Past Events › piano

A pianist who “combines virtuosity with interpretive intelligence” (Artsfile), David Jalbert has established himself among the elite of a new generation of classical musicians. Named by the CBC as one of the 15 best Canadian pianists of all time, Mr. Jalbert performs regularly as a soloist and recitalist all over the world. His solo recordings, including Bach’s Goldberg Variations (which he played for us in 2014), have all garnered international praise. A national and international prize-winner, David Jalbert has won…

It is almost impossible to exaggerate about Stephen Hough. Pianist, composer, writer, painter, teacher. Winner of awards both musical and other: the Deutsche Schallplattenpreis, Diapason d’Or, eight Gramophone Magazine Awards, a MacArthur Fellowship (called the “genius” award), the Royal Philharmonic Society Award, and in 2014, Commander of the Order of the British Empire. Mr. Hough resides in London where he is a visiting professor at the Royal Academy of Music; he also teaches at his alma mater, the Royal Northern…

Thibaudet has performed worldwide, recorded more than 50 albums, built a reputation as one of today’s finest pianists, and had an impact on the film world. In addition to Zigman’s score for Wakefield, he was soloist in Dario Marianelli’s award-winning scores for the films Atonement (which won an Oscar for Best Original Score) and Pride and Prejudice, and recorded Alexandre Desplat’s soundtrack for the 2012 film Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close. He had a cameo in Bruce Beresford’s film on Alma Mahler, Bride of the Wind, and…

"Pristine, lyrical and intelligent." (The New York Times) Juno Award winner, UNESCO Ambassador, and alumnus of The Royal Conservatory’s Glenn Gould School, Jan Lisiecki is “perhaps the most 'complete' pianist of his age" (BBC Music Magazine). Lisiescki will offer a program titled Poems of the Night, featuring Chopin Nocturnes and  Études. All Fryderyk Chopin program: Étude in C Major, op. 10, no. 1 Nocturne in C Minor, op. posth. Étude in A Minor, op. 10, no. 2 Nocturne in E Major, op.…

There’s no disputing the remarkable finish, control and sheer beauty characterising Benjamin Grosvenor’s pianism. Gramophone Born in 1992, Benjamin first came to prominence as the outstanding winner of the Keyboard Final of the 2004 BBC Young Musician Competition at eleven; he was invited to perform with the BBC Symphony Orchestra at the First Night of the Proms in 2011 at nineteen. Also in 2011 Benjamin signed to Decca Classics. He was the inaugural recipient of The Ronnie and Lawrence Ackman Classical…

C. P. E. Bach: Suite in E minor, Wq 62/12 Prokofiev: Sarcasms, Op. 17 Scriabin: Sonata No. 7, Op. 64 ('White Mass') Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 29 in B-flat major, Op. 106 "Hammerklavier"

The extraordinary pianists of the GGS take centre stage.

For four decades, legendary pianist Ivo Pogorelich’s innovative and highly suggestive interpretations have served to broaden the understanding and experience of pianistic literature. All Fryderyk Chopin program: Barcarolle in F sharp Major, op. 60 Piano Sonata No. 3 in B Minor, op. 58 Fantaisie in F Minor, op. 49 Berceuse in D flat Major, op. 57 Polonaise-fantaisie in A flat Major, op. 61

“A pianist of unbounding sensitivity” (Gramophone), John O’Conor performs the final three piano sonatas by Beethoven, considered the pinnacle of his works.

World-renowned Turkish-born German-trained pianist Fazıl Say’s artistry stretches from chamber music to jazz. He is not simply a pianist of genius, but also a master composer and improviser. With his extraordinary pianistic talents, Say has been touching audiences and critics alike for more than twenty-five years. Concerts with this artist are something different. They are direct, more open, more exciting; in short, they go straight to the heart.

Grammy Award-winning pianist Daniil Trifonov – who won the Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Solo Album in 2018 and was named Musical America’s Artist of the Year in 2019 – returns to Koerner Hall to perform works by Tchaikovsky, Schumann, Mozart, Ravel, and Scriabin. Combining consummate technique with rare sensitivity and depth, his performances are a perpetual source of awe.

An inductee in the Gramophone Hall of Fame and recipient of Norway’s distinguished honour, Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav as well as the prestigious Peer Gynt Prize, The New York Times calls Leif Ove Andsnes “a pianist of magisterial elegance, power, and insight,” and the Wall Street Journal names him “one of the most gifted musicians of his generation.”

“She is an outstanding artist, one of the finest pianists now playing. Go, listen, and wonder how many better pianists there are alive in this country, or anywhere.”

Rudin Lengo’s piano playing has been described as “profound, imaginative, and exceptionally communicative.” From the poignant, expressive, and delightful late Schubert impromptus, to the monumental structure and virtuosity of Liszt's Sonata in B Minor, this program captures the Romantic era at its peak.

Winner of Gramophone magazine’s award for Young Artist of the Year in 2017, Italian pianist Beatrice Rana has been a force on the music scene since winning the prestigious Montreal International Musical Competition in 2011.

The extraordinary pianists of The Ihnatowycz Piano Program at GGS take centre stage.

Superstar German pianist Hinrich Alpers makes his SSM debut performing the final three works of Beethoven's output for solo piano.

Come and hear the 2023 Juno Award-winning pianist Philip Chiu and be among the first to hear him perform works from his next album, Voyages (to be released in 2024)!

Award-winning pianist Mahani Teave is a pioneering artist and the only professional classical musician on her native Easter Island.

A consummate musician, with a ferocious intellect, Sir András Schiff is one of the greatest pianists of our time.

Angela Hewitt’s interpretations of the music of J.S. Bach have established her as one of the composer’s foremost interpreters of our time. One of the world’s leading concert pianists, she has been awarded an OBE from Queen Elizabeth II and was promoted to a Companion of the Order of Canada.

Grammy Award-winning jazz pianist Brad Mehldau has been called “a renaissance artist at the height of his powers” (BBC) and “the greatest working jazz pianist” (The New Yorker).

“Breathtakingly brilliant pianist” (Gramophone) Ólafsson has been called “Iceland’s Glenn Gould” by The New York Times and was named Artist of the Year at the Gramophone Awards in 2019.

One of Koerner Hall’s most in demand recitalists, pianist Hélène Grimaud is a singular artist, an interpreter known for her fierce intelligence and sincere freedom of expression.

“Igor Levit is like no other pianist.” (The New Yorker)

Francine Kay was the very first winner of the WMCT Career Development Award (CDA). She has been praised for having “an extraordinary range of colour” (Montreal Gazette) and “poetic brilliance” (Toronto Star).

Richard Goode has been hailed for music making of tremendous emotional power, depth, and expressiveness, and has been acknowledged worldwide as one of today’s leading interpreters of Classical and Romantic music.

The students of The Ihnatowycz Piano Program at The Glenn Gould School are featured in an evening of dazzling works for two pianos and piano four hands.

Maksim Mrvica is a Croatian pianist known for his electrifying crossover style that fuses classical music with modern elements.

Gold Medal winner of the 2013 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, Ukrainian pianist Vadym Kholodenko is praised as “a passionate musician with an inherent muscularity and weight to his touch”.

Russian-born, German-based pianist Alexey Pudinov returns to Toronto to perform a concert of Brahms, Rachmaninoff, and works.

Emanuel Ax, one of the most respected pianists of all time returns to Koerner Hall for his 75th birthday to perform Schoenberg and Beethoven.

Acclaimed British pianist Benjamin Grosvenor performs works by Brahms, Mussorgsky, and Schumann.

Don't miss the opportunity to experience the incomparable Marc-André Hamelin in an intimate concert setting downtown.