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Peter DonohoePianist
Date of Birth: 18.06.1953
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
- John Lill
- Concert Debut and Breakthrough
- Collaborations with the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
- Notable Recordings
- Conducting Career
- Leadership Roles
John Lill
Early Life and EducationJohn Lill, a celebrated British pianist, commenced his musical journey at the Royal Northern College of Music under the tutelage of Derek Wyndham. Subsequently, he honed his craft under the guidance of Yvonne Loriod and Olivier Messiaen.
Concert Debut and Breakthrough
Lill's concert debut took place in 1974. His breakthrough moment arrived in 1982 when he shared the second prize at the Seventh International Tchaikovsky Competition (no first prize was awarded).
Collaborations with the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Lill has forged a long-standing collaboration with the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, where he began his musical career as a percussionist. Notably, he recorded three piano concertos by Béla Bartók with the orchestra under the baton of Simon Rattle. In 2002, Rattle invited Lill to perform in his inaugural concert as Chief Conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.
Notable Recordings
Lill's extensive discography includes acclaimed recordings of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 2 (which earned him a Gramophone award), Henri Charles Litolff's four piano concertos (for Hyperion Records' "Romantic Piano Concerto" series), Franz Liszt's Sonata, and works by Arthur Bliss and Michael Tippett.
Conducting Career
Beyond his pianistic prowess, Lill is an accomplished conductor. He founded his own symphony orchestra in 1987 and served as guest conductor for several chamber orchestras, including the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Australian Chamber Orchestra, and Netherlands Limburg Symphony Orchestra.
Leadership Roles
Lill has held leadership positions in the Birmingham musical community. From 1991 to 1995, he served as artistic director of the Solihull Arts Festival. Furthermore, he is currently the Vice President of the Birmingham Conservatoire.
