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| ==Career== | ==Career== | ||
| A fan of the ] pianist ], Rhodes wrote to Sokolov’s agent Franco Panozzo in Italy, with the idea that Rhodes would become a music agent himself.<ref name=Times5474670/> Panozzo responded, and after Rhodes sent him a bottle of ], the pair arranged to meet in Itay. After hearing Rhodes play, Panozzo arranged for James to have a brief tutorage by the renowned piano teacher Edoardo Strabbioli in Verona Italy. | A fan of the ] pianist ], Rhodes wrote to Sokolov’s agent Franco Panozzo in Italy, with the idea that Rhodes would become a music agent himself.<ref name=Times5474670/> Panozzo responded, and after Rhodes sent him a bottle of ], the pair arranged to meet in Itay. After hearing Rhodes play, Panozzo arranged for James to have a brief tutorage by the renowned piano teacher Edoardo Strabbioli in Verona Italy. After being ], he spent eight months in various hospitals in the United Kingdom and the ], after which his marriage brokedown.<ref name=Times5474670/> | ||
| Returning to London, he met Canadian entrepreneur Denis Blais while practising at the ], ] in 2008. Encouraged to record his first CD, and uncomfortable with the austere and traditional 'white tie and tails' recital, Rhodes and Blais decided it was time for the performer to communicate directly with the audience. Rhodes introduced his own programme notes and share what it takes to perform these works of art using fascinating anecdotes about the composers and his own life experience. | |||
| 2008/2009 saw his profile go from complete unknown to rising star, attracting celebrity followers such as ] and Sir ]. Having performed in non-traditional classical venues, Rhodes built on this new revolutionary performance approach. | 2008/2009 saw his profile go from complete unknown to rising star, attracting celebrity followers such as ] and Sir ].{{fact|date=December 2010}} Having performed in non-traditional classical venues, Rhodes built on this new revolutionary performance approach. | ||
| In March 2010, Rhodes became the first core classical pianist to be signed to the world's largest rock label ].<ref name="James">Smith, Charlotte. "". '']'', 25 March 2010.</ref> | In March 2010, Rhodes became the first core classical pianist to be signed to the world's largest rock label ].<ref name="James">Smith, Charlotte. "". '']'', 25 March 2010.</ref> | ||
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| James Rhodes |
|---|
James Rhodes (born 6 March 1975 in London) is a British classical pianist.
Early life
Born into a middle-class Jewish family in St Johns Wood, North London, he was sent to a local public school where he claims he was abused by his gym teacher. Rhodes suffered mentally, and later had a back operation.
Age 7, he borrowed the CD of Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto from his father collection, although didn't progress formally beyond Grade3 piano tuition. After moving to a local boarding school, he then from age 13 onwards was educated at Harrow School, where he worked with piano teacher, Colin Stone. In 1993, he was offered a scholarship to the Guildhall. But in part due to mental health issues and his father's insistence that he take a degree, Rhodes took a psychology degree at University College, London.
On graduation Rhodes took a job in the City of London, and married a American writer who was 10 years older than him, and the couple had a son, Eddie.
Career
A fan of the Russian pianist Grigory Sokolov, Rhodes wrote to Sokolov’s agent Franco Panozzo in Italy, with the idea that Rhodes would become a music agent himself. Panozzo responded, and after Rhodes sent him a bottle of Champagne Krug, the pair arranged to meet in Itay. After hearing Rhodes play, Panozzo arranged for James to have a brief tutorage by the renowned piano teacher Edoardo Strabbioli in Verona Italy. After being sectioned, he spent eight months in various hospitals in the United Kingdom and the United States, after which his marriage brokedown.
Returning to London, he met Canadian entrepreneur Denis Blais while practising at the Steinway Hall, Marylebone in 2008. Encouraged to record his first CD, and uncomfortable with the austere and traditional 'white tie and tails' recital, Rhodes and Blais decided it was time for the performer to communicate directly with the audience. Rhodes introduced his own programme notes and share what it takes to perform these works of art using fascinating anecdotes about the composers and his own life experience.
2008/2009 saw his profile go from complete unknown to rising star, attracting celebrity followers such as Stephen Fry and Sir David Tang. Having performed in non-traditional classical venues, Rhodes built on this new revolutionary performance approach.
In March 2010, Rhodes became the first core classical pianist to be signed to the world's largest rock label Warner Bros. Records.
Concerts
Rhodes' first public recital was at Steinway Hall in London, on 7 November 2008. His second recital was at the Hinde Street Methodist Centre, London, on 4 December 2008. He performed his first full scale concert at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, in London on 6 February 2009.
In May 2009, Rhodes performed a solo concert at The Roundhouse in Camden, where he was the first classical musician to give a solo recital at this historic London music venue since the reopening.
Rhodes has also played Proud Galleries in Camden; 100 Club in Soho; Tabernacle, Notting Hill and the nominations launch for the Classical BRIT Awards 2009 WITH NS&I.
In March 2010, Rhodes performed at the Holders Season 2010 in Barbados. 2010 also saw him play at the Cheltenham Music Festival. In July 2010 he was the first classical musician to play at the Latitude Festival, Suffolk.
Television
Rhodes completed filming a BBC Four music documentary celebrating Frédéric Chopin’s 200th anniversary in December 2009. He is the star presenter and performer in the 90 minute programme which is a discovery of Chopin’s life and his relationship with the opera singer Jenny Lind. This documentary will be broadcast in 2010.
Discography
Albums
- Razor Blades, Little Pills and Big Pianos (Feb 2009), Signum Records
- Now Would All Freudians Please Stand Aside (Mar 2010), Signum Records
References
- ^ Bryan Appleyard (9 January, 2009). "James Rhodes: Will he make it?". The Times. Retrieved 2010-12-16.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - Rhodes, James. "James Rhodes: how Beethoven became my drug". The Times, 22 May 2009.
- Smith, Charlotte. "James Rhodes signs to Warner Bros Records". Gramophone (magazine), 25 March 2010.
- Church, Michael. "James Rhodes, Queen Elizabeth Hall, London". The Independent. 9 February 2009.
- Brown, Geoff. "James Rhodes at Roundhouse, NW1". The Times. 15 May 2009.
- "Classical BRIT Awards Launch 2009". classicfm.co.uk. 20 April 2009.
- "A Classical Evening". The Daily Nation (Barbados). 21 March 2010.
- Hewett, Ivan "Classical CD reviews - Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra, James Rhodes and more". The Daily Telegraph. 18 February 2009.
- Jones, Rick 'Siberian Dido, review for 'Razor Blades, Little Pills and Big Pianos' ". BBC Radio 3. 20 February 2009.
- Midgette, Annette "The Classical Beat - What's In a Name" The Washington Post. 9 September 2009.
- Distler, Jed "9/10 review for 'Razor Blades, Little Pills and Big Pianos' classicstoday.com. 11 September 2009
- Woolf, Peter Grahame "Musical Pointers review for 'Now Would All Freudians Please Stand Aside'" musicalpointers.co.uk. 15 March 2010.
- Silverman, Laura "The Times Top Downloads recommends James Rhodes" The Times. 26 March 2010.
- Thompson, Damian "Why does this clown think he can play late Beethoven" The Daily Telegraph. 8 March 2010.
External links
- Official Website
- Official Twitter page
- Official Facebook page
- Official MySpace page
- Signum Classics Website