Jonathan Biss (piano) at RNCM

Known for bridging Classical masterpieces with contemporary repertoire, Jonathan Biss heads to the RNCM to perform two of Schubert’s three last piano sonatas and a specially commissioned piece by Tyshawn Sorey.

Many musicians specialise in a particular period, building a brand around the distinct repertoire, techniques, and performance practices associated with the composers they perform. Jonathan Biss isn’t one of these musicians. Rather, he gleefully reaches across various styles, pulling at the threads connecting the music close to his heart.

“Timeless art talks across centuries”, Sorey said in a recent interview with the RNCM. “One of the really striking things I find when I play Schubert as well as a piece that was written for me is that they talk to each other – it’s not just the newer work in response to the older one, the older one also is responsive to the new one and sounds different from being heard in the context of a new piece of music.”

Hear for yourself at the RNCM, as Biss performs a piece he commissioned contemporary American composer Tyshawn Sorey to write, specifically intended to be played with Schubert’s 21^st Piano Sonata.

First, though, we’ll hear Schubert’s 19^th Piano Sonata, which exemplifies the composer’s ability to blend Classical tradition with a burgeoning Romantic emotional depth. In it, we find a masterful understanding of form, melody, and harmony, offering an intimate and powerful journey through contrasting moods and textures.

Next comes Sorey’s piece, For Anthony Braxton, which, while written to compliment the Schubert work, also pays tribute to the avant-garde jazz legend. Biss describes the music as “transcendental” – a testament to its ability to speak for itself and resonate deeply with the soul.

Aptly, it’s followed by Schubert’s 21^st Piano Sonata. Like all three of Schubert’s final sonatas, this work captivates with its dramatic rests and fermatas, creating moments of profound silence that suspend time and invite deep reflection. But more than that, its expansiveness delivers an emotional intensity that is viscerally palpable with every dynamic shift.

As for Jonathan Biss himself, he’s a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music and a frequent performer with major orchestras worldwide, celebrated not only for his technical mastery but also for his profoundly insightful interpretations. He plays with such joy and artistry that BBC Music Magazine wrote “it’s hard to think of another pianist who communicates such a sense of sheer delight”.

In addition to his performing career, Biss is a passionate educator, offering masterclasses and insights into the art of music through his acclaimed lectures, workshops and courses. One topic he teaches around is performance anxiety, and RNCM students will have the opportunity to join Jonathan for training that will equip them with the tools necessary to work through this issue. Having performed on some of the world’s biggest stages, he’ll no doubt have many pearls of wisdom to share.