About

A deeply passionate and sensitive pianist, Christian Blackshaw is celebrated for the incomparable musicianship of his performances. His playing combines tremendous emotional depth with great understanding.

Following studies with Gordon Green at the Royal College Manchester and Royal Academy London, winning the gold medals at each, he was the first British pianist to study at the Leningrad Conservatoire with Moisei Halfin. He later worked closely with Sir Clifford Curzon in London.

He has performed worldwide and in festivals as recitalist and soloist with many renowned conductors including Valery Gergiev, Yannick Nézet-Seguin, Sir Simon Rattle, Herbert Blomstedt, Jonathan Nott, Gianandrea Noseda, Yuri Temirkanov and Sir Neville Marriner. He was Founder Director of the Hellensmusic Festival which was established in 2013.

His hugely acclaimed Wigmore Hall complete Mozart Piano Sonatas series was recorded for Wigmore Hall Live and released in four volumes. Critics have been unanimous in their praise, describing these “landmark” recordings as “captivating”, “magical” and “masterful”. Volume 4 was named as one of the Best Classical Recordings of 2015 in the New York Times in addition to Gramophone Magazine’s Top 50 Greatest Mozart Recordings.

Recent notable performances include the Mozart cycle in Tokyo, Shanghai and Beijing and debuts at the Schwetzingen, Edinburgh International Festivals, Schubertiada and with the Philadelphia Orchestra. He has been an Artist in Residence at the Wigmore Hall, London.
Future engagements include recitals at Théâtre des Champs Elysées in Paris, Palau de la Música in Barcelona, Schwetzingen Festival, a recital tour in Japan, a residence at Orchestre Metropolitaine in Montréal at invitation of Yannick Nézet-Seguin and the whole Mozart sonata cycle at Snape Festival in August 2023.

He was awarded an MBE in the New Year 2019 Honour’s.