Meet Benjamin Grosvenor

We are looking forward to welcoming Benjamin Grosvenor to CMF on Monday 17 March. We asked him a few questions about the programme.

What are your first musical memories?

Music was always present in my home growing up. My mother was my first teacher, so from a very young age, the piano was a familiar and central part of my daily life. I remember listening to recordings of great pianists and being captivated by the range of sounds they could create.

What instruments did you play growing up, and what made you choose piano as your main instrument?

I was always drawn to the piano. It was my first instrument and from the start it felt natural to me. I explored a few other instruments, principally the cello which I played for a number of years. While I loved the sound of the cello, ultimately I found it frustrating to play only one part of the fabric of the music. Having started my musical journey at the piano, I found that the  orchestral and widely-varied aspect of that instrument appealed to me more. 

What has been the most enjoyable performance you have given?

It’s hard to pick just one, as each performance is so different. However, playing Busoni’s Piano Concerto at the Proms recently was certainly a highlight. The sheer scale of the piece, with its massive orchestra and chorus, made for an unforgettable musical experience.

The central piece in this programme is Pictures at an Exhibition. What should the audience listen out for in this work?

Pictures at an Exhibition is incredibly vivid in its storytelling. Each movement paints a distinct scene, from the eerie catacombs to the lively market at Limoges. Even without seeing the original paintings that inspired it, the music itself is so evocative that it conjures its own images in the listener’s mind. A Parisian garden, an Italian castle…it’s a journey around the world, but it also presents us musically with the experience of walking around a gallery, with the various Promenades portraying the journeys from painting to painting, each time in a different mood.

What are your links with Cambridge?

Cambridge has always been a place I’ve enjoyed performing, and I have had the pleasure of working with musicians connected to the city. It’s a wonderful cultural hub!

What are you listening to at the moment?

I like to keep my listening varied, although this year marks 50 years since the death of Shostakovich and I’ve already attended and taken part in a few concerts dedicated to his music. Recently I’ve found myself familiarising myself more with his symphonies and other works.