Tyler Hay

Act I: The Classical Greats
Act II: The Jazz Age & Beyond

Millions of notes, and some jokes!

Tyler Hay is an artist of rare talent, a true ‘pianist of the people’—equally an extraordinary, international piano competition-winning virtuoso and a highly charismatic entertainer (and quite handy on a billiards table, too!). For one night only, Kettner Concerts presents Tyler in a novel performance format at the intimate, trendy setting of Manchester's International Anthony Burgess Foundation. Grab a drink from the licensed Burgess Bar, and experience this barnstorming show performed on the Bösendorfer grand piano.

In ‘Act I’, he offers a selection of the most beloved classical piano works. Expect nostalgia-inducing poetic musical beauty in Debussy's Clair de lune, and astounding virtuosity in Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2—with original, humorous introductions to each piece!

In 'Act II', Tyler moves things forward to the 20th century. Cultimating in a performance of Gershwin's spectacular Rhapsody in Blue, he plays renditions of favourites from the Ragtime, Jazz, Boogie-woogie, Novelty Piano, and Pop genres.

Programme

Act I

Nino Rota - Legend of the Glass Mountain
Frédéric Chopin - Polonaise in A-flat Major, Op. 53 “Polonaise héroïque”
Christian Sinding - Frühlingsrauschen, Op. 32 No. 3 “Rustle of Spring”
Edvard Grieg - Lyric Pieces Book 8, Op. 65 No. 6 “Wedding Day at Troldhaugen”
Claude Debussy - Suite bergamasque, L. 75 "Clair de lune"
Franz Liszt - Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 in C-sharp minor, S.244/2

Act II

Scott Joplin - Maple Leaf Rag
Zez Confrey / Tyler Hay - Kitten on the Keys
Hoagy Carmichael - Stardust
John Lennon - Imagine
George Shearing - I Found A New Boogie
George Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue

Tyler Hay first showed prodigious talent at the age of 11, winning a local award in Kent with his performance of Liszt’s Mephisto Waltz No. 1. He then gained a place to study at The Purcell School for Young Musicians under the great Tessa Nicholson.

A virtuoso pianist drawn to some of the most demanding works in the repertoire, Tyler has performed worldwide - from London’s major concert halls to a cruise ship in the Antarctic.  He has performed at Wigmore Hall, Cadogan Hall and the Purcell Room and has played Ravel’s Concerto for Left Hand at the Queen Elizabeth Hall and Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No 2 at Symphony Hall with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.

Winner of the 2022 Dudley International Piano Competition, Tyler is a formidable pianist. But also an entertainer. Mentored by BAFTA award-winning comic Alistair McGowan, he increasingly uses humour to engage new audiences with the music he loves.

CDs of Liszt, John Ogdon, Kalkbrenner, and Field are available on Brilliant Classics.

Tyler studied with Graham Scott and Frank Wibaut at the RNCM in Manchester and with Niel Immelman and Gordon Fergus-Thompson at the Royal College of Music.