Murray McLachlan, pianist
© Murray McLachlan
As a concert artist Murray McLachlan has received outstanding critical acclaim for intelligent and sensitive interpretations and superb technical ability. His prolific discography has received long-standing international recognition and includes over thirty commercial recordings on the Olympia, Linn, Divineart and Redbrook labels.
Murray McLachlan studied at Chetham’s school of Music and Cambridge University. His teachers were David Hartigan, Ryszard Bakst, Peter Katin, Norma Fisher and Ronald Stevenson. His repertoire includes over 40 concertos and he has appeared as concerto soloist with many leading UK orchestras. In recent seasons he has performed concertos with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, (Barbican Centre), Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, (Philharmonic Hall), Hallé Orchestra, (Bridgewater Hall), Royal Scottish National Orchestra, (Royal Concert Hall), London Concert Orchestra, (Symphony Hall), Manchester Concert Orchestra,(Bridgewater Hall), the Lakeland Sinfonia and the Moscow Symphony orchestra. He gave the last concerto performance of the twentieth century in the Albert Hall when he played Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue at the at the ‘Millennium Proms’ with the BBC Concert Orchestra under Christopher Warren-Green. During the 2000–01 season he directed the Mozart Festival orchestra in period costume on a highly successful national tour of 18 concerts including appearances at the Barbican, Bridgewater Hall, Waterfront Hall in Belfast, Dublin, Birmingham and the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.
His recognition has been far-reaching, bringing many invitations to perform abroad, and his engagements include recitals in the USA, Scandinavia and South Africa as well as tours of the Soviet Union, Germany, Belgium, Holland and the Far East. In 1997 he was awarded a knighthood by the Order of St John of Jerusalem in recognition of his services to music in Malta. Future plans include tours to Poland, the Czech Republic and South Aftrica.
Murray McLachlan has been especially associated with Russian Music, and his recorded cycles of Prokofiev, Kabalevsky, Khachaturian and the lesser known Tcherepnin, Vainberg, Shchedrin and Myaskovsky have received outstanding reviews. His discography also embraces rarities such as music by MacCunn and a concerto based on sketches left by Grieg for a second piano concerto. His cross-over album with the internationally renowned jazz saxophonist Tommy Smith received wide-spread critical acclaim. Recent releases include a recording of Ronald Stevenson’s 80 minute Passacaglia on DSCH, Erik Chisholm’s First Piano Concerto and solo works by the Mancunian composer John R. Williamson.
Murray McLachlan’s skill and versatility extends throughout the classical repertoire and he has delighted the public and press with performances of all twenty-four Chopin etudes, the complete Beethoven sonatas and the complete works of Brahms. During the 1997–98 season he undertook a series of fifty Chopin recitals featuring the four Ballades in aid of the Marie Curie Cancer Fund’s Golden Jubilee. He has given tours for North West Arts, the Scottish Arts Council and the British Council. Broadcasts include recitals, concertos and chamber music for the BBC as well as Classic FM, and recordings of Russian repertoire for Dutch and Byelorussian television.
Murray McLachlan is a tireless advocate of contemporary music. He has given first performances of works by many composers, including Jeremy Thurlow, Ronald Stevenson, Charles Camilleri, Michael Parkin and even Beethoven! In October 2002 he gave the world premiere of Martin Butler’s Piano Concerto with the Chetham’s Symphony Orchestra at the RNCM in Manchester. His recording of John McLeod’s Piano Music was selected as “Record of the Week” in the Herald and his recording of Piano Music from Scotland was awarded a rosette in the Penguin Guide to Compact Discs.
As head of keyboard at Chetham’s School of Music and tutor at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester Murray McLachlan is also a committed teacher and regularly gives masterclasses around the UK. He is very busy as an adjudicator and is in constant demand at festivals all over the British Isles and Eire. He also finds time to regularly write features and articles for publications such as International Piano Quarterly and Classical Piano Magazine. Future plans include recordings of the Chopin Etudes and tours to South Africa and Poland.
Further information can be found on the artist’s webpage: www.murraymclachlan.com.