Highly acclaimed pianist Janusz Piotrowicz at Brodie Castle

We are delighted that esteemed pianist Janusz Piotrowicz will be giving a classical recital to entertain visitors at Brodie Castle on Wednesday 21 August. Piotrowicz will play the original 1890 Blüthner semi-concert grand piano in Brodie’s drawing room, with the tones of the instrument adding a historic touch to the recital within the ancestral home of the Brodie clan.

The 19th-century piano is crafted from walnut and features both ivory and ebony keys – it reflects both the period and the value that these controversial materials held throughout history. Ivory keys were phased out of use in the 1950s, primarily due to the soaring costs of ivory but also an increasing understanding of the plight of African elephants played a small part in the shift to the use of synthetic ivory.

Find out more about Brodie’s ivory collection

After receiving the Nawrocki Prize for being the most poetic interpreter at the Warsaw International Chopin Piano Competition in 1975, Janusz began his international career. He has performed to audiences across the world, playing up to 300 recitals a year, and has staged three-part epic programmes, which have included Chopin’s 4 Ballades, 4 scherzi, 24 Preludes and 27 Études, as well as several cycles of the complete Beethoven piano sonatas and concertos. The acclaimed pianist is also the founder and conductor of the Orchestra of the World, in addition to being the co-founder and artistic director of the Ripon International Festival.