Peter Donohoe: Mozart Cycle - Birmingham Conservatoire

As an excuse to give the new 57 billion pound conservatoire a glance I went to my first strictly piano recital. Now this wasn't some elementary school performance but a concert from an exceptionally talented pianist, more renowned for his 20th century renditions than the "classics." As he described it though, performing a Mozart cycle is like conquering his Everest and so we were given witness to a superb show. I don't know enough (or nearly anything) about this musical scene to properly review it but I was engaged by the music alone as it wound through the three cycles of the first act. In the second half, with a view to his hands it was amazing to see the work that goes into such music. He even returned for a quick encore when it was all said and done. Who knew two hours could pass with just one instrument? As for the conservatoire, it looked shiny and new but not particularly fancy, but the sound was spot on.