Photo: Eric Richmond

Martin Roscoe

“Roscoe is a pianist who both thinks and offers full-blooded playing of breadth and depth. In this country, he is an uncommon creature.” Daily Telegraph
 
Martin Roscoe is a versatile musician who flourishes in performance, whether as a concerto soloist, recitalist or chamber musician. He is an artist who endeavours always to serve the composer and the music. His enduring popularity and solid reputation are built on a deeply thoughtful musicianship which is allied to an easy rapport with audiences and fellow musicians alike. Whilst he thrives on the collaborative nature of chamber music, he is also a concerto soloist performing with the finest of British orchestras. He has enjoyed working as a soloist under such eminent conductors as Sir Simon Rattle, Libor Pesek, Kent Nagano, Yuri Temirkanov, Luciano Berio, Yan Pascal Tortelier, Lü Jia, Andrew Litton and Mark Wigglesworth. He maintains strong links with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, with whom he has given over eighty performances, the BBC Philharmonic and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, appearing with the orchestra on more than forty occasions. A close relationship with the BBC has led to over four hundred broadcasts on BBC Radio 3 and regular appearances at the BBC Proms.

One of Britain’s most prolific recitalists, Martin performs at the Wigmore Hall every season and in 2007/8 his recently formed a trio with Peter Cropper and Moray Welsh will make their London debut at the hall. His chamber music partnerships include some long standing collaborations with artists such as Tasmin Little, Michael Collins, Steven Osborne, Emma Johnson and the Brodsky, Chilingirian, Endellion and Sorrel Quartets. Martin’s piano duo with Peter Donohoe, formed in student days, has resulted in recordings that include a Gershwin disc, selected as Editor's Choice in Gramophone magazine, and a Rachmaninov disc, reviewed in February 2007’s BBC Music Magazine as a remarkable achievement. The duo look forward to marking Messiaen’s 2008 anniversary with repeats of their celebrated Edinburgh International Festival performance of Messiaen’s monumental Visions de l’Amen, also recorded for the Hyperion.

Martin’s numerous recording projects have included piano concertos by Brüll and Dohnanyi for Hyperion and solo works by Dohnanyi for ASV. For ASV he has also recorded with the Endellion and Vanbrugh quartets, whilst his enduring partnership with Tasmin Little is marked by their EMI recording of Arvo Pärt chamber music. Recent releases include James MacMillan’s The Berserking for Chandos and a solo disc of J.S. Bach Transcriptions for Hyperion.

A respected and much loved member of the conservatoire teaching establishment, Martin has held positions at the Royal Academy of Music and, now, at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He is the Artistic Director of both the Beverley Chamber Music Festival and the Ribble Valley International Piano Week.

This season sees a significant increase in Martin’s performances with his trio in addition to concerto performances with the BBC Scottish and BBC Philharmonic orchestras. He also continues his series of recordings with Peter Cropper for Sanctuary Classics, for whom they are recording the complete Beethoven violin sonatas.

“Roscoe remains one of the most reassuring voices, bringing mastery and sheer musical quality to bear on everything he plays.” The Gramophone

Promoters please note: if you wish to include this biography in a concert programme etc, please contact Hazard Chase to ensure that you receive the most up to date version.
Email: Sarah Trelawny