Sounds like Satie

He’s best known for his impressions of today’s powerful and famous, but Alistair Mcgowan has recently turned his attention from Tony Blair and David Beckham to Chopin and Beethoven. The British comedian first learned the piano as a child, but gave it up for tennis and football. However, after chatting to a piano teacher he met on a cruise, Mcgowan, now in his fifties, decided to return to the keyboard. A few years on, he’s releasing a disc of short piano pieces by Grieg, Chopin, Satie and, aptly, Mompou’s Impresiones intimas. ‘This album contains a wealth of beautiful music that I think anyone can tackle given time, passion and determination,’ explains Mcgowan. ‘I hope this encourages everyone who harbours a secret ambition to take up music – it really is never too late!’