Julian Jacobson
The British pianist, conductor, composer and teacher Julian Jacobson studied piano with Lamar Crowson, John Barstow and Louis Kentner, and composition with Arthur Benjamin and Humphrey Searle.
As a pianist, his huge repertoire includes the complete Beethoven sonatas, which he presents regularly as a cycle, on three occasions performing all thirty two in a single day. He is currently recording the cycle. He has appeared as soloist with the London Symphony Orchestra, the London Mozart Players and the London Sinfonietta, playing for conductors including Tamás Vásáry, Sir Simon Rattle and Jane Glover. He has performed in more than forty countries world wide and has recorded over twenty CDs.
Jacobson's compositions include songs, piano and chamber music, and five TV and feature film scores including To The Lighthouse and We Think The World Of You. His virtuoso transcriptions for piano duet of Gershwin’s An American in Paris and Second Rhapsody have won considerable acclaim.
Formerly Head of Keyboard Studies at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Jacobson is currently professor of piano and chamber music at the Royal College of Music and Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and Guest Professor at Xiamen University, China. He is Chairman and Artistic Director of the Beethoven Piano Society of Europe.
Further information: julianjacobson.com
Articles by Julian Jacobson
A complete recording of Beethoven's 'The Ruins of Athens'
Brahms cello sonatas. '... honourable, fluent and enjoyable playing ...'
Malcolm Troup's recital, also featured Bloch and Britten
Julian Jacobson reports on the Beethoven Piano Society of Europe's Beethoven Senior Intercollegiate Piano Competition
Thomas Hicks wins first prize in the Beethoven Piano Society of Europe's annual Junior Competition
Jacques Rouvier's Debussy Préludes. '... the performances lack a degree of intensity and personal involvement.'
Julian Jacobson was at the 2010 Beethoven Intercollegiate Piano Competition
Simon Watterton gives a lunchtime recital in London
Stephen Savage plays Beethoven
Julian Jacobson reports from the 2009 Beethoven Intercollegiate Piano Competition
Beethoven in E flat and friends
A recital by Evelyne Berezovsky
Andrejs Osokins at London's St Martin-in-the-Fields
The sixteenth Beethoven Intercollegiate Piano Competition
Malcolm Troup plays Bloch's Piano Sonata
Taneyev string trios. '... a performance of real commitment and assurance ...'
The 2007 Beethoven Junior Intercollegiate Piano Competition
Malcolm Troup's recital at St Martin-in-the-Fields
Julian Jacobson reports on the fourteenth BPSE Beethoven Intercollegiate (Senior) Piano Competition
Julian Jacobson attended the Beethoven Piano Society of Europe's Summer Celebrity Festival
Articles about Julian Jacobson
Classical music news. January 2024 Newsletter - Watch and listen to our January 2024 video newsletter - Twenty-five Years
Classical music news. Beethoven Marathon - Julian Jacobson plays all thirty-two Beethoven piano sonatas, from memory, in one day
Classical music news - July 2022 Obituaries - Our summary of those the classical music world has lost this month
Classical music news. Defining Our Field - Classical Music Daily's June 2021 Newsletter is a panel discussion led by John Dante Prevedini, and has just been published as a video podcast
Ensemble. Enthralling Sound Colours - Malcolm Miller listens to young violinist Michael Foyle's recital of Beethoven, Brahms and Kreisler in London
Classical music news. Upgrading to the Visual - Classical Music Daily's January 2021 Newsletter has just been published in a new video podcast format
Ensemble. Happy Birthday Ludwig - Julian Jacobson's BPSE Beethoven birthday recital, reviewed by Malcolm Miller
CD Spotlight. Admirable Craftsmanship - Music by Maurice Jacobson, reviewed by Howard Smith. '... I'd recommend this Naxos release wholeheartedly.'
Great Ideas - Malcolm Miller reports on the 2014 BPSE Intercollegiate Competition, and winner Mihai Ritivoiu
Plangent Atmosphere - A duet recital by Mariko Brown and Julian Jacobson, heard by Malcolm Miller
Astonishing Performance - All of Beethoven's piano sonatas played in one day by Julian Jacobson, heard by Robert Anderson
Ensemble. Smoothly Compatible - Malcolm Troup is witness to the manual (four-handed) marriage of two musical missionaries
Quite Superb - Julian Jacobson plays Beethoven, heard by Bill Newman
Consummate Artists - Malcolm Troup reports on the BPSE Summer Festival at London's Regent Hall, where for the first time Music, not consumerism, called the shots
New Contexts - Malcolm Miller reports on a recent Symposium on Beethoven's Diabelli Variations
Ensemble. Much to Enjoy - Johannes Goritzki and Julian Jacobson at London's Royal College of Music, heard by Robert Anderson
Ensemble. Superb Pianism - A London recital by Julian Jacobson, heard by Robert Anderson
Ensemble. Better Late than Never - The BPSE Late Summer Festival, attended by Malcolm Troup
Linear Clarity - Julian Jacobson's Wigmore Hall recital impresses Malcolm Miller
Ensemble. Splendidly Imaginative - Julian Jacobson and Meng Yang Pan celebrate Valentine's Day and Chinese New Year, enjoyed by Mary Isaac
World-ranking Pianism - Malcolm Troup marvels anew at the artistry of Julian Jacobson
Ensemble. Unity of Conception - Malcolm Troup was at the BPSE Summer Festival in London
Ensemble. Refreshing Contrasts - Malcolm Miller reports from the 2009 BPSE Chamber Music Competition
Ensemble. Force of Nature - The Matsumoto/Jacobson Duo and The Art of Falconry, by Malcolm Troup
Julian Jacobson - No longer one of British music's best-kept secrets! As reported by Malcolm Troup
A Pianistic Firecracker - A lunchtime recital by Tali Morgulis, enjoyed by Malcolm Troup
Ensemble. A Valentine Extravaganza - Julian Jacobson in the first of his orchestral Valentine Extravaganzas, enjoyed by Malcolm Troup
Ensemble. Thirty-two sonatas a day - Malcolm Miller attends Julian Jacobson's Beethoven marathon