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ABOUT LEON McCAWLEY

“One of today’s most impeccably musical pianists.” International Piano, January/February 2021

Praised for his unfailingly communicative playing, British pianist Leon McCawley has been delighting audiences worldwide since winning first prize in the 1993 International Beethoven Piano Competition in Vienna and second prize at the Leeds International Piano Competition the same year. His many concert performances and extensive discography have established him as a pianist of great integrity and variety, bringing freshness and vitality to Classical, Romantic and 20th century repertoire. McCawley’s recent CD of Haydn Sonatas Volume IV for SOMM Recordings is no exception: “There is real freshness to McCawley’s playing throughout, concomitant with a sense of Haydn’s delight in playing with form. Captured in superb sound, this is one of McCawley’s finest discs to date”. (International Piano, December 2021).

Read full biography

NEWS | EARLIER NEWS

NEWS

‘MAGNIFICENTLY JUDGED PERFORMANCE’ IN SINGAPORE

June 15th, 2022|

Leon has received a very impressive review from the The Straits Times for his recent solo recital performance for Singapore International Piano Festival at Victoria Concert Hall on June 12th:

“British pianist Leon McCawley’s recital returned to the classical […]

SINGAPORE DEBUT

May 21st, 2022|

Leon makes his Singapore recital debut at the Victoria Concert Hall for Singapore International Piano Festival on June 12th performing Haydn’s Variations in F minor, Mozart Sonata K533/494 and Schubert’s Sonata in B flat D960 followed […]

NEW RELEASE!

November 28th, 2021|

Leon’s fourth volume of Haydn Piano Sonatas has recently been released on SOMM Recordings and has already been lauded as “one of McCawley’s finest discs to date” by International Piano Magazine. See the whole […]

‘MAGNIFICENTLY JUDGED PERFORMANCE’ IN SINGAPORE

June 15th, 2022|

Leon has received a very impressive review from the The Straits Times for his recent solo recital performance for Singapore International Piano Festival at Victoria Concert Hall on June 12th:

“British pianist Leon McCawley’s recital returned to the classical […]

SINGAPORE DEBUT

May 21st, 2022|

Leon makes his Singapore recital debut at the Victoria Concert Hall for Singapore International Piano Festival on June 12th performing Haydn’s Variations in F minor, Mozart Sonata K533/494 and Schubert’s Sonata in B flat D960 followed […]

NEW RELEASE!

November 28th, 2021|

Leon’s fourth volume of Haydn Piano Sonatas has recently been released on SOMM Recordings and has already been lauded as “one of McCawley’s finest discs to date” by International Piano Magazine. See the whole […]

CONCERTS

3rd September 2022 PORTAFERRY, NI
Solo recital at The Portico of Ards (7.30pm)

Bach: Italian Concerto BWV 971
Beethoven: Sonata in E minor Op. 90
Mozart Sonata in F major K332
Schubert: Sonata in B flat major D960

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30th September 2022 LICHFIELD, UK
Solo recital at The Hub at St. Mary’s for Lichfield Chamber Music Festival (7.30pm)

Bach: Italian Concerto BWV 971
Beethoven: Sonata in E minor Op. 90
Mozart Sonata in F major K332
Schubert: Sonata in B flat major D960

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12th October 2022 YORK, UK
Solo recital at Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, University of York (7.30pm)

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Bach: Italian Concerto BWV 971
Beethoven: Sonata in E minor Op. 90
Mozart Sonata in F major K332
Schubert: Sonata in B flat major D960

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13th October 2022 MORPETH, UK
Solo recital at St. James’ Church (7.30pm) for Morpeth Music Society

Bach: Italian Concerto BWV 971
Beethoven: Sonata in E minor Op. 90
Mozart Sonata in F major K332
Schubert: Sonata in B flat major D960

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16th October 2022 DARLINGTON, UK
Solo recital in Central Hall, Dolphin Centre for Darlington Piano Society

Bach: Italian Concerto BWV 971
Beethoven: Sonata in E minor Op. 90
Mozart Sonata in F major K332
Schubert: Sonata in B flat major D960

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23rd October 2022 DOLLAR, UK
Solo recital at Dollar Academy for Music in Dollar (3pm)

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Bach: Italian Concerto BWV 971
Beethoven: Sonata in E minor Op. 90
Mozart Sonata in F major K332
Schubert: Sonata in B flat major D960

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25th October 2022 DUNDEE, UK
Solo recital at Marryat Hall for Dundee Chamber Music (7.30pm)

