A piano recital of wit, wonder and wizardry. Popular classics from Liszt to Lennon, laced with musical anecdotes and tongue-in-cheek humour.

Act I: The Classical Greats

Act II: The Jazz Age & Beyond

Millions of notes, and some jokes!

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About the concert

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. Culminating 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.

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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

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About Tyler Hay

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.

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.