Soundbites
Lecture notes
Though not as flash as Taipei’s arts centre (left), Plymouth is also able to boast a new concert hall. Based at Plymouth University, the Levinsky Hall was formerly a lecture theatre until the university’s director of music Robert Taub spotted its potential for recitals and oversaw its reappointment. Taub himself (above) will be opening its first season with a piano recital of Beethoven, Schumann and Chopin on 15 October.
Santander success
Well played Jaeden Izik-dzurko, who has won first prize at the Santander International Piano Competition. The Canadian’s success earns him a 30,000 euro (£25,000) cash prize plus a string of concert engagements and the opportunity to record an album on the Naxos label. The second and third prizes went to, respectively, China’s Xiaolu Zang and Marcel Tadokoro of France.
It’s a wrap
With the nights drawing in and the weather getting chillier, violinist Yury Revich has been putting his commercial thinking cap on. In collaboration with the Furious Goose accessories brand, Revich has designed a new range of scarves, whose colourful patterns are created by manipulating digital sound spectrograms of him playing Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. Very posh. And, hopefully, warm. See furiousgoose.co.uk
Darling buds of May
If you have plans to produce a musical genius, do try to make sure they are born in May or December, as research conducted by thortful.com reveals that these two months are the most successful for bringing future famous musicians into the world. Violinist Tasmin Little (May) and tenor José Carreras (December) would doubtless agree as, from beyond the grave, would Beethoven (December), Brahms and Tchaikovsky (May).