Boris Giltburg

Michael Johnson encounters a French pianist who breathes music from every pore in performances that combine technical daring with soul-baring emotional directness

Boris Giltburg left Russia when he was five years old, but his connections to Russian culture run deep. He adores playing Rachmaninov and Shostakovich and has received rave reviews for best-selling recordings of their music. Away from the piano, he is no less passionate about photography, finding inspiration in the images and philosophical musings of Ansel Adams.

Boris Giltburg shares some photos taken in rare moments of downtime during his recent international tours

Benjamin Ivry explores the development of piano music and pianism in Russia in the turbulent years leading up to the October Revolution of 1917

As he celebrates his 80th birthday, Vladimir Ashkenazy can look back over a lifetime as a pianist and conductor who has confounded all attempts to define his artistry, amassing a vast legacy of recordings that are as diverse in repertoire as they are unpredictable in style. Benjamin Ivry attempts to grasp hold of an elusive musical career

Elena Langer introduces her world premiere commission for this year’s London Piano Festival, finding inspiration in the creative ferment of early 20th-century Russian art and breaking the boundary between music and painting

Jeremy Nicholas catches up with September’s Rhinegold LIVE artist Sam Haywood, whose international career has recently been punctuated by recordings of some rare and quintessentially English piano repertoire

Michael Johnson visits the International Piano Academy on the idyllic shores of Lake Como, where students are encouraged to explore music deeply, guided by some of the most illustrious teachers in the business and taking their playing to a new level – without having to pay a penny

Which are the best university and conservatoire courses for pianists? IP asked some top institutions in Britain and the US to tell us their highlights in 2017/18...

Stephen Wigler reports from the 15th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, where the personal tastes of jury members played a significant and sometimes inexplicable role as competitors progressed towards the finishing line