Phillip Dyson, piano

• Date & Time: Saturday June 17, 20203 at 7:30 p.m.
• Venue: Incarnation Episcopal Church, 1750 29th Avenue, San Francisco
• Tickets: $25 General, $20 Seniors/Students

All ticket sales are final. For more details visit https://sunsetarts.wordpress.com

Program

To be announced

HEALTH AND SAFETY

In accordance with the recommended health and safety guidelines from the Episcopal Diocese of California and the City and County of San Francisco, a face covering is required for all concerts at Incarnation Episcopal church and must be worn at all times. Face masks must completely cover nose and mouth and have ear loops or similar to hold in place. Gaiters and bandanas are not acceptable. Please visit https://sunsetarts.wordpress.com for full details.

About the Artist

International Concert Pianist Phillip Dyson has been described as simply “brilliant”, with a “wonderfully dry, very British sense of humour” and a recent recital in New York City accredited him as nothing less than “magnificent”. An international pianist and great entertainer, performing to ‘sell-out’ audiences around the world. Phillip Dyson is recognised as one of Britain’s most sought after and innovative concert pianists, gaining enormous popularity for his unique abilities in both the classical and light music repertoire. His rapport with audiences, brilliant technique and innate sensitivity constantly win him the highest of praise. Phillip often broadcasts on the BBC and Classic FM, performs regularly with the most prestigious orchestras and has a great international reputation in Europe and America.

Born in Lancashire he began musical studies at an early stage and by the age of twelve had given a performance at London’s Royal Albert Hall, which was to launch a busy and most successful performing career. He studied at the Royal College of Music with distinguished pianists Colin Horsley and John Lill, and also with Dr William Lloyd Webber. At the early age of 27 he was appointed Professor of Piano at the London College of Music.

Phillip Dyson has performed with many of the UK’s finest symphony orchestras, including: the Royal Philharmonic, BBC Philharmonic, BBC Concert Orchestra, National Symphony and the Ulster Orchestra; and at most of the major festivals, including: Salisbury, Lichfield, Bury St. Edmunds, Ludlow, Fishguard, Newbury, Buxton, Worcester Three Choirs, Gloucester Three Choirs, Belfast and Chester. Most frequently he appears in London, including the South Bank Centre and St John’s, Smith Square. He tours overseas every year, particularly in the USA and Europe. Also in Africa, where he has toured several times in Tanzania and given a number of recitals at the Official Residence of the British High Commissioner in Dar es Salaam. On disc he records for the ASV/Sanctuary, Chandos, Naxos and Marigold labels.

Of the many countries Phillip Dyson performs in, America is certainly one of the most frequently visited. He is often invited to the Scott Joplin International Ragtime Festival and was the first British Pianist to appear at the West Coast Ragtime Festival. Phillip was invited again in 2011 to celebrate their 25th Anniversary. He frequently performs in New York City, including the Lincoln Center, and tours California each year, particularly in San Francisco, Sacramento, San Luis Obispo and Los Angeles. In addition, he has toured in Canada as soloist with the Palm Court Orchestra of Vancouver. Another most popular touring country for Phillip is Spain. Performances in many of the country’s major cities have included: Madrid, Salamanca, Burgos, Valladolid, Toledo, Alcalá, Villaviciosa, Ávila, Palencia, Segovia and Seville. In Spain he has regularly appeared on both radio and television. And, through his many masterclasses with music students, was appointed Patron of the Segovia Music Academy.

Mr Dyson broadcasts regularly for the BBC, in such programmes as Friday Night Is Music Night with the BBC Concert Orchestra, ‘Afternoon on 3’, ‘At the Piano’ and ‘In Tune’. He was particularly involved in the making of Radio 3’s Billy Mayerl: Composer of the Week programmes, recording and broadcasting Mayerl’s main piano and orchestra works with the BBC Concert Orchestra. Recently he recorded several programmes with the Ulster Orchestra in Belfast, for future transmission. As a leading exponent of British Music, in the Concert Hall, on CD and for the BBC, Phillip Dyson has long been associated with the music of Sir Malcolm Arnold.

He gave the Irish Premiere and First Performance outside the UK of Arnold’s ‘Fantasy on a theme of John Field’. This was broadcast LIVE from the National Concert Hall, Dublin, with the RTE National Symphony Orchestra, celebrating the composer’s 80th Birthday. Phillip has now recorded the same work for the BBC with the Ulster Orchestra. In addition, he has also recorded his 3 Hand and Piano Duet Concertos, again for the BBC with the Ulster Orchestra and pianist Kevin Sargent. All three concertos have now been released commercially on the Naxos label.

“Phillip Dyson and Kevin Sargent are brilliant piano soloists.” - Edward Greenfield, Gramophone

At the specific request of Sir Malcolm Arnold, Phillip recorded the composer’s film score the Stolen Face Ballade for piano and orchestra on the Chandos label with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. BBC Radio 3 CD Review commented on the World Premiere Recording …“Solid Gold Arnold”.

“… of all the distinguished pianists who have performed the composition over the years I cannot think of any who have added so much to my work as has Phillip Dyson on each occasion it has been my privilege to hear him perform the Fantasy. His interpretation of my work was so sympathetic and so exactly what I had in mind when I wrote the piece that it was quite uncanny. He gave a wonderful performance, perfect, superb!” - Sir Malcolm Arnold

Phillip Dyson is also very much associated with the light music of Billy Mayerl and is recognized as a leading authority on his music. His ASV/Sanctuary disc the Nimble Fingered Gentleman prompted the Gramophone to comment:

“Phillip Dyson has an obvious penchant for Mayerl’s charmers and plays them with love and sincerity … a delicious tribute, superbly recorded!”

Due to its tremendous success, worldwide, he followed this up with The Entertainer, piano music by Scott Joplin. This reached No. 3 on Classic FM CD Choice and is still today, on the Classic FM Playlist. Classic CD reviewed it, saying:

“A highly recommended and thoroughly enjoyable recital played with affection and conviction. Phillip Dyson mixes the well known with the less familiar in performances of sparkle and wit.”

On the Marigold label, Phillip recorded LIVE a concert from the Purcell Room at London’s South Bank Centre. Entitled Rhapsodies and Marigolds it was a celebration of the Centenary of Billy Mayerl. A further release on the Marigold label, is Phillip Dyson … by Special Request, with music by: Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt, Debussy and Brahms. Most recently Mr Dyson has released his Totally Chopin CD, featuring many of the composer’s most popular pieces.

“Featuring the refined pianism of Phillip Dyson. Few pianists have both the technique and the inclination to tackle the music of Billy Mayerl. Fortunately, Dyson has the requisite qualities in spades, together with a wonderfully dry sense of humour, which extended to his playing.”

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Episcopal Church of the Incarnation, 1750 29th Avenue, San Francisco, United States