You can be forgiven for never having heard of James Brawn: he's only been recording for the past 18 months and does not enjoy a major concert career – yet. A prodigy in New Zealand and Australia, he won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music in London, which led to prizes and teaching posts back in Oz. Now he has returned to England and embarked on a four-volume Beethoven sonata series which is beginning to attract attention. In this recital, his melting sensitivity in Liszt's Consolation No 3 compares with the heft he brings to Rachmaninoff's Prelude in B minor No 10 and to Mussorsky's Pictures at an Exhibition. It's impressive. He's definitely one to watch.
James Brawn in Recital – review
Stephen Pritchard
James Brawn (piano)
(MSR Classics)
(MSR Classics)
Contributor
Stephen Pritchard
Stephen Pritchard has written on classical music for most of his 45 years in journalism. He was the Observer's first readers' editor, and prior to that was a managing editor and production editor
Stephen Pritchard
The GuardianTramp
