ASK ALICE: Weekly, from 2003 until 2016/17, Alice McVeigh took on the role of classical music's agony aunt to answer questions on a surprising variety of subjects.
VIDEO PODCAST: John Dante Prevedini leads a discussion about The Creative Spark, including contributions from Ryan Ash, Sean Neukom, Adrian Rumson, Stephen Francis Vasta, David Arditti, Halida Dinova and Andrew Arceci.
Russian-born American composer, pianist and writer Lera Auerbach was born in Chelyabinsk on 21 October 1973. She studied at Juilliard with Joseph Kalichstein for piano and Milton Babbitt for composition. She also studied solo piano at the Hochschule für Musik Hannover.
She is the youngest composer to be represented by the German music publisher Hans Sikorski, and has been commissioned by various artists, orchestras and ballet companies.
She has appeared as a solo pianist at venues in Norway, Japan, Russia and the USA.
As a writer, Auerbach has published six volumes of Russian language poetry and prose.
CD Spotlight. Meditative yet Impassioned - Music for solo cor anglais, heard by Geoff Pearce. 'The playing in this collection of small pieces is exemplary and inspiring ...'
CD Spotlight. Tradition and Novelty - Music by Lera Auerbach, heard by Andrew Schartmann. 'Her music is competently crafted and deeply affecting.'
CD Spotlight. Immediate Appeal - Music for cello, piano and Korean drums, heard by Howard Smith. 'Greenberg's sonata ... deserves a recognized place in the cello and piano repertory.'
Ensemble. Born to Excel - Recent concerts in London, heard by Bill Newman
Ensemble. An Immensely Successful Event - Thomas Bielinski reports from the West Cork Chamber Music Festival 2009
CD Spotlight. Focus on Loneliness - Music by Lera Auerbach and Shostakovich, reviewed by Howard Smith. '... unfailing virtuosity.'