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Steven Osborne celebrates 50th birthday at Wigmore Hall
Sunday, 21 March 2021
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Congratulations to alumnus Steven Osborne (class of 1988) on his recent performance at Wigmore Hall in celebration of his 50th birthday. It was only fitting that Steven would spend this special day in the place he described as his “musical home”. In a spoken interlude between pieces, Steven described his first performance in one of the world’s greatest concert halls: “I first played in Wigmore Hall when I was ten. It’s not as impressive as it sounds. I was doing a scholarship audition so that I was able to go to St Mary’s Music School.” Steven chose his programme based on two main factors; performing his favourite composers, with his favourite musicians. The two composers in question, Franz Schubert and Maurice Ravel, offered a balanced programme highlighting Steven’s innate ability to execute a multitude of styles. The concert began with Schubert’s Der Hirt auf dem Felsen D965 (The Shepherd on the Rock), where Steven was joined by soprano Ailis Tynan and clarinettist Jean Johnson. Pianist and long-time collaborator Paul Lewis was then welcomed on stage for a socially distanced version of Schubert’s Fantasie in F minor D940. Steven introduced the second half with a breath-taking interpretation of Maurice Ravel’s “La Vallée des cloches” from Miroirs. This was the only solo work in the concert, and served as a perfect bridge to the Piano Trio in A minor by the same composer. This was performed alongside violinist Alina Ibragimova and cellist Bjørg Lewis, and concluded a most memorable birthday party. |