tue 26/11/2024

Interview: Pianist Nick Van Bloss | reviews, news & interviews

Interview: Pianist Nick Van Bloss

Interview: Pianist Nick Van Bloss

Anatomy of a musical talent: a British pianist rises again

Nick Van Bloss: 'The piano was a safe haven for me'

A new recording of The Goldberg Variations is now available, by Nick Van Bloss. In the annals of British pianism, it’s not quite a name to be conjured with. Or not yet. Until he performed at Cadogan Hall in 2009, he had not visited the concert platform in 15 years. After a promising early career, he retired at the age of 26. It’s not as if he didn’t play the piano at all in the interim. He just didn't play to anyone but himself. The reason why he gave up performing is simple. Van Bloss suffers severely from Tourette’s syndrome.

A new recording of The Goldberg Variations is now available, by Nick Van Bloss. In the annals of British pianism, it’s not quite a name to be conjured with. Or not yet. Until he performed at Cadogan Hall in 2009, he had not visited the concert platform in 15 years. After a promising early career, he retired at the age of 26. It’s not as if he didn’t play the piano at all in the interim. He just didn't play to anyone but himself. The reason why he gave up performing is simple. Van Bloss suffers severely from Tourette’s syndrome.

Tourette’s basically constitutes an energy within that forces its way out. All this translates well to music because the pulse of music is satisfying Tourette’s

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This is inspiring and very good news. Love the Goldberg recording, and glad a Brit pianist is excelling at Bach.

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