Press Releases

Marguerite Wolff

(October 2007)

Marguerite Wolff, OBE, International Concert Pianist.

Pianist Marguerite Wolff opens autumn concert season in Florence

Celebrated as a concert pianist around the world, Marguerite Wolff has just returned from playing in Venice and then Florence, where she started the city's autumn season of concerts at the Palazzo Lanfrebini with Haydn, Schubert, Chopin, ending with Liszt's Concert Paraphrase from the Waltz from Gounod's opera Faust.

Seeing each performance as 'an adventure with myself as I endeavour to enter into the spirit of the composer,' appreciation of Marguerite's talent includes the award of an OBE for 'services to music worldwide' and being a castaway on the BBC's 'Desert Island Discs'. A further accolade came last year when she was made a Freeman of the City of London, following many years of outstanding piano performances in the grand Livery halls of the City.

Taught by her mother from the age of five, Marguerite gave her first concert aged ten at the Wigmore Hall and made her orchestral debut under Barbirolli in London at the age of 15. Since then she has played concertos with many orchestras including the London Symphony, the London Philharmonic, the Royal Philharmonic, the Philhamonia and the BBC orchestras in London.

Her first concert abroad, at 21, was in the Salle Playel, Paris and invitations have since come from all quarters. Marguerite has performed in 57 countries, revisiting some cities again and again. She has played in many of the major concert halls around the globe including the Festival and Royal Albert Halls in London and has made 12 extensive tours of Africa, 12 of the Far East and 14 of South America. Continually adding to her repertoire, which includes chamber music, Marguerite last year played the Cesar Franck Piano Quintet in Buenos Aires and the Liszt E Flat Concerto with the National Symphony Orchestra in Brazil. She will be returning to South America later this year.

An historic occasion was the concert in 2004 to mark the Centenary of the Entente Cordiale. Marguerite has since performed three times at the Great Romantic Music Festival in Hamilton, Ontario.

She studied at the Royal Academy of Music and Trinity College of Music, where she was appointed to the teaching staff at the age of 21. Whilst still in her teens she commenced a long period of study with Louis Kentner who remained her musical mentor until his death in 1987.

Her outstanding musical skills inspired Sir Arthur Bliss to write for her. She made the first recording of his Piano Sonata and gave the world premiere performance of his Wedding Suite during a tour of the USA. Another Master of the Queen's Musik, the late Malcolm Williamson, also composed for her a work, yet to be performed, which Miss Wolff believes is 'the best modern piano concerto ever written.' A new book on his work confirms this view.

In recent years her contribution to music has brought many honours of which the OBE 'for services to music worldwide' is an indication of her international reputation. As the castaway on the famous BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs she shared with listeners the role of music throughout her life. She was made an Honorary Fellow of Trinity College London (FCTL) in 1999, received 'The UK award for Music' from the 'Festival of Europe' in Italy, and received one of only four awards ever given by the American Liszt Society. Her career was the subject of a biography 'Adventures of a Concert Pianist' by Robert Clarson-Leach, published by Artmusique. Marguerite Wolff served many years on the Council of The Liszt Society, and is Vice-President of the Chopin Society in the UK.

'Although I always felt that my career would be global,' she says. 'my work - which speaks an international language - has given me remarkable experiences. Music, I believe, is social, music is glamorous, so I treat every concert as a premiere, whether I am in Brunei, Sarawak, Florence or London'.

Living to the full her role as a highly talented world-wide musician, Marguerite plays to concert audiences in such magnificent couture dresses that she was featured on BBC TV's Clothes Show. She resides in Central London - not far from the homes of her daughters Crystal and Gloria and grand-children Ondine, Oliver and 8-year old Thomas.

ENDS
Issued on behalf of Marguerite Wolff OBE
By Shirley Barnett, PR Projects, Penfold House, Brent St., London NW4 2EU
Tel. 0208 202 7821 Fax. 020 8202 3396
Email: PRProjects@aol.com

Photos available on request (including photos. taken by the late Karsh of Ottawa).