including a rendition of Stairway to Heaven in homage to James Booker . The sold out Waterfront Hall held around 200 people, all of whom were very excited to see Noriko. The concert programme inc...