A conversation between two outstanding pianists – Dame Imogen Cooper and Tim Horton exploring the pleasures and pressures of being an international pianist.
Sunday 26th April 2026, 6pm
Thanks to Anne Gladstone for her appreciation of the evening:
A rare, fascinating and moving conversation between two distinguished and famous pianists at St Mary’s Kidlington…..
In the last of the current ‘storytelling’ series organised by The Friends of St Mary’s Kidlington, we were treated to a dialogue between two exceptionally brilliant musicians, Dame Imogen Cooper who is in her ‘retirement’ year playing round the world and Tim Horton also just back from a full programme of concerts. One of many things they shared in common was the experience of being mentored by the late Alfred Brendel, the Austrian pianist and undoubtedly one of the most outstanding performers of our times. Both Imogen and Tim explained how he gave them many hours of his time. Imogen said what was so special was the way he talked about the music and also how vital it was to listen “like a hawk” to the effect they were creating with their playing. There was always a story to tell in the music. Brendel could spot when a player went into “automatic mode” and this was not allowed. Complete focus was essential.
Imogen had first sat on a piano stool at the age of 3 and by the age of 5 she was convinced that she must be concert pianist. Clearly music was very important in her family as her father was the music reviewer for the Telegraph which involved going to London concerts almost nightly. First she was sent to Paris to study aged 12 for 5 years. This was a challenge for her but she knew she had to do it to achieve her ambition. Later when she met Brendel she told him he had to teach her. He agreed and she went off to Vienna aged 20. Driven by her ambition she has become one of the top pianists of the world.
Tim went to Chethams Music school aged 9 and then on to Trinity College Cambridge. He met Brendel when he was 17. It was fascinating to hear Tim telling us how Brendel took half an hour just on the opening chord of a sonata by Schubert. He also said he definitely didn’t want to be a clone of Brendel or anyone else. Tim replaced Brendel in two performances of Schoenberg’s piano concerto under the baton of Sir Simon Rattle in 1995. Tim has played a major role in Chamber Music in Sheffield and was a founder of Ensemble 360. He is involved with the Sheffield Chamber Music Festival which had its 20th anniversary in 2025.
Tim introduced three pieces recorded by Imogen including Liszt’s Valse Oubliee number 2. It was remarkable. The music communicated interwoven sounds of mouselike scampering, water running over pebbles, then a sudden feel of floodlit excitement, calmness and a somewhat darker ending. All brilliant!
Practical things like how to prepare for a concert: Imogen explained she would play through all the pieces in the morning, eat, sleep and then get into the ‘uniform’. She explained that “tunnel vision” was necessary to achieve her objectives. She didn’t feel she had missed anything from this but that after her final public performance on February 16 2027 she looks forward to pursuing her many other interests in the world around.
Imogen set up the Imogen Cooper Musicians Trust which enables the serious music student to have peace, quiet and undivided attention for a time in a remote part of France.
It had undoubtedly been a very enjoyable evening.
Anne Gladstone
We also have a few recorded snippets: