Alasdair Beatson
Highly regarded as a distinctive and accomplished musician, Scottish pianist Alasdair Beatson continues to make an impact on the classical music scene. This season sees his fourth solo recital at Wigmore Hall in February 2011, concerto appearances with the Poznan Radio Chamber Orchestra Amadeus and Finland’s Tapiola Sinfonietta, appearances in festivals in Perth (Schubertiad), Belgium (Resonances), Virginia (Charlottesville), and the spring release of his second solo CD, featuring piano music of Mendelssohn on SOMM Recordings.
Alasdair’s debut solo CD – the Opus 1’s of Schumann, Grieg, Brahms and Berg – was released in April 2009 to critical acclaim, described as a deeply impressive debut disc (International Piano Magazine). In the same year he was soloist in Shostakovich’s Concerto for Piano Trumpet and Strings on tour with Alison Balsom and the Scottish Ensemble, culminating in a sell-out concert at Wigmore Hall, and was a Rising Star in BBC Music Magazine.
For the Kirckman Society and the Park Lane Group, Alasdair has given numerous solo recitals at Wigmore Hall and the Purcell Room. A thoughtful programmer, these recitals have notably included the rarely performed piano version of Debussy’s Jeux, George Benjamin’s Shadowlines, and a programme of all French music on Bastille Day. Last season he was Artist in Residence at Perth Concert Hall.
A sought-after chamber musician, Alasdair was invited to tour with the International Musicians Seminar, Prussia Cove, in the UK, and Musicians from Steans Institute, Ravinia Festival, in the USA, after his participation in their masterclasses and concerts. Chamber appearances have included performances in Weill Hall, Carnegie, the Recital Halls of Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw and Zurich’s Tonhalle, in Pekka Kuusisto’s Festival at Lake Tuusula, Finland, and alongside such musicians as Kuusisto, Steven Isserlis, Lawrence Power, Tim Hugh and the Doric String Quartet.
Alasdair studied with John Blakely at the Royal College of Music, London, graduating in 2002 with First Class Honours and a Director’s Golden Jubilee Award. He subsequently completed a Performer’s Diploma at Indiana University, studying with Menahem Pressler. He holds prizes and awards from the Kirckman Concert Society, Philip and Dorothy Green (Making Music) Award for Young Artists, 2003 China Shanghai International Piano Competition, and Royal Over-Seas League. In masterclass he has played to Leon Fleisher, Alicia de Laroccha, John Lill, Murray Perahia and Ferenc Rados. Alasdair was recipient of a Dewar Arts Award and a grant from the Hope Scott Trust, enabling the purchase of a piano.