Bach: Italian Concerto BWV 971
Beethoven: Sonata in E minor Op. 90
Mozart Sonata in F major K332
Schubert: Sonata in B flat major D960

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29th October 2022 STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN
Solo recital at Academy of Fine Arts for Piano Visions (4pm)

Bach: Italian Concerto BWV 971
Beethoven: Sonata in E minor Op. 90
Mozart Sonata in F major K332
Schubert: Sonata in B flat major D960

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31st October 2022 STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN
Masterclass at Royal College of Music, Stockholm (11am-3pm)

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CHECK BACK FOR MORE CONCERT UPDATES

PRESS – RECITALS

The Straits Times, June 15th 2022
Solo Recital for Singapore International Piano Festival at Victoria Concert Hall, June 12th 2022

British pianist Leon McCawley’s recital returned to the classical world of Vienna, represented by Haydn’s masterly Variations in F minor and Mozart’s rarely heard Sonata in F major (K533/494), brought out with gravitas that was both touching and moving. In the fast movements of the Mozart, clarity and illumination were the rule, and the music could not have been more tastefully rendered.

Then there was Schubert’s final Sonata in B flat major (D. 960) where McCawley’s sense of proportion and architecture was peerless. Playing the exposition repeat of its first movement ensured that its warmth and lyricism were doubly enjoyed.

An overwhelming sense of mortality possessed the haunting slow movement. This, balanced by the apparent gaiety of the last two movements, gave this magnificently judged performance a human perspective that has become all too rare.

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Seen and Heard International, April 18th 2021
Solo Recital at Wigmore Hall, March 19th 2021

[In] Schubert’s Drei Klavierstücke McCawley captured the driven febrile quality of the first piece with its racing triplets and there was close attention to detail and richly varied tonal and dynamic contrasts. The second piece in E flat received a ravishing performance here. The opening section was enchanting and a rare moment of poetic beauty. Both here and in the ensuing two episodes McCawley gave a masterclass on how to make the piano sing. The third piece with its syncopations was robust and lively in equal measure and I loved the handling of the modulation ushering in the central section. McCawley’s virtuoso technique came to the fore in the coda driving the set to an exhilarating conclusion.

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Seen and Heard International, October 17th 2020
Solo Recital at Wigmore Hall, October 10th 2020

There was much to admire in McCawley’s sterling interpretation of this work [Schubert Sonata D664]. He displayed enormous sensitivity and tenderness while also breathing life into the more dramatic elements of the work and the strong dynamic contrasts. The slow movement was poetic and eloquent, and McCawley did a wonderful job in capturing the reflective intimacy of the music. The finale was enchanting as Schubert’s scales and runs bubbled along delightfully.

Overall, this was an extremely impressive piano recital featuring a consistently high standard of playing throughout.

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Read all recital reviews

PRESS – CONCERTOS

Cambridge Independent, 20th February 2020
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Domingo Hindoyan at Cambridge Corn Exchange

The soloist for Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major, Op. 15 was multi-award- winning British pianist Leon McCawley who in many respects, one would have to say, is the perfect pianist.

McCawley gave a spellbinding performance of this concerto…[his] understanding of this beautiful music was complete. It was impossible not to be moved by both the ability of the composer to create such a thing, and a performer who could engage with it so masterfully.
John Gilroy

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La Nueva España, Asturias 12th May 2019
Orquesta Sinfónica del Principado de Asturias/Hans Graf at Auditorio Principe Felipe, Oviedo

Without a doubt, McCawley was one of the attractions of the evening. His style, intimate and technically imposing, fitted like a glove for the interpretation of the Schumann concerto, and was in evidence even more so in the ‘Liebeslied’ encore, played with such sensitivity and delicacy.
Jonathan Mallada

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El Comercio, Asturias 21st January 2017
Orquesta Sinfónica del Principado de Asturias/Manuel López-Gómez at Teatro Jovellanos, Gijón

…this was a passionate and poetic Beethoven [Piano Concerto No. 3], full of energy and rhythm. McCawley is a pianist with a very lyrical and poetic touch, so transparent and precise…

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Read all concerto reviews

RECORDINGS

Click on the cover images for reviews and options to buy online

Haydn Sonatas Volume 3 cover- Leon McCawley

Complete list of recordings

PHOTO GALLERY

Click on images for downloadable high res files

VIDEO

Featured videos from LEON McCAWLEY’S YOUTUBE CHANNEL:

BEETHOVEN: SONATA OP. 111

HAYDN: VARIATIONS IN F MINOR HOB.XVII:6

SCHUBERT: FANTASY IN C D760 ‘WANDERER’

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