TETE-A-TETE

BILL NEWMAN talks to British pianist Mark Bebbington

Mark and I have known each other for about ten years. It wasn't just a chance meeting, for he was singled out with the highest of praise and integrity by his teacher, the eminent Italian pianist Aldo Ciccolini as quite certainly the young artist who audiences would be sitting up and listening to for the imagination and brilliance of his performances and unusual choice of repertoire.

This is already evident in recitals at the London venue of St Johns, Smith's Square with Schubert and Chopin rubbing shoulders with Ivor Gurney, Howard Ferguson and Sir Edward Elgar, but a preference for rarely performed music also includes the Spanish composer Castelnuovo Tedesco. Also among the present day British contingent are first performances of new works by John McCabe and Tom Ingoldsby carrying on commissionings set by other pianists. Somm Recordings and Siva Oke are providing the sort of backing that makes sure that record collectors can enjoy hearing the music making on top quality CDs.

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