The German pianist Lars Vogt has been described by Simon Rattle as ‘one of the most extraordinary musicians of any age group that I have had the fortune to be associated with’.
On Tuesday 15 May, 7.30pm at Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall you can hear him perform a recital of music by Haydn, Brahms & Chopin, alongside an entertaining work by the acclaimed Austrian composer Thomas Larcher.
Here he reveals a little more of what makes him tick….
What do you fear the most and why?
Inability to do what is important to me.
Which mobile number do you call the most?
My girlfriend Rachel.
What or where is perfection?
In a cold place.
Who is your favourite hero from fiction (book/comic/film/opera) and why?
To name two: Captain Bluebear (hero from a wonderfully witty children´s book by German author Walter Moers) and Papageno for his good-hearted direct link to nature and his instincts, not really caring much about the wisdom of the world. In films I like melancholic anti-heros, like in Cinema Paradiso for example.
What’s your favourite ritual?
Putting my daughter Isabelle to bed and reading her a bedtime story.
What other talent or skill would you like to possess?
Playing the violin, being a good tennis player and being able to ski.
Tell us about a special memory you have of Southbank Centre?
Playing Brahms 1st piano concerto with the Philharmonia during the time when I first met my girlfriend who was the principal viola then.
If you could programme your ideal Southbank Centre show, which artists (living or dead) would you bring together?
The re-united string quartet of Haydn and Dittersdorf (Violins), Mozart (Viola) and Vanhal (Cello).
What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
Sounds easy and cliché, but can cause major turbulence and is still the most important lesson: Listen to your heart.
What is the most played piece of music on your MP3 player or in your CD collection?
To be honest, and I know this is embarrassing, but what can you do ? Probably some pop song from my childhood, possibly by Billy Joel or Supertramp, as that kind of music is mostly on when I go for a run.
Filed under: Queen Elizabeth Hall Tagged: | classical music, International Piano Series, Lars Vogt, piano, Queen Elizabeth Hall
