Episode 2: Florian Mitrea

In this episode I talk to the accordionist and fellow City Music Foundation Artist, Bartosz Glowacki. Described as ‘versatile, full of charisma, characterized by extraordinary care for sound quality’, Bartosz is fascinating to hear in a very wide range of repertoire and styles, whether playing the accordion or bandoneon.

Andrew is a prize-winner in the Leeds piano competition, as well as the Bach competition in Leipzig. He is truly an all-round musician, with a fascinatingly wide range of activities: not only is he a brilliant soloist but also a sought-after collaborative pianist, an organist, he has a doctorate in music from the Guildhall School in London and he is now on the faculty at the Butler School of Music of The University of Texas, at Austin. He is also a lot of fun to talk to!

Lucy Parham is one of Britain's finest pianists, a leading interpreter of works by Robert and Clara Schumann, and the creator of the highly successful series of Composer Portraits, in which she collaborates with leading actors. Having met Lucy for the first time a few years ago, I knew that she was also a very generous person, and someone who would be very insightful, and, not least, very fun to have a long chat with. I am delighted that she accepted my invitation to be on the podcast.

In this episode I interview my friend Florian Mitrea, who is a brilliant pianist. We talk about his project of learning all the Mozart Sonatas in the space of a few weeks for charity, as a response to the covid-19 crisis, his love for Mozart and Liszt, plans for when we can return to the concert halls, and much more.

In the first episode of Quarantine Notes I talk to my partner musically as well as in life, the cellist Yoanna Prodanova. We have a conversation about being musicians in isolation, The Lord of the Rings, projects for when we are able to travel and perform again, and much more.