Tharaud and Lugansky choose to play Yamaha CFX at Oxford

The historic City of Oxford, known as one of the world’s leading centres of learning, has for 18 years hosted the internationally acclaimed Oxford Piano Festival. Held in August, the Festival is produced by the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra and attracts many of the world’s most distinguished pianists and teachers.

As well as boasting a full schedule of concerts, the Festival also provides a comprehensive programme of masterclasses and lectures aimed at inspiring, supporting and encouraging piano music making of the very highest calibre.

This year Nikolai Lugansky made his eagerly anticipated debut at the Festival, performing in the beautiful and atmospheric setting of Merton College. He performed Franck, Schubert and Tchaikovsky on a Yamaha CFX which he selected in advance of the recitals.

The Yamaha CFX was also chosen by Alexandre Tharaud for a performance of this critically acclaimed interpretation of Bach’s Goldberg Variations, characterised by reflection, pathos and joy in equal measure.

The Yamaha CFX certainly hit the high notes with these two major artists and, with Alfred Brendel as Patron, Sir András Schiff as President and Marios Papadopoulos MBE as Artistic Director, the instrument will no doubt have made a major impact with some of the most important members of the global artistic community. Both Lugansky and Tharaud worked closely with Yamaha piano technicians in advance of – and throughout – the festival, ensuring that the CFX was in perfect condition for artists, audiences and repertoire alike.

Symbolising Oxford’s position at the very highest level of academic learning, discovery and innovation, the Festival is unique in that, at its heart lies the very concept of the pianist as a musician. Throughout the week-long event the various roles of the pianist – as virtuoso, chamber musician, accompanist, conductor, academic and teacher – are all examined and discussed. Anyone attending the Festival will no doubt leave inspired, invigorated and very much more aware of the role of the pianist in the world today.

Read more about the CFX