Piano Release Radar: Laura Downes, Benjamin Grosvenor, Ching-Yun Hu and Orli Shaham
Pianist Orli Shaham
Music for piano is never out of style and there was an abundance of new releases this week. In this spirit, Classical Post shares the following Piano Release Radar, which includes new albums, video premieres, and weekly uploads!
Laura Downes: Some of these Days
Pianist Lara Downes’ uplifting new album Some of These Days (out April 3), revisits freedom songs and Spirituals, historic expressions of hope and courage that remind us of our human capacity for optimism, activism, and unification in the face of crisis. Downes says, “For me, the motivation in creating this record has always been the relevance and timelessness of these songs. There’s the pain, reaction to oppression, always hope, always a vision of a better time. All of those things are relevant and current today." Despite the cancellation of her live album release tour, Downes launched the album through a livestream concert on April 3 to raise funds for Feeding America in support of national relief efforts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Benjamin Grosvenor: Chopin Piano Concertos
Benjamin Grosvenor joins forces with Elim Chan and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra for his fifth album on the Decca Classics label. The recording features Chopin's Piano Concertos Nos. 1 and 2, and marks Benjamin's first orchestral album since his 2012 release Rhapsody in Blue. Grosvenor shares, "Chopin was the first composer to whom I felt a strong connection as a child. I have always been drawn to his music, and his piano concertos are among some of the finest in the repertoire."
Ching-Yun Hu: Rachmaninoff/Kocsis Vocalise
Ching-Yun Hu releases the video premiere of Rachmaninoff Vocalise, transcribed by Zoltan Kocsis. The video was filmed in Philadelphia, reflecting the connection that Ching-Yun Hu, who was born in Taipei, has to Philadelphia. Ching-Yun Hu is artist-in-residence and on the piano faculty at Temple University's Boyer College of Music and Dance and is also the founder of the Philadelphia Young Pianists Academy Piano Festival.
MidWeek Mozart with Orli Shaham
Pianist Orli Shaham launches MidWeek Mozart! For this project, Shaham shares a sneak preview of a track from her forthcoming album of Mozart piano sonatas every Wednesday to be enjoyed through Friday. Shaham's multi-year Mozart recording project began last autumn with the release of her concertos album with St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, and continues into 2021.
Explore More
Composer Sean Shepherd shares his journey from Reno to international commissions with leading orchestras, highlighting the role of mentorship, friendship, and collaboration in shaping his music. He discusses works like Lattice Work, Quadruple Concerto, and Sprout, offering insights into his creative process, influences, and belief in music as a living, collaborative art.
Pianist Tanya Gabrielian shares her uncompromising approach to music-making—balancing radical authenticity, intellectual depth, and a mission to revive forgotten works. From Alexander Siloti’s overlooked editions to transformative audience encounters, discover how Gabrielian redefines success in the classical world.
Discover the story of the Leonkoro Quartet—Berlin’s rising chamber ensemble making waves across Europe and North America. In this Classical Post podcast, they share how a viral YouTube video launched their career, the impact of mentorship from legendary quartets, highlights from their North American debut tour, and the creative spark behind their upcoming Alpha Classics album. A conversation about friendship, artistry, and building something that lasts.
Discover the story of baritone Konstantin Krimmel, from his early days in a German boys’ choir to international acclaim at venues like the Bavarian State Opera, Wigmore Hall, Schubertiade, and his U.S. debut. In this Classical Post podcast, Krimmel shares how competitions, repertoire choices, and his passion for storytelling through song have shaped his career.
The name Rimsky-Korsakov is enshrined in the canon of Russian music, yet until now, one remarkable branch of that musical lineage remained nearly forgotten. With the release of YULIYA: Forgotten Songs of Julia Weissberg Rimsky-Korsakov on Azica Records, soprano Sarah Moulton Faux and pianist-composer Konstantin Soukhovetski revive the voice of Julia Weissberg Rimsky-Korsakov (1878–1942)—Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s daughter-in-law, a brilliant Jewish composer whose legacy was buried by antisemitism, war, and time.
Harpist Ashley Jackson’s Take Me to the Water redefines classical music with a spiritual, cross-cultural journey through works by Alice Coltrane, Debussy, and Margaret Bonds. Blending sacred traditions and global lineages, her album is a powerful meditation on unity, beauty, and reflection.
Mezzo-soprano Devony Smith and pianist Danny Zelibor reimagine American art song in In This Short Life—a powerful debut album of contemporary works by diverse composers like Higdon, Lang, Boykin, and Liverman. Out June 13, it’s a bold celebration of collaboration, resilience, and genre-defying artistry.
Explore how the Takács Quartet bridges generations through music—pairing Florence Price and Dvořák, collaborating with Marc-André Hamelin, and championing new voices like Clarice Assad and Jordan Bak. Rooted in tradition, they continue to innovate from their home in Boulder, Colorado.
Discover the remarkable journey of Sir Stephen Hough—from early acclaim and Grammy-winning performances to composing during the pandemic. Explore how this celebrated pianist, writer, and composer continues to evolve with curiosity, craftsmanship, and courage in the world of classical music.
Explore flutist Demarre McGill’s path from rising talent to principal roles, Avery Fisher Career Grant winner, mentor of talent, and champion of new music.
Discover violinist Bella Hristova’s journey from Bulgaria to Carnegie Hall, her Lineage project, and her impact on solo violin repertoire and new music.
Discover pianist Kate Liu’s remarkable rise from Chopin International Competition laureate to globe‑trotting soloist. Explore her new Orchid Classics release pairing Beethoven’s transcendent Sonata Op. 110 with Brahms’s youthful yet monumental Sonata No. 3, plus upcoming concerto dates in Zagreb, Ann Arbor and Warsaw.
Explore how composer Sebastian Currier fuses classical roots, bold collaborations, and new technologies to redefine contemporary music’s possibilities.
Discover how Norwegian cellist Sandra Lied Haga evolved from child prodigy to global star, performing iconic concertos and forging a bold classical legacy
Discover how violinist Maria Dueñas merges virtuosic technique and deep expression—from competition triumphs to her bold new Paganini Caprices album.
Explore how baritone Will Liverman merges gospel roots, bold operatic performances, and groundbreaking projects like ‘The Factotum’ to shape opera’s future.
Editor at Classical Post since 2020, Anna Heflin has taken the platform to the next level making it a premiere destination for insightful interviews.